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- MALMO, Sweden (ENS) - Swedish
scientists have claimed that hazardous chemicals emitted by mobile phones
could be causing symptoms such as headaches in phone users.
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- The researchers claim this is the first report of possible
leaching of chemicals from mobile phones in use.
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- According to Bo Brstell and colleagues at Malm based
contract testing laboratory IMTEC, mobile phones warmed to body heat, as
they could be when pressed against the ear, emitted a range of chemicals,
including phenol, cresol and biphenyls.
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- They suggest that these could enter mobile phone users'
bodies through the skin or by inhalation.
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- "This may explain why many frequent users of mobile
phones complain over constant headaches and dizziness," Brstell told
Swedish magazine "New Technology," which first reported on the
IMTEC scientists' two-year investigation.
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- Responding to the news, Mats Pellbck-Scharp of major
Swedish mobile phone maker Ericsson said he could not understand where
the chemicals originate from. "We will of course look into this immediately,"
he said.
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- Sweden's Chemicals Inspectorate has requested a copy
of the scientists' report for evaluation and the Swedish Institute for
Research on the Workplace will also followup the research.
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- Brstell and colleagues are not sure where the chemicals
originate.
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- "They may come from details on the phones made from
phenolic plastic. Another source may be the liquids used to facilitate
the release of the phone shell from plastic presses at the factory. Circuit
cards may also be the villains," Brstell said.
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- Meanwhile, a new report from the United Kingdomís
Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) recommends a "precautionary
approach" to the use of mobile phones. The panel specifically discourages
the use of mobile phones by children and the marketing of phones to children.
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- The panel says information about radiation exposure from
different mobile phones - known as specific absorption rates (SARs) - should
be "readily accessible to consumers." These numbers should be
published "on the box" of new phones. The government should also
circulate a leaflet to every household in the U.K. on the possible impact
of the phones on health.
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- Further research is needed, the panel concludes, recommending
a "substantial" research program, cofunded by the government
and industry and run by an "independent panel."
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- In its response, the UK government has already agreed
that information on SARs should be widely available and to set up a research
program. More information, and the full text of the report, are available
at: http://www.iegmp.org.uk/
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- {Published in cooperation with ENDS Environment Daily,
Europe's choice for environmental news. Environmental Data Services Ltd,
London. Email: <mailto:envdaily@ends.co.ukenvdaily@ends.co.uk}
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Service (ENS) 2000. All Rights Reserved.
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