Europe's top environmental watchdog is calling for immediate action to reduce exposure to radiation from Wi-Fi, mobile phones and their masts. It suggests that delay could lead to a health crisis similar to those caused by asbestos, smoking and lead in petrol.

The warning, from the EU's European Environment Agency (EEA) follows an international scientific review which concluded that safety limits set for the radiation are "thousands of times too lenient", and an official British report last week which concluded that it could not rule out the development of cancers from using mobile phones.

Professor Jacqueline McGlade, the EEA's executive director, said yesterday: "Recent research and reviews on the long-term effects of radiations from mobile telecommunications suggest that it would be prudent for health authorities to recommend actions to reduce exposures, especially to vulnerable groups, such as children."

The EEA's initiative will increase pressure on governments and public health bodies to take precautionary action over the electromagnetic radiation from rapidly expanding new technologies. The German government is already advising its citizens to use wired internet connections instead of Wi-Fi and landlines instead of mobile phones.

The scientific review, produced by the international BioInitiative Working Group of leading scientists and public health and policy experts, says the "explosion of new sources has created unprecedented levels of artificial electromagnetic fields that now cover all but remote areas of the habitable space on Earth", causing "long-term and cumulative exposure" to "massively increased" radiation that "has no precedent in human history".

It says "corrections are needed in the way we accept, test and deploy" the technologies "in order to avert public health problems of a global nature".

Studies of the sites show high incidences of cancer, brain haemorrhages and high blood pressure within a radius of 400 yards of mobile phone masts.

One of the studies, in Warwickshire, showed a cluster of 31 cancers around a single street. A quarter of the 30 staff at a special school within sight of the 90ft high mast have developed tumours since 2000, while another quarter have suffered significant health problems.

The mast is being pulled down by the mobile phone after the presentation of the evidenceoperator O2 by local protesters. While rejecting any links to ill-health, O2 admitted the decision was "clearly rare and unusual".

Phone masts have provoked protests throughout Britain with thousands of people objecting each week to planning applications. There are about 47,000 masts in the UK.

Dr John Walker, a scientist who compiled the cluster studies with the help of local campaigners in Devon, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands, said he was convinced they showed a potential link between the angle of the beam of radiation emitted from the masts' antennae and illnesses discovered in local populations.

"Masts should be moved away from conurbations and schools and the power turned down," he said.

Some scientists already believe such a link exists and studies in other European countries suggest a rise in cancers close to masts. In 2005 Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, said he found four such studies to be of concern but that the health risk remained unproven.

::: Teachers demand inquiry to protect a generation of pupils

By Geoffrey Lean, environment editor The Independent

Published: 22 April 2007

Britain's top health protection watchdog is pressing for a formal investigation into the hazards of using wireless communication networks in schools amid mounting concern that they may be damaging children's health, 'The Independent on Sunday' can reveal.

Sir William Stewart, the chairman of the Health Protection Agency, wants pupils to be monitored for ill effects from the networks - known as Wi-Fi - which emit radiation and are being installed in classrooms across the nation.

Sir William - who is a former chief scientific adviser to the Government, and has chaired two official inquiries into the hazards of mobile phones - is adding his weight to growing pressure for a similar examination of Wi-Fi, which some scientists fear could cause cancer and premature senility.

Wi-Fi - described by the Department of Education and Skills as a "magical" system that means computers do not have to be connected to telephone lines - is rapidly being taken up inschools, with estimates that more than half of primary schools - and four-fifths of secondary schools - have installed it .

But several European provincial governments have already taken action to ban, or limit, its use in the classroom, and Stowe School has partially removed it after a teacher became ill.

This week the Professional Association of Teachers, which represents 35,000 staff across the country, will write to Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Education, to demand an official inquiry. Virtually no studies have been carried out into Wi-Fi's effects on pupils, but it gives off radiation similar to emissions from mobile phones and phone masts.

Recent research has linked radiation from mobiles to cancer and to brain damage. And many studies have found disturbing symptoms in people near masts.

Professor Olle Johansson, of Sweden's prestigious Karolinska Institute, who is deeply concerned about the spread of Wi-Fi, says there are "thousands" of articles in scientific literature demonstrating "adverse health effects". He adds: "Do we not know enough already to say, 'Stop!'?"

