Recent GSMA Updates
 GSMA: Mobile Communications and Health
The GSMA booklet Mobile Communications and Health has been updated following feedback and is also now available in Brazilian Portugueuse, French and Spanish.
The booklet provides information to address common questions about using a mobile phone or living near a base station.
GSMA: European Parliament Supports Science Based EMF Policy
On 2 April 2009, the European Parliament voted for science-based exposure limits for electromagnetic fields based on reviews by the SCENIHR. It is clear support for the European Commission’s policy on radio signals and is consistent with the position of the World Health Organization that current safety recommendations protect everyone. Importantly, the Resolution confirmed that planning policies for mobile network antennas should be “determined by scientific criteria”.
This is consistent with the views of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, which voted by a majority of 43 to one, to reject proposals for arbitrary exclusion zones.
GSMA: Belgium TV - Panorama
Dr Jack Rowley from the GSMA was interviewed for a Belgian TV program on 29 March dealing with claims of health risks from mobile network masts. He discussed existing scientific research and studies that claim to have found effects.
GSMA: The European Framework for Safer Mobile Use - PwC Report
Pricewaterhouse Coopers published a report showing that the Framework has been transposed into codes of conduct in 22 EU Member States and that mobile operator signatories have taken substantial action to implement these codes alongside other voluntary activities.
Related
GSMA papers
Other Items of Interest
Africa: African farmers get geospatial info on their phones
A pilot project that uses mobile phones to alert farmers in remote regions to where they can buy drought-tolerant beans has been launched in Kenya.
Australia: Kids speak out about the impact of mobile phones
A state commission for children and young people released a study on the impact mobiles have on children and young people's lives, finding that mobile phones play a significant and positive role.
Austria: Results of the WBF Expert Forum 2009
The Wissenschaftlicher Beirat Funk (WBF - the Scientific Committee Mobile Radio) Expert Forum 2009 unanimously concluded that radio signals do not pose a health risk at levels below the safety recommendations.
France: The psychological effect of inactive antennas
Twenty tenants of a building have filed a complaint demanding the dismantling of three base stations on the grounds of health effects, however, Orange issued a statement saying the antennas had not been activated.
Global: How mobile phones support developing world healthcare
Mobile phones are more accessible than computers and far more cost-effective than hospital beds. Mobile technology has the potential to revolutionise health care in developing countries.
Global: ICT industry approach on reporting greenhouse emissions
Standardized methodologies for calculating the impact of information and communication technologies in terms of greenhouse gas emissions have been proposed by an ITU Focus Group meeting in Japan.
Global: Why health warnings can be bad
Research has been accumulating that the nocebo effect – the evil twin of the better-known placebo effect – is a widespread phenomenon that might contribute to a host of 21st-century ailments.
Sweden: 3G Network Health Impact Assessment
The Swedish National Institute of Public Health has published a report, which estimates that by 2010 exposure will be no more than 0.24% of the reference value. It also notes that 3G rollout will provide positive.
UK: MOA survey on attitudes towards mobile phone masts
The Mobile Operators Association in the UK has published the results of its periodic survey (pdf) of attitudes among the general public and local planning authorities about mobile phones and base stations (masts).
USA: EPA puts spotlight on Cell Phone Recycling April
Americans are urged to recycle unused cell phones that have been piling up in junk drawers as part of EPA’s Plug-in to eCycling campaign.
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