Mobile phone health and safety

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In May 2000, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, led by Sir William Stewart, published a report on possible health hazards associated with mobile phones. The report found no firm evidence either way to say whether radiation from mobile phones and phone masts was likely to cause long term damage to the human body or not. Research carried out since 2000 has not turned up any evidence to change their view, so the report's conclusions still stand.

The Stewart Report had this to say about children and mobile phones: ...children may be more vulnerable because of their developing nervous system... so they recommended a ...precautionary approach... and said that ...widespread use of mobile phones by children for non-essential calls should be discouraged.

While recognising that many parents and carers will not want their child to have a mobile until they are older, we also acknowledge that there are some good reasons for allowing children to use mobiles in certain circumstances, such as for keeping in touch with home.

Most young people prefer text messaging to voice calling, taking and sharing pictures, listening to music and gaming. These activities carry a lower risk, as the phone is not held to the head.

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