No proof of health risks from cell phones, network towers: WHO

As the radiofrequency field emitted by mobile phones is more than 1,000 times higher than that from base stations, the likelihood of adverse effect is more from handsets

The radiation from cellular phones and their network towers pose no health risk and any impact which these could have on health were minor, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has clarified.

In an advisory, WHO has said, "Studies till date provide no indication that environmental exposure to radiofrequency fields, such as that from base stations, increases the risk of cancer or any other disease.

"Scientists have reported other health effects of using mobile phones, including changes in brain activity, reaction times, and sleep patterns. These effects are minor and have no apparent health significance."

As the radiofrequency (RF) field emitted by mobile phones is more than 1,000 times higher than that from base stations, the likelihood of adverse effect was more from handsets, the advisory stated.

So, keeping in view of ever increasing mobile phone use and, therefore a potentially longer lifetime of exposure, WHO "has promoted further research... And is currently assessing the health impact of RF fields on all studied endpoints", states the advisory dated September 20.