In recent months, the French Health Ministry, the Vienna Medical Association and Germany’s Federal Office for Radiation Protection have all urged caution in the use of mobile phones, particularly among children, due to uncertainty regarding their safety. Erik Huber, environment adviser for the Vienna Medical Association, is quoted by Agnes Muhlgassner as saying that “Scientists do not argue anymore whether mobile phones are harmful, but how harmful they are”.

The German government has gone further and advised it’s citizens to avoid the use of Wi-Fi technologies because of the possible health risks associated them. According to Geoffrey Lean, Germany’s Federal Office for Radiation Protection has stated that “it is a new technology and all the research into it’s health risks has not yet been carried out”. 

If mobile phones must be used, the following tips, provided by Agnes Muhlgassner (see reference list below), may allow for safer use :

• Carry a mobile phone in a bag or briefcase, rather than in the pocket of your pants
• Use corded phones for long calls
• Use an air tube headset
• Ensure that an external antenna is fitted to vehicles from which mobile phone calls are made
• Wear a shield between your body and the place that you carry your phone
• Turn off mobile phones at night
• Avoid sleeping with mobile phones next to your head
• Avoid playing on-line games with the mobile phone