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MEDIA RELEASE - 3rd August 2002
STEWART EXPRESSES CONTINUED CONCERNS ON HEALTH
Sir William Stewart in an interview with a West Country Newspaper has expressed continued concerns over health stating "A blanket dismissal of possible health implications was wrong, as further research was needed before the full effects of mobile phone masts were known". Sir William chaired the Government inquiry into mobile phone masts, which culminated in the 'Stewart Report'. (Full Report of Interview with Sir William Stewart is attached).
This interview clearly dismisses many of the misstatements attributed to Sir William Stewart and his committee. Making it very clear that in the view of Sir William Stewart further research is required, and that concerns on public health MUST be taken seriously. Including ensuring that urgent research is carried out on 'real' people to ascertain the effect that emissions can have on people.
The Express & Echo has run a high profile support campaign within the Crediton, Devon area in support of 6 year old Emma Cann and three other cases of cancer believed to be associated with a local phone mast. The case being very tragic in that the phone operator although having made a commitment to move the mast failed to do so before young Emma, who had been in remission for 18 months was readmitted to hospital. Sir William stated "The findings from these studies could help inform on what has gone on regarding the little girl in Crediton. I am most interested to learn about this girl and the adverse health effects she has suffered". The case was recently brought to the attention of the All Party Working Group on Mobile phones, it is hoped that the MPs present at that meeting will raise the case in the House.
Chris Maile, Mast Sanity Chair said: "Mast Sanity opposes the view that health is a trivial issue that can be deferred as being an unproven risk, and therefore it is acceptable to continue using the technology irrespective of the subsequent finding. There is clear concern by the public at large that these installations do create adverse health effects. Therefore the Government MUST take a more precautionary approach; the financial rewards for the Government should not take precedence over the potential adverse health effects of our children. Cases such as that of Emma Cann cannot be allowed to become the price to be paid for speedy communications".
Mast Sanity National Co-ordinator Lisa Oldham followed up by saying: "It is not only those who are suffering actual health effects that concern must be shown for; but the thousands of caring parents that lose regular sleep over not knowing if these installations will cause their children to contract leukaemia. This affects not only the parent's health from the stress caused by the worry, but also impinges on the children and the family life as the inevitable nature of stress takes hold, distracting the parents and family unit from their more normal daily lives. We therefore welcome these comments of Sir William, and hope that at last the Government takes heed".
END.
EDITORS NOTE: For more info contact Chris Maile or Lisa Oldham on 0161 959 0999. Or Pamela Chapman (Mast Sanity Wales) 01656 772354
TEXT OF MEDIA REPORT FROM THE 'EXPRESS & ECHO' Tel: 01392 442211
TEST VICTIMS LIKE EMMA
BY ANDREW MOSLEY
HEALTH CORRESPONDENT
12:00 - 03 August 2002
A top Government adviser on mobile phone mast safety has called for more research to be carried out on cancer victims living near them - like six-year-old Emma Cann, pictured above.
Speaking exclusively to the Express & Echo, Sir William Stewart believes human studies are vital as some people may be more vulnerable to the effects of mast emissions than others.
And he said a blanket dismissal of possible health implications was wrong as further research was needed before the full effects of mobile phone masts were known.
The biologist, who headed the independent group of experts which produced The Stewart Report in May 2000, believes individual studies could help explain why Crediton girl Emma and other people who live near masts are ill.
Emma, who was diagnosed with leukaemia more than three years ago, is one of four people living in George Hill, Crediton, to suffer from cancer since the 15-metre Orange mast was installed in 1996.
Mother Anne Cann, who is currently at Emma's bedside at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, welcomed the words of Sir William, who told the Echo: "When we put together the report we said it was uncertain whether or not mobile phone technology was harming and having adverse effects on the general population on the UK.
"There is no evidence that this is the case, but the question is whether particular individuals might be more susceptible.
"I would like to see studies on real people, not animals and bits of tissue. Our current committee wants to get some volunteer studies carried out. Some people have already been chosen.
"The findings from these studies could help inform on what has gone on regarding the little girl in Crediton. I am most interested to learn about this girl and the adverse health effects she has suffered.
"This is an area which has received worldwide attention, but the question as to whether mobile phone masts cause these effects is still unresolved I am afraid."
Mrs Cann, whose daughter returned to hospital two weeks ago after 18 months in remission from her illness, said: "Individual tests would be very beneficial. Not everybody who smokes gets lung cancer, so it could be the same with masts.
"This sort of research could benefit someone like Emma. It's good that he's not saying exactly the same things as the Government."
Orange maintain that the mast at George Hill is safe, but have agreed to move it as soon as a suitable alternative site is found.
Sir William said mast safety was an important issue as many people did not have a choice as to whether or not they lived close to one.
There are currently 26,000 in the UK, with 24,000 more planned for the next 18 months.
"Somebody using a mobile phone can decide for themselves whether it is more beneficial than not using one, but with a mast you don't have that choice.
"A lot of people are now very concerned about this," he said.
"In our report we recommendation of a precautionary approach. That is absolutely vital."
Sir William said the Government had accepted and acted on around 80 per cent of the Stewart Report's recommendations, but he thought research programmes needed to be carried out and analysed as quickly as possible.
"Our committee was totally independent and didn't have any axe to grind from the industry point of view or the health point of view. We told it how it is," he said.
"Increasing opinion is becoming available and the next report will take on board all the research which has been carried out," he said, adding that the recommendation that the Government carry out an audit was important.
So far the Government has published the results of the auditing of just 100 masts and Sir William said: "Just as you might haul a lorry up a road and check if its emissions are too high, there should be tests by the audit people on masts all over the country. This is being done but it is taking some time."
He also said he was concerned about masts near schools.
"Our recommendation was that masts should not be close to schools and you have to be very careful," he said.
Mid Devon District Council recently became the first in the country to make an exclusion zone around mobile phone masts as part of their planning policy.
Councillors agreed that masts should not be erected within 500 metres of a home, school or hospital, if there was an alternative site.
Christine Mangat of lobby group Mast Action UK said Sir William's comments were "very encouraging".
"I think it's absolutely terrific. Emma Cann and the Crediton mast were the main focus of the recent all-party Parliamentary group meeting on masts where the pressure was really put on Orange to get that mast in Crediton moved.
"I think Sir William Stewart is genuinely sympathetic towards situations such as this one," she said.
Recommendations in the Stewart Report of 2000 included:
A review of work carried out since the publication of the report is due in May 2003.
As part of its Shock Waves campaign the Echo has asked the Government to act on Stewart's recommendations and:
The Government recently announced the first stage of its Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme and says it is "currently considering research proposals specifically in relation to emissions from base stations and possible effects on public health".
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