For the past 16 months, the provincial government of Salzburg in Austria has been advising schools not to install Wi-Fi, and is considering a ban. Dr Gerd Oberfeld, its head of environmental health and medicine, calls the technology "dangerous".

Sir William - who takes a stronger position on the issue than his agency - was not available for comment yesterday, but two members of an expert group that he chairs on the hazards of radiation spoke of his concern.

Mike Bell, chairman of the Electromagnetic Radiation Research Trust, says that he has been "very supportive of having Wi-Fi examined and doing something about it". And Alasdair Philips, director of Powerwatch, an information service, said that he was pressing for monitoring of the health of pupils exposed to Wi-Fi.

Labour MP Ian Gibson, who was interviewed with Sir William for a forthcoming television programme, last week said that he backed proposals for an inquiry.

Planners in Basingstoke have been congratulated for their efforts to engage with residents in dealing with mobile phone mast applications.

Residents praised Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for its commitment to best practice at an annual telecommunications planning meeting.

Representatives from mobile operators T-Mobile, Orange and 3, which is part of Ericsson, presented plans for potential masts in the area. Last year, 21 planning applications were submitted to the Borough Council's Planning Department, and 13 of those were approved. Planning Officer Matthew Melville said: "Basingstoke and Deane has been recognised for good practice in processing applications. We have been very active in engaging with residents and have set up a Mailing-List for interested parties." See link: http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/planning/telecoms/operators/contacts.htm He added the Council also seeks to encourage mobile operators to share Masts where possible.

The Meeting was chaired by Councillor Horace Mitchell, Borough Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport, and attended by representatives from several Parish Councils, the Borough Council and Winchester City Council.

Speaking at the Meeting, Mast Campaigner Simon Preedy, of Cyprus Road, Hatch Warren, Basingstoke said: "Several Councils are using Basingstoke as a model and I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Council... and Operators [to be precise, 3 (UK)] for the excellent Pre-Application Consultation in Hatch Warren."

Details of potential Mast sites are available on the Council's website: http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/planning/telecoms/development/maps.htm

Present: Rt Hon Meg Munn M.P. - Under Secretary of State with Telecoms Responsibilities

Alison Edwards }DCLG

Andrew Gough }DCLG

Private Office Notetaker }DCLG

Doctor Ian Gibson M.P. - Radiation Research Trust - Trustee

Alan Meyer - Legal Director MAUK

Claire Gallagher - Trainee Solicitor/Notetaker

1. Before Doctor Ian Gibson MP arrived AAM explained that both Mast Action and the Local Government Association Representative had been concerned that for Telecoms Planning issues there had not only been four Ministers over an 18 month period but now the longstanding Civil Service Team of John Stambollouian and Katy Collins who had had the benefit of the training emerging from the two ODPM Steering Groups with ARUP and Reading University on the complexities of the Telecoms Rollout and planning had seemingly been lost which was disheartening.

Accordingly AAM had prepared a set of papers setting out the background to assist the Minister and her new Civil Service Team. AAM handed in the file to Andrew Gough.

2. AAM referred to this being the follow up meeting from last year's meeting with Yvette Cooper which should have taken place earlier in the year with the then Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

3. Arising out of the meeting with Yvette Cooper MAUK were still concerned about PPG8 and its paragraphs 29 and 30 referring to ‘and concerns' regarding health, and that it was not agreed that Yvette Cooper was wholly correct in saying health issues were only a Department of Health issue.

AAM explained that the GPDO 1995 with prior approval for masts under 15 metres in height had become for Network Operators a rent free option and a direct planning cause of ill health through causing ‘prolonged stress and anxiety' - which can be a medical cause of any number of adverse health effects and conditions - due to driving the Telecoms industry to choosing lamppost style masts on pavements outside peoples homes.

4. The meetings of the Health Protection Agency's RPD EMF Discussion Group under Sir William Stewart had considered - following on from paragraph 1.31 of the original Stewart Independent Experts Report - the Memorandum and its supporting attachments relating to "Stress Induced Adverse Health Effects" and unanimously accepted that it was a medical health issue. The Memorandum had been included in the meeting's file of prepared papers.

