Campaigners criticise report findings


27 July 2007 11:23

Campaigners against phone masts have rubbished a new report which claims people's fears emissions are damaging their health is all in their minds.

The Environmental Health Perspectives Study, by scientists at the University of Essex, said those who said they were sensitive to phone masts could not detect if the mast signals were on or off when tested.

Instead, it claimed these people are likely to believe the masts are causing their ill-health, when in reality it could be something else.

However, critics of mobile phone masts have today slammed the report, saying just as many in-depth studies have found people's health is affected by emissions from masts.

Norwich South MP Dr Ian Gibson said: “There is no unanimous agreement. There can be some people who have a greater electromagnetic hypersensitivity and are affected by mobile phone masts. I am still backing the Evening News's mast campaign, especially as this latest study only looked at a small controlled group, many of whom dropped out of the study early on.”

Bert Bremner, Norwich City Council representative for the Eaton ward, said: “We have been fighting the erection of mobile phone masts simply on the grounds of planning issues and that they are obtrusive and ugly, but I am still ambivalent about this research and the findings and we are definitely going to go on fighting against masts in Norwich.”

The Evening News has been fighting the installation of mobile phone masts near homes and schools until it is proved they are safe through our Put Mast On Hold campaign. In January 2005 Sir William Stewart, chairman of the National Radiological Protection Board, published an independent report calling for a precautionary approach to masts near homes and schools.

Professor Elaine Fox, who carried out the research, said: “I'm pretty confident it not the electromagnetic field causing these symptoms. The power of belief is very powerful. If you really believe something is going to do you some harm, then it will.”

Ü Are you campaigning to keep phone masts out of your community? If so contact Tracey Gray on 01603 772418 or email tracey.gray@archant.co.uk

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