Hands-free cell phones

[andrew_mcewan@nrl.moh.govt.nz]

Mark Hanlon wrote

"Bjorn, and colleagues,

A respectable colleague, who is an immunologist (PhD) has
been in the Australian media recently, stating that his
group's work has shown that the "hands free" accessories of
cell phones can, under some circumstances, become an
aerial, enhancing the risk to cell phone users.

This guy is a scientist, and is employed by a well known and
respected hospital in Sydney, Australia.

This happened a week or two after a different Sydney
hospital publically recommended that its staff should restrict
use of cell phones."
_____________
There seem to be two issues here.
The first relating to hands-free phones arises from a study by the UK Consumers
Institute which claimed two hands-free phones they tested actually gave higher
user exposures than the usual phones.  Manufacturers tests and a report in New
Scientist of 10 April 1999 show substantial reductions in user exposures with
hands free phones (below 30%).  However,the conventional cellphones comply with
international (ICNIRP) guidelines for public exposures and there is no evidence
or reason to believe there would be health effects on users at these levels.
(That is not to say that some users will not complain about 'sore' arms or ears
from holding the things for long times).

The second issue arises from the (real) possibility of cellphone RF emission
interference with sensitive electromedical equipment such as drug infusers,
where interference could have an adverse effect on equipment operation.  This is
commonly the reason for the ban on cellphone use in hospitals near such
equipment and in intensive care units.

Andrew McEwan

_________________________
Andrew C McEwan PhD
National Radiation Laboratory
PO Box 25-099
Christchurch, New Zealand

Ph 64 3 366 5059
Fax 64 3 366 1156
Andrew_McEwan@nrl.moh.govt.nz


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