Public Advice

Cellphones and cellsites

In this section:

Cellphones
Cellsites

Cellphones

Safety of cellphones

Cellphones are low-powered, portable radio transceivers (transmitters and receivers of radio signals). The user holds the cellphone very close to his or her head, and this proximity has raised questions about possible health effects for users.

Are cellphones safe?

The balance of current research evidence suggests that exposures to the radiofrequency fields produced by cellphones do not cause health problems provided they comply with international guidelines. Reviews of all the research, which has been carried out for more than fifty years, have not found clear, consistent evidence of any adverse effects.

Exposures from cellphones on sale in New Zealand all comply with limits recommended in the New Zealand Standard 2772.1:1999 Radiofrequency Fields Part 1: - Maximum exposure levels 3 kHz - 300 GHz. This Standard is based on international exposure guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). ICNIRP is composed of scientists working in government, universities and other independent research establishments, and is recognised by the World Health Organization for its expertise in this area.

Does using a cellphone increase the risk of brain tumours?

Studies do not show an increased risk of brain tumours in people who have used cellphones for periods up to ten years. There is little known about effects on people who have used cellphones for longer than that: while some studies suggest that there may be a small increased risk of tumours among the heaviest users, this pattern is not consistent and the researchers caution that the finding may be explained by biases in the way the studies were carried out. Laboratory research on cell cultures and animals exposed over their lifetimes does not show any effects of radiofrequency fields on tumour incidence.

Should I reduce my exposure?

Current research does not indicate the need to reduce exposures if they already comply with safety limits. Nevertheless it is never possible to prove safety absolutely (of radiofrequency fields or any other agent), and there is uncertainty about the significance of some research findings. If individuals wish to reduce their exposure, there are several simple methods to do so:

Use the phone in places with a good signal strength, which allows the phone to transmit at reduced power. Phones using the newer CDMA or 3G (UMTS) technologies usually provide greater reductions in power.
Minimise the length of time spent on calls.
Use a conventional landline phone (ie, not cordless), or car kit with an external antenna

Using a cellphone while driving (with or without a hands free kit) is not recommended, as studies have consistently demonstrated that this substantially increases the risk of accidents.

Is it safe for children to use cellphones?

The limits in the New Zealand exposure standard take account of differences between adults and children, and are designed to provide protection for all age groups. If there are any subtle effects which have not yet been discovered, then children under 16 might be more vulnerable due to their longer lifetime exposure (although there is currently no evidence of any effect which accumulates over time). While little research has specifically investigated effects of exposures on children, that which has been carried out (on reaction times and other cognitive effects) has not demonstrated any effects.

Use of cellphones by children should be a matter for informed choice by parents, bearing in mind that cellphones can improve personal safety.

Do hands-free kits or other devices reduce exposures?

Tests of hands-free kits have generally found that they reduce exposures to the head by up to 98%. To reduce exposure to all parts of the body, the phone should be placed away from the body when making a call.

No stick-on pads or patches have been shown to reduce exposures.

How can I obtain information on the exposure from a cellphone?

Exposure from cellphones is measured as the specific absorption rate, usually abbreviated to SAR, and measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg). This number expresses the rate at which radiofrequency energy is absorbed in the body. The maximum SAR is normally supplied with a cellphone. Information should also be available from the manufacturer. In the New Zealand exposure Standard, the maximum SAR level permitted over any 10 gm of body tissue is 2 W/kg.

The maximum SAR might be one factor to consider when purchasing a phone. However, it does not give a complete picture of exposures in actual use, as cellphones automatically reduce their output power in areas of good or intermediate signal strength. The amount by which exposure is reduced may vary between different models of phone, and depending on the technology being used.

For more information go to:

IS 21 Safety of cellphones (an information sheet containing the same information as presented above).

A range of information on cellphones from the United States FDA is available here.

A review on studies of brain cancers in cellphone users, commissioned by the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority, found no causal association between cellphone use and cancer. The report can be downloaded at www.ssi.se/english/Press_release_rapp2001_16.html.

Health Council of the Netherlands review of mobile phones (January 2002): link to review.

Several reports and sources of information consider both cellphones and cellsites. Links to these sources can be found here.

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Exposures from cellphones

Information on exposures from some models of phone can be obtained here. This information is normally included in the phone operating manual. Some information is available through the United States Federal Communications Commission, which requires data to be submitted as part of its approvals process for phones. This can be accessed through: www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety.

Exposure reduction devices:
Results of tests on various types of devices which are purported to reduce exposures from cellphones can be downloaded from the UK Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform here.

Cellsites

Cellsites (sometimes referred to as cellphone base stations) are moderate to low powered radio transmitters, used to communicate with mobile phones in the surrounding area. They are designed to transmit most of the radio signals away from the site, rather than in the area immediately around it.

Measurements carried out by the National Radiation Laboratory around several dozen cellsites have shown that maximum exposures are typically about 1 or 2% of the exposure limit recommended in New Zealand and international exposure standards. In most areas they are less than that. No health effects are anticipated at such low exposures.

For more information go to:

Cellsites (PDF - 103 kB) A more detailed information booklet about cellsites (A4 format to be printed double-sided in booklet mode).

The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) published a comprehensive review of research into possible health effects of radiofrequency fields (such as those from cellphones and cellsites) in July 2009, which can be downloaded from their website here (PDF - 3 Mb).

The WHO has a continuing project investigating possible health effects of electromagnetic fields, including the low frequency fields from power lines and other electrical equipment and cabling. The project's home page can be found here. They have also issued two fact sheets: Electromagnetic fields and public health: mobile telephones and their base stations and on Base stations and wireless technologies.

The report of the UK Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, published in May 2000, is available here.

Health Effects from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields – the report of an independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising radiation reporting to the British National Radiological Protection Board, published in January 2004.

The Health Council of the Netherlands published Electromagnetic fields: Annual update 2003 at the beginning of 2004. The 2006 Annual update reviewed UMTS base stations and DECT phones, and is available here.

The Swedish Radiation Protection Authority SSI appointed an independent expert group to evaluate research on electromagnetic fields and health, which produced its first report (found here) in December 2003. The fourth report, published at the beginning of 2007, can be found here.

Information sheets on cellphones and cellsites published in Australia by the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency can be found at emr.acma.gov.au (note that the sections on planning regulations do not apply to New Zealand).

Research in this area is monitored in New Zealand by an interagency committee reporting to the Director-General of Health. Periodically this Committee prepares a report to Ministers. The most recent report, which covers both radiofrequency and extremely low frequency fields, was published in November 2004 and is available here (PDF 161 kB).

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	National Radiation Laboratory Te Whare Rangahau Pūhihi o Aotearoa