No reply on mobiles health fear

A recent article appeared in the Express & Star headlined "Japanese children warned of mobiles".

These warnings are becoming more common around the world – India and France are just two in the growing list of concerned governments.

However, despite the Department of Health issuing a leaflet "Mobile Phones & Health" several years ago – recommending that children under 16 should use mobile phones for emergency purposes only – we hear nothing from our government agencies, whose remit it is to protect our health.

Sir William Stewart – departing chair of the Government's Health Protection Agency – has been consistent in his calls for a precautionary approach. It was as a result of the Stewart Expert Group findings that the warning regarding children was issued, stating that we do not know the long-term effects of the microwave emissions on the developing brain and immune system.

Could we now be seeing evidence of Sir William's concerns coming to fruition? We are hearing, almost on a daily basis, of violent crime – and even murders – committed by younger and younger assailants. We see the suffering this causes to the families and friends of the unfortunate victims – and calls for something to be done.

We have also seen statistics, indicating that brain tumours have now overtaken all other cancers as the prime cause of death in under-40s. One would imagine that an immediate suspect to investigate would be the wireless technology which was of such concern to the Stewart Group.

There has also been a recent study which indicated that children born to mothers who used a mobile phone while pregnant are more likely to suffer behavioural problems.

We urgently need an updated DoH leaflet, along with the publicity which normally accompanies industry studies heralding "mobile phones safe", informing parents of the facts so that they can make an informed choice to protect the health of their children.

Councillor Sylvia Wright, Hawthorne Road, Essington.