-
- New evidence has emerged that mobile phones damage
long-term
memory.
-
- It follows Sunday Mirror revelations that British
Telecom
is being sued by an ex-employee who claims using the phones has
made him
senile at 38.
-
- One of America's leading experts on mobile phones --
Dr Henry Lai of the University of Washington -- conducted tests on 100
rats in a £70,000 project into the possible effects of mobile
phones.
-
- He
filled a large tank with water and taught all the
rats to swim to a
platform in the middle for safety.
-
- The "lesson" was
repeated six times to make
sure it was stored in the rats' long-term
memory.
-
- Half the rats were then exposed to microwave radiation
similar
to that emitted by mobile phones.
-
- And while the
"normal" rats later found the
platform with no problem the
"exposed" rats had forgotten where
it was.
-
- Dr Lai said from
America last night: "The long-term
memory of virtually all the
'exposed' rats appeared to have been affected."
-
- Previous studies have already
linked mobile phones with
short-term memory loss and confusion.
-
- But Dr Lai's findings
-- which will shortly be published
in a US medical journal -- are the
first to cast doubts on long-term memory.
-
- He said: "It is a
completely different thing.
-
- "Short-term memory loss is just being unable to
remember something which you have just done or glanced at.
-
- "Long-term
memory is something which has been learned
or recalled and stored in
the brain.
-
- "The data from this latest study is certainly a
cause for
concern."
-
- The Sunday Mirror revealed in April that former BT engineer
Steve Corney was taking the company to court claiming he now suffers
premature
dementia.
-
- He said: "Five years ago seems like last week to
me because I can't remember what's gone on in the meantime." BT deny
the claim.
-
- Meanwhile, the House of Commons Science and Technology
Committee has demanded the Government put extra cash into mobile phone
research after finding only £60,000 was spent last year.
-
- The Department of
Trade and Industry is expected to announce
its response in the next few
weeks.
-
- © MGN, Ltd, 1997, (0171-293-3000) One Canada Square,
Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AP
-
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with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in
this message
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