No risk from mobile phones: France

France's health watchdog says mobile phones have "no demonstrated impact" on health, but would recommend limiting the exposure of children to the devices.

France's safety watchdog says it is standing by existing recommendations for mobile phones, wi-fi and mobile phone relay antennas, saying their emissions had "no demonstrated impact" on health.

The National Agency for Health, Food and Environmental Safety (Anses) said that, in lab tests, electromagnetic emissions had had a "biological" effect on cells, although evidence for this was "limited".

But it saw no grounds for recommending any changes to existing laws as there was "no demonstrated impact" on health.

It said, though, it would make a recommendation that children and big users of mobile phones limit their exposure to the devices.

The report was issued on Tuesday by a panel of 16 experts, who looked at more than 300 scientific studies that have been published since 2009, when the recommendations were last assessed.

The panel noted some studies that have suggested a higher long-term risk of brain cancer for heavy users of mobile phones, Anses said.

"In the light of current knowledge, given the rapid evolution of technologies and their uses, Anses recommends limiting the population's exposure to radio frequency energy - in particular for mobile phones, and particularly for children and heavy users - and to control general exposure to relay antennas," it said.

Dominique Gombert, head of risk assessment at Anses, said that heavy use of mobile phones was considered to be 40 minutes a day in conversation.

Options for consumers include using a hands-off kit or selecting a phone with lower electromagnetic emissions, Anses said.

Mobile phones are the biggest single source of everyday exposure to electromagnetic radiation, the agency said.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world