Vodafone named in 4 US personal injury cases

Wednesday, June 19, 2002

Vodafone Group PLC said it has been named in four personal injury cases in the US, which allege mobile phone use has caused brain cancer among other injuries.

The news comes on the same day as new Finnish research said microwave radiation from mobile phones may cause temporary changes in human cells.

Vodafone said in its annual report that along with other carriers and manufacturers it has been named as a defendant in the four US cases.

"These actions are at an early stage and no accurate qualification of any losses which may arise out of the claims can therefore be made at the date of the report," Vodafone said in the report.

It said the alleged health risks in the claims had not been substantiated, as far as it is aware, and that it will be vigorously defending them.

But scientists at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority have found in laboratory tests that human cells exposed to radiation levels consistent with mobile phone showed changes to protein chemistry.

The researchers said these changes may lead to brain cancer or cause tissue damage.

In the study - published in the May issue of Germany's "Differentiation" journal - human cells were exposed to radiation, at the legal international limit set for mobile phones, for one hour.

AFX News

Story filed: 18:31 Wednesday 19th June 2002