Statement of Ronald B. Herberman, MD Chairman of Board ...

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH TRUST
wivw.ehtrust.org
In 2008, Tsrael's Mintsby of Health published a set of guidelines thatcalled for Itmlting children's use of
cell phones, avold~ng cellular oommun~cat~on in enclosed places such as elevators and trains, and using
wired, not wireless, eaqieces The Minlstry developed these gu~dellnes following a natlonal study that
detectzd an association between cell phone use and the nsk for developrng tumors of the salivary gland.
FINLAND:
Tn January 2009, thc Finuish government stated that children's celi phone use should be restricted, for
example, by sendlng tcxt messages Instead of talkmg, tnakittg shorter calls, using a hands-free device, and
avolding the use of cell phones when conuection is weak. According to theFiilnrs11 report, "althougli
research to date has not demonstrated health effects from ccll phone's redration, precautior> is
reconlmcndcd for children as all of the effecrsarenot known .. S~nce it takes years to develop acancer
and cell phones have been In common use only for about ten years, the poss~bility,tlrat a lillk between cell
phone use aud cancer might be found in later populatton studies, cannot be led out" [STUK (Finnish
Rad~ahon and Nuclear Safety Authority) 2009.1
FRANCE:
Tl~e new French cell phone statute, pad of a sweeping legtslatlve package called the "Natioil~ai
Engagement for the Envrronmcnt" was approved by French parl~ament July 12,2010 and is set to take
effect m April 20 I 1. France's law requires SAR postin&, headsets, and protects kids. It requircs French
electronrcs stores and other cell phone vendors to post cach devrce's Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)--
the standard masme of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the human body.
France's srattitc rcqulrcs merchants to display SAR numbers m leglblc French to glve consumers easy
access to radiation lnfonnation ror differcl~t models. It wlll allow cell phonc shopperslook~~rg for a low-
SAR modcl to make on-the-spot cornpansonu in stores Tl~e F~encllaw also requires that all ccll plrones
be sold with a headset, bans cell phoile ads aimed at cllildren and adoJcscc~lts younger than 14, and bars
the sale of phones specrfically made for kids younger than 6.
IJN17eD IUNCD OM:
'Therefore, as aprecautio~~. thc UK Chref Medical Ofticers advise that ch~ldl-en and youtig people under
16 should be encouraged lo use mobile phones for essential purposes only, and to keep calls short."
(Mobile Photles and Health Lextlet, 201 I.)