18 May 2010

A global study into the possible health effects of long-term mobile phone use was released today.
 
The “Interphone” research project is a 10 year study across 13 countries, including New Zealand, coordinated by the World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
 
Overall, the study found there was no evidence that mobile phone usage causes harmful health effects, and has suggested further research.
 
This aligns with other studies already published and is in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) conclusions.
 
The Interphone authors concluded:
'Overall, no increase in risk of glioma or meningioma [two forms of brain tumours] was observed with use of mobile phones. There were suggestions of an increased risk of glioma at the highest exposure levels, but biases and error prevent a causal interpretation.'
 
In addition, IARC director Christopher Wild stated:
'An increased risk of brain cancer is not established from the data from Interphone. However, observations at the highest level of cumulative call time and the changing patterns of mobile phone use since the period studied by Interphone, particularly in young people, mean that further investigation of mobile phone use and brain cancer risk is merited.'

A copy of the Interphone news release and link to the report can be found here.
 
Our perspective
The report’s conclusions are consistent with the information we already provide to clients about mobile phone use. These guidelines can be found here.
 
Gen-i’s advice to clients is that mobile phones that comply with the New Zealand Standard, as set out by the New Zealand Government, are safe to use. All mobile phones sold by Gen-i and Telecom comply with the New Zealand Standard.
 
The Interphone report is a significant contribution to an important area of research and analysis. Gen-i will continue to follow the evolving scientific research in this area.
 
We will also continue to talk openly with our clients about mobile phone technology, and about what we are doing to maintain our compliance with the strict health and safety standards that are set independently by the WHO and the New Zealand Government.

Chris Quin
CEO Gen-i Australasia