Details on MMF Research Programs UK National Research Program

Following the publication of the report by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones in 2000 a research programme, called the Link Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme (MTHR), has been set up to look into the possible health impact of Mobile Telecommunications. The MMF along with UK operators and the UK Departmnet of Health have contributed over £7 million to support the research program.

The program is currently funding a variety of projects including:

• A Case-Control Study of Brain Tumours and Acoustic Neuromas in Relation to Use of Mobile Phones
• UK Case-Control Study of Adult Brain Tumours
• Cohort Study of Mobile Phone Users (Pilot Study)
• A Case Study of Leukaemia in Relation to Use of Mobile Phones
• Case-Control Study of Cancer Incidence in Early Childhood and Proximity to Mobile Phone Base Stations
• Mobile Cellular Communication and Cognitive Functioning
• The Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation on Blood Pressure
• Study to Evaluate the Effects of Mobile Telephone Usage on Labyrinthine Function
• The Effect of Mobile Phone Use on Symptoms and Neuroendocrine Function in 'Normal' and 'Hypersensitive' Users
• Conversations in Cars: The Relative Hazards of Mobile Phones
• The Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation on Brain Physiology and Function
• Cellular and Sub-Cellular Effects of Microwave Radiation in Simple Model Organisms
• The Effect of Pulsed Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields on Redox Signalling and Calcium Homeostasis
• Measurement of the Dielectric Properties of Biological Tissue in Vivo at Microwave Frequencies
• Interaction of Emerging Mobile Telecommunciations Systems with the Human Body
• Assessment of the SAR in the Head from TETRA Handsets
• Traceability for Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research in the UK
• Hypersensitivity Symptoms Associated with Electromagnetic Field Exposure
• Communicating Uncertainty: Mobile Telecommunication Health Risks

Publications and Abstracts resulting from program:
To date the following publications and abstracts have been generated from projects supported by the MTHR program.

Epidemiology

• Beale L, GIS methods – use and misuse 2004 National Environmental Public Health Tracking Conference, March 24-26, Philadelphia.
• Beale L, Briggs D, Elliot P, Little M, (2004). GIS exposure modelling: Mobile masts in England and Wales Presentation to X2004 Conference: Exposure Assessment in a Changing Environment, Utretch, June.
• Parslow R C, Hepworth S J, McKinney P A, (2003). Recall of past use of mobile phone handsets. Radiat Prot Dosimetry.106(3):233-40.
• Van Tongeren M, Mee T, Whatmough P, Broad L, Maslanyj M, Allen S, Muir K, McKinney P, (2004). Assessing occupational and domestic elf magnetic field exposure in the uk adult brain tumour study: results of a feasibility study. Radiat Prot Dosimetry.108(3):227-36.

Human Volunteer

• Barnett J, Timotijevic L, Shepherd R, Senior V, and Vincent J, (in press): Understanding of the precautionary principle: “No smoke without fire” or “Better safe than sorry”? Workshop EMF Risk Perception and Risk Communication, ISPRA.
• Burns P C, Parkes A M And Lansdown T C,. (2003). Conversations in cars: relative hazards of mobile phones.(TP0079) International Ergonomics Association XVth. Triennial World Congress, Seoul Korea. Aug. 25-29.
• Ceranic B, (2002). Deafness Genetics Workshop, Effects of mobile phones on hearing. Institute of Child Health, London, 18 June.
• Luxon L, Ceranic B, Cox R, and Chadwick P, (2003). Study to evaluate the effects of mobile telephone usage on labyrinthine function. IN Abstracts EBEA 2003 6th International Congress of the European Bioelectromagnetics Association (EBEA) 13-15 November, Budapest, Hungary.
• Parkes A M, And Burns P C, (2004). Mobile phones and car driving: cause for concern or action? Behavioural Research in Road Safety: Fourteenth Seminar. Department for Transport.
• Shepherd R, Barnett J, Timotijevic L and Senior V, (2004). Communicating uncertainty about mobile telecommunication health risk. Second Mobile Communications Seminar, Brussels, 23-24 September.

Mechanisms

• Blackwell R P, Addison D Bottomley A L and Sienkiewicz Z