A mobile phone and base station forum held by stakeholders last week came out with a verdict that health risk fears by users and speculators were not founded on sound scientific proofs.

The forum was organised by IT World in collaboration with the Nigerian Communications Commission and I H S Limited an infrastructure builder.

A communique, which was issued at the end of the forum, allayed the fears that the use of mobile phones can lead to severe health disorders. It was unanimous in dismissing several long held myths, including the myth that mobile phones could trigger carcinogenic (cancer-related) ailments.

The forum agreed that there is no established scientific research that has proved otherwise. The link between the use of mobile phones and health impairment including cancer and hearing defects have not been established, the Forum noted.

It admitted that mobile phones and accessories of mobile telephony emit electromagnetic waves (radio frequency – RF). But it pointed out that these emissions are of such minute quantity as to evoke carcinogenic side effects. The Forum explained that the electromagnetic waves emitted by radio and television transmitters are higher than those radiated by mobiles.

The forum cited several studies conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other global bodies to corroborate this.

It advanced strong reasons to disprove the long held myth that citing a mast near homes could trigger an epidemic including causing genetic mutation or pregnancy disorder and infertility. It noted that it is not the masts (usually a contraption of steel) that emit RF but the antennae that are clamped at the top of the masts.

The forum explained that going by the principle of electromagnetic radiation, the farther away you are from the source, the lesser the effect on you. Since antennae are usually located high up in the sky, thousands of feet above sea level, the radio waves they emit suffer degradation before hitting the earth below. This in itself reduces the intensity of the waves and by implication their ability to cause bodily harm. the forum, however, observed that not using type-approved (usually sub-standard) mobile phones are capable of emitting RF beyond the approved internal threshold.

To this end, it urged the NCC to intensify its internal vigilance mechanism to ensure that only type-approved mobile phone terminals are brought into the country.

The forum called for constant and consistent collaboration between the regulator and the operators on the one hand and relevant government agencies on the other to ensure compliance to internationally-recommended regulatory limits for equipments and terminals deployed in the country the cautioned consumers to observe basic phone etiquettes.

‘Use mobile phones when you should use them’, the forum advised. It noted that some users were fond of literally strapping mobile phones to their ears every minute of the day, adding that the global concern over public health implications of mobile phones ought to compel users to show restraint in the manner they use mobile phones. Self-restraint is needful in this regard, forum urged.

It called for further research into public health implications of mobile phones. It also applauded the telecom revolution in the country attributing it to the quality of leadership at the NCC. Forum cautioned against undue meddlesomeness by the government into the affairs of the regulator, saying the independence the NCC had enjoyed until recently had been responsible for the rapid development of the telecom industry within the past decade.

The forum was well attended, attracting a strong delegation from the regulator, NCC, the operators, consumers and a highly seminal faculty of guest speakers and discussants.

The forum cited several expert positions including those from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and European Commission’s independent Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks.

Those who presented papers include the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Ernest Ndukwe, and Managing Director of I H S, Willaim Saad