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Mobile phones

ALMOST 5 million mobile phones were bought at Christmas - but they came with a Government health warning.

It highlighted fears about the amount of radiation emitted from handsets and the scientific uncertainty about the long-term effects this radiation may have.

A comprehensive inquiry into the evidence currently available was carried out by the Government's former chief scientist, Sir William Stewart.

He concluded that while there was no proof yet that mobiles could damage health, scientists had discovered they caused ''subtle biological effects''.

These effects could cause headaches or memory loss, and potentially, in the long term, trigger cancers.

There are also fears that children are at greater risk from this radiation because their skulls are thinner, and their nervous systems are still developing.

Education secretary David Blunkett was so concerned has written to every school ordering mobile-ban on the under 16s unless in an emergency.

Radiation interferes with the rhythms of the brain and is thought to affect the stability of cells in the body.

Personal hands-free kits, where calls are made and taken via an ear-piece and microphone attached by wire to the handset, were one time seen as the solution.

But recent research, by the Consumers' Association, showed that the kits can actually triple the radiation levels because the wire acts as an aerial directing it straight inside the ear.

Chief Medical Officer, Prof Liam Donaldson said: ''Common sense would suggest that using a kit would reduce exposure but tests so far have been conflicting. Further research is being urgently carried out.''

What is certain is that the use of mobiles by drivers does play a part in road accidents.

The official advice is to:

Limit mobile phone use. especially by teenagers.
Fit an in-car, hands-free kit
Buy a phone with a lower radiation emission - some are up to six times lower.

Links
Department of Health information on mobile phones
Report by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones