FGF Workshop (Forschungsgemeinschaft Funk e.V. - Research Association for Radio Applications (registered society))
A report on the workshop on mobile phone systems held by the FGF in cooperation with the FMK in Vienna, 12.11.07
As part of the workshop “Cell phones & co. how healthy are they?” held on 12.11.07, experts provided an overview of the current state of research on the topic of “Mobile phone systems and health”. This event, which was in cooperation with Forum Mobilkommunikation (FMK – Forum for Mobile Communication), primarily targeted staff of public and local authorities as well as doctors and also representatives from the media, politics, science, environmental and consumer protection and all interested citizens, in order to inform people more about the subject.
For several years, public discussions have been held on the possible risks to health from high-frequency electromagnetic fields caused by mobile phone systems and other wireless applications. It is becoming increasingly difficult to retain an overview of the subject because of the amplitude of information. The topic is complex and ranges from physical-engineering questions concerned with exposure, to possible biophysical mechanisms and their medical rating, through to sociological aspects in our handling of the new technology and how it is communicated, which, ultimately influence political decisions. New studies are published almost daily and new and old (familiar) questions are posed frequently. Making it appear as though the debate, which is often emotionally led, cannot reach a conclusion. That is why it is important now to stipulate the requirements we want from science and define what has already been discovered in the many research studies that have been carried out – it is the objective of the workshop in Vienna to contribute to this concern. To this purpose, experts from the most varied areas of research were invited to provide a broad overview of the state of knowledge in these technical disciplines, ranging from biophysics to cytogenetics. The talks were always followed by an accompanying discussion, in which the participants could ask the experts questions.
Prof. Dr. Alexander Lerchl from Jacobs University, Bremen, who gave a lecture on the quality of scientific studies as well as their most important characteristics, contributed in a fundamental manner. Lerchl described well-known case examples of mobile telephone systems, where quality characteristics of good scientific work could be seen and also cases where a lack of quality characteristics has been determined. Good scientific studies in the area of possible effects on health from mobile phone radiation can be distinguished by a number of factors, which should contribute to these studies being accepted by the scientific community and in providing substantiated statements to people and politicians. These include independent reproducibility, (double) blind experiments, real sham exposures, statistical capacity, exclusion of co-factors and good dosimetry.
Dr. Maria Blettner from Mainz University presented the part of the INTERPHONE project that was carried out in Germany. The case-control study related to population was carried out in Germany in three regions, whereby all incidences of cases of brain tumours in people between 30 – 69 years and occurring between 2000-2003 were included. Healthy people (control persons) were classified according to age and sex and selected at random from data from registration offices [where citizens have to register their address]. They were questioned thoroughly on how they have used the telephone in the past. A total of roughly 700 ill people and 1,500 healthy people were questioned in Germany. Worldwide, figures of previously executed studies in the context of the INTERPHONE project have counted 6,311 ill people and 7,658 control persons. In Germany, no increase in gliomes and mengiomes was detected after using the telephone (Gliome: odds ration (OR) = 0.98 (95% confidence interval: 0.74-1.29), mengiomes: OR = 0.84 (0.62-1.13), acoustic neuroma: OR = 0.67 (0.38-1.19)). An increased relative risk was only observed in one subgroup. Subsequently, the interim results of research from the international study groups from the INTERPHONE subprojects from Finland, Norway, Sweden, England and France were presented including comments on previously published data. This interim data indicates a very consistent picture, however the degree of fluctuation in the individual studies is considerable. Initial results show that when observing the very small group of long-term users (mobile phone use over 10 years) separately, there is a non-statistically significant increase (= not a reliable result). However, Blettner admits that “these INTERPHONE results will not be meaningful until they have been analysed and evaluated in their entirety.”
In the area of immunology, Dr. Helga Tuschl held a talk on her research carried out within the framework of the AUVA project [AUVA is an Austrian insurance body], ATHEM, at the Austria Research Centre, Seibersdorf, and pointed out that this study did not indicate any impairment of the human immune system as a result of electromagnetic fields, as they exist in mobile phone systems. According to Dr. Tuschl, “no influence from GSM or UMTS modulated fields on the activity of killer cells and on the production of cytokines” can be detected. She did point out, however, that controversial study results do exist on the possible effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields on the immune system.
Prof. Dr. Günter Obe, former Professor at Duisburg University and expert on cytogenetics, discussed the possible mutagenic effect of high-frequency electromagnetic fields in his lecture and criticised the quality of some studies on the subject of genetic damage. Individual reports of positive results are often not convincing, as temperature effects, for example, cannot be ruled out, or necessary control tests were not executed. He concluded by saying, “If high-frequency electromagnetic fields are supposed to actually have a mutagenic effect, at best, the effects are likely to be extremely little, demanding a lot from the evaluation of the results and how the experiments are carried out.” Execution and publication of always very similar research studies will not lead to new knowledge.
Prof. Dr. Roland Glaser from Humboldt University, Berlin, and member of the research group, “Microdosimetry HF” from the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK, Strahlenschutzkommission) explained that taken from a biophysical point of view, it is only heating caused by the electromagnetic fields around mobile phone systems that is proven to have biological consequences. “The effects that have been discovered are day-to-day effects. They occur anyway and are no cause for worry with regard to risks to health,” said Glaser. “It’s the same as going out in the sun or standing under a hot shower.” Up until now, no convincing experiments on non-thermal effects have been published.
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Kiefer reacted in his talk to the most recent reports in the media by the Viennese Medical Association on a possible health risk in children caused by mobile telephoning. The former professor at Gießen University and head of the research group, “Mobile Phone Systems and Children”, initiated by the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK, Strahlenschutzkommission), referred to the respective statement given by the Commission and stated that there is no substantiated evidence indicating an increased sensitivity in children’s organisms and therefore no reason why children should have lower threshold values.
Communication of risks and knowledge was the focal point of the lecture held by Dr. Gregor Dürrenberger of the Research Trust on Mobile Communication at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. He explained that scientific knowledge needs to become “social knowledge” in order to be a stable basis for successful political and social decision-making.
Conclusion
The concluding discussion indicated clearly that although the scientific facts do not provide evidence of a damaging effect caused by electromagnetic fields from mobile phone systems, citizens are nevertheless anxious and there is a need for awareness to be raised. Above all, societal questions are the focus of general debate, such as, for example, the positioning of mobile phone stations, which are being discussed aside from the scientific dispute.