5. It was confirmed on behalf of MAUK and by Doctor Ian Gibson that no one was against Masts and Base Stations but only against the ‘insensitive and sometimes unnecessary siting and location of masts', with particular regard to pavement lamppost masts outside bedroom windows causing prolonged stress contrary to Articles 6 and 8 of the European Convention, due to both Circular PPG8's content and the GPDO 1995 as amended.

6. AAM tabled two Propositions handed to the Minister relating firstly to paragraphs 29 and 30 of circular PPG8, and secondly the removal of ‘permitted development rights' for ground based masts as discussed and agreed in principle by the Representatives of both the Network Operators and Local Government at the final ARUP Future Network Rollout Steering Group Meeting, that full planning for such masts, but subject to the 56 day decision requirement with a maximum of a further seven days for the written notification was the way ahead - see copy attached. This would avoid the nonsense or cheating by Operators who were present at the decision making meeting then only to claim "Deemed Approval" because the written notification arrived one day late, as had happened too many times. AAM mentioned the BBC South Survey showing 58 such instances over the short period of the Survey.

7. Towards the end of the meeting AAM raised the issue of Electro Sensitive people and the fact that in Sweden 3.1% of the population were recognised as Electro Sensitive. The Minister said her Private Office Notetaker was from Sweden. AAM mentioned the UK had signed up to the United Nations UN 22 Standard Rules against disadvantaging the disabled, and now in England the Disability Discrimination Act was in force.

8. The Minister stated that she was relatively new to the subject matter of the issue at hand and stressed the importance of examining these issues considering the fast pace of technological development.

The Minister stated that the interrelationship between science and planning was obvious and pointed out the importance of examining guidance for and approaches to planning. The Minister commented that this examination had to be carried out alongside the Codes of Best Practice with a view to looking at the provisions regarding these issues. They were looking at a revision now and would consider all provisions carefully. The Minister could not form a view as yet.

The Minister commented that the fact that technology was advancing at such speed was something the government will have to look at. She commented in consideration of all of these points it was important to be aware of visuals and the impact on health.

The Minister was concerned about the sitting and location of masts and stated that it was something the government would have to examine. They had to have an understanding of the implications of permitted developments rights and where that would take them.

The Minister welcomed the information and input provided by the attendees.

9. AAM stated that 3G masts continued to proliferate. Further it was not the Code of Best Practice which required DCLG attention but the fundamental problems inherent in both PPG8 and GPDO 1995, Doctor Ian Gibson was in full agreement and made it clear that like the Minister these were the MP's constituency concerns.

AAM stated that it seemed odd that people in England should be more badly treated by the planning rules than residents in Scotland, and now in Wales where full planning was, or was about to be the requirements for ground based masts.

It was important that the details in the lodged papers were carefully considered in advance of the 9 November 2006 TRI-Ministers Meeting.

The meeting began at 9.30am and ended at 9.55am.

Two Propositions for the New Telecommunications Planning Minister Meg Munn and Her departmental advisory Team

1. Full Planning for all Ground Based Masts subject to time limits now along the lines recommended by the Welsh Assembly unanimously by 41 votes to nil against

2. Stewart Report May 2000 Paragraph 1.31

"Adverse impacts on the local environment may already impact on the public's well-being as much as any direct health effects"

See attached Memorandum presented to the EMF Discussion Group of the Health Protection Agency on Monday 16 October 2006.

Proposition 1

At the final meeting of the ODPM Steering Group with the appointed Consultants ARUP on the future of Telecoms Network Rollouts an issue raised by the Planning Inspectorate was brought to the Steering Group members attention as follows:-

The Planning Inspectorate has expressed a view that "smaller antennas should clearly be permitted development" and should not require prior approval....

..."The aim should be to take as much minor telecommunications development as possible out of the planning control system altogether" (Direct correspondence from Simon Farmer, Head of Policy PINS).

The representatives from both the Local Planning Authorities and the Network Operators after a 20-minute discussion agreed firstly it would be necessary to define what was meant by "smaller antennas" and secondly this was an impractical suggestion. However to be constructive there was a consensus that (1) Prior Approval should be abolished and (2) replaced by a requirement for full planning for all Ground Based Masts, Antenna and Equipment cabins, subject to a ‘deemed approval' if no decision was taken within 56 days, plus an additional 7 days within which to provide the required written notification of the decision taken within the 56 day period. - See conflict of wording between PPG8 and its Annex and the wording in Annex 1 which fails to include notification "in writing" in its confused wording.

From Mast Action UK's members viewpoint the Planning Inspectorate suggestion totally ignores the requirement of Local Democratic decisions and comes from an Inspectorate which appears to believe local democracy and its decisions are not of any real importance, and ignores completely vital possible adverse health effects and concerns despite a number of Planning Inspectors having accepted that these are material considerations which lawfully have to be taken into account.

Proposition 2

At the inaugural meeting of the EMF Discussion Group in March 2006 chaired by Sir William Stewart the Chairman of the Health Protection Agency the Question of Stress induced ill-health was canvassed, and at its 16 October 2006 meeting the Health Protection Agency considered evidence since May 2000 relating to paragraph 1.31 of the Stewart Report showing that for an element of the UK population Prolonged Stress induced by the ‘over close proximity' of mobile phone Masts and Base Stations can actually medically achieve the environmental adverse impacts feared by the independent experts when writing the original May 2000 Stewart Report, whose main recommendations were repeated and confirmed by the subsequent NRPB Mobile Phones and Health 2004 Report.

As the Health Protection Agency has the Responsibility to protect the Public from unnecessary environmental health hazards it seems probable that it is now essential, based upon the 10 year evidence beginning to come through, that the ODPM/DCLR should at last accept the arguments made since 2001, that paragraphs 29 and 30 of Planning Policy Guidance Circular PPG8 and its Appendix need to be re-written so as to comply (1) with common law and subsequently (2) with the Requirements of Articles 6 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights as introduced by Section 6 (1) of the Human Rights Act 1998, and in addition to be consistent with the Housing Planning circular PPG3 - In addition the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 now in force can no longer be casually ignored.

(1) Newport v Secretary of State for Wales (1997)

(2) R v Brent London Borough Council and Others and Oxfordshire County Council's Exclusion Appeals Panel and Another (Judgment May 17, 2002).

(3) Note of meeting with Yvette Cooper

AAM 17 October 2006

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/5302890.stm

The council's rejection letter arrived one day late

A council blunder could lead to a mobile phone mast being built near homes in Cambridge despite objections from residents. The city council rejected proposals by phone company O2 to build the 11-metre high mast on Queen Edith's Way. But its letter to O2 opposing the planning application arrived one day after the 56-day deadline. O2 has pledged to go ahead with the mast but a manager said he would be meeting with residents.

On Thursday, the BBC News website contacted Cambridge City Council but no comment was provided. Queen Edith's ward Liberal Democrat councillor Geoffrey Heathcock has called for an investigation into the cause of the error. "These were pretty serious mistakes and to say in a letter 'sorry folks, nothing we can do' is not good enough," he added.

Meeting planned

Protestors are appealing to the company to find an alternative location for the mast. One resident, Andrew Sharkey, said: "Using this technicality of a one day late decision is not the way for a company to proceed in this day and age, ignoring the wishes of its residents and customers." Mr Sharkey's wife Tess said: "I'm going to have an 11-metre mast just 10 metres from my son's head."

O2's community relations manager James Stevenson said the company hoped to meet the local community but would go-ahead with the phone mast. "They (Cambridge City Council) had 56 days in which to decide whether we could have (planning permission) and they took longer than the 56 days to come back to us," he added. "We assumed that they weren't bothered about it, which is the case with most planning authorities. "People are a bit upset about it and I'm going to see them next week."

Neurotoxicology. 2006 Aug 1;

Abdel-Rassoul G, El-Fateh OA, Salem MA, Michael A, Farahat F, El-Batanouny M, Salem E.

Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufiya University, Shebin El-Kom, Egypt.

BACKGROUND: There is a general concern on the possible hazardous health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic radiations (RFR) emitted from mobile phone base station antennas on the human nervous system. AIM: To identify the possible neurobehavioral deficits among inhabitants living nearby mobile phone base stations.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on (85) inhabitants living nearby the first mobile phone station antenna in Menoufiya governorate, Egypt, 37 are living in a building under the station antenna while 48 opposite the station. A control group (80) participants were matched with the exposed for age, sex, occupation and educational level. All participants completed a structured questionnaire containing: personal, educational and medical histories; general and neurological examinations; neurobehavioral test battery (NBTB) [involving tests for visuomotor speed, problem solving, attention and memory]; in addition to Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ).

RESULTS: The prevalence of neuropsychiatric complaints as headache (23.5%), memory changes (28.2%), dizziness (18.8%), tremors (9.4%), depressive symptoms (21.7%), and sleep disturbance (23.5%) were significantly higher among exposed inhabitants than controls: (10%), (5%), (5%), (0%), (8.8%) and (10%), respectively (P<0.05). The NBTB indicated that the exposed inhabitants exhibited a significantly lower performance than controls in one of the tests of attention and short-term auditory memory [Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT)]. Also, the inhabitants opposite the station exhibited a lower performance in the problem solving test (block design) than those under the station. All inhabitants exhibited a better performance in the two tests of visuomotor speed (Digit symbol and Trailmaking B) and one test of attention (Trailmaking A) than controls. The last available measures of RFR emitted from the first mobile phone base station antennas in Menoufiya governorate were less than the allowable standard level.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Inhabitants living nearby mobile phone base stations are at risk for developing neuropsychiatric problems and some changes in the performance of neurobehavioral functions either by facilitation or inhibition. So, revision of standard guidelines for public exposure to RER from mobile phone base station antennas and using of NBTB for regular assessment and early detection of biological effects among inhabitants around the stations are recommended.

PMID: 16962663 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Electromagn Biol Med. 2006;25(3):177-88

When a group of swans began circling a church spire, villagers' bemusement soon turned to concern. For days, the birds continued on their strange journey, despite numerous attempts to put them back on course.

But a nature charity thinks it may have solved the mystery - a mobile phone mast could be interrupting the Bewick's swans' navigational senses.

Natural England says radio waves emitted by the 80ft mast, which was erected 36 yards from Churcham Church, in Gloucestershire, may be interferring with the magnetic fields the birds use to direct them.

T-mobile, which erected the mast before planning permission was granted, has now been told the council could order it to be taken down.

A spokesman for Natural England said: "A poorly sited mast poses a significant collision risk for Bewick's swans in conditions of poor light or visibility."

Planning officer Mandy Rutsch said: "The situation is only temporary until July 31. This will ensure the mast should be removed prior to the period when the swans migrate. A permanent mast will be erected outside the Forest of Dean."

Ruling cites public health risk

Ten mobile telephone antennas, eight of which are in Athens, must be removed as they pose a threat to public health, the Athens Appeals Court ruled yesterday.

The ruling rebuffs an appeal by an unidentified mobile operator for the suspension of a decision by the National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT) to remove the poles. In justifying its ruling, the court cited "urgent concerns regarding the protection of public health."

All 10 antennas in question had been hidden in chimneys, electric boilers and other appliances to thwart residents and authorities. Eight of the 10 antennas are located on top of apartment blocks in districts of Athens including Halandri, Vyronas, Ilioupolis and Kallithea. The other two are located at the airports of Iraklion, in Crete, and Kos. Only one of the antennas, in Kallithea, had been operating with a license but it will also be taken down.

"It is not only one (mobile phone) company that is to blame here," EETT Vice President Nikos Koulouris told Kathimerini. "The unlicensed erection of antennas is common practice. EETT has also decided to take down antennas put there by other companies," he said, adding that the commission usually finds out about illegal antennas through residents' complaints.

"We refuse to become the guinea pigs of (mobile) firms," Nikos Krassakis, a member of the Sepolia committee lobbying for the removal of antennas told Kathimerini. "Our main concern is not whether the antennas are legal or not but how much of a threat they are to our health." Krassakis said his group's protests had led to the removal of two antennas and the decision to stop the erection of a third.

"(The ruling) is a very positive decision, a blow against the unaccountability of (mobile) firms, but is not enough. We need a more collective approach," Loukas Margaritis, a professor at Athens University, told Kathimerini. "Scientifically, there is no doubt that radioactivity is a health risk, even within the limits imposed by legislation," he said. He added that a solution would be to relocate the antennas to the outskirts of towns, and set them at much higher levels to lessen the impact of emissions.

Article from: Kathimerini. Greece's International English Newspaper