ITU and WHO to review findings on health effects of mobile phones

Accra, June 7, GNA - The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are reviewing research findings on the possible health effects on the use of mobile phones, especially on young children.

Mr Haruna Iddrissu, Minister of Communications who made this known on Tuesday on the floor of Parliament noted that government in 2010 adopted the Report of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee comprising; the Ministries of Communication; Environment, Science and Technology and Local Government and Rural Development, which outlined the guidelines for the deployment of base stations.

He said the Radiation Protection Institute was to ensure public safety by limiting the exposure to radioactivity in conformity with the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, which were recommended by WHO.

The guidelines are aimed at protecting people against excessive exposure to Radio Frequency Fields, compliance by generating sets to be sound proof and in line with all permissible sound levels prescribed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the conduct of public awareness campaigns to educate the public on related issues.

Mr Iddrissu noted that to date the highest Maximum Power Density measured is 0.0616 watts per square meter out of the ICNIRP/ITU-T Reference Level of 4.5 watts per square meter for 900 MHz frequency, mostly used for GSM (Global System for Mobile) deployment.

In the course of the year, the National Communications Authority would undertake a national audit of all the base stations of the telecom companies to ensure that the reported levels received from the companies are in fulfilment of the entire requirement of the ICNIRP, he added.