Berlin (dpa) - Germany's main radiation laboratory has concluded
that mobile phones are safe and pose no cancer risk to users,
according to a nearly-10-year-long study obtained Monday by Deutsche
Presse-Agentur dpa.
The survey by the Federal Radiation Protection Bureau found no
evidence whatever that cellphones, cordless phones or cordless base
stations situated next to beds caused brain cancer, headaches or
disturbed sleep in adults.
But the scientists said they would like to study the issue longer
to make absolutely sure that young children exposed to such
electro-magnetic fields did not develop health problems in old age.
The bureau, which employs top radiation scientists, advised
parents not to let children keep phones permanently in their clothing
until such a risk had been ruled out.
Large numbers of Germans fear mobile phones may be lethal after
alarming reports about them in the media.
More than 50 German research projects since 2002 were analysed for
the report.
In some cases, genetic activity in human cells was observed to
change under the influence of radiation, but this did not alter the
overall conclusion that the phones were safe.
German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel was due to unveil the
study on Tuesday.
Copyright 2008 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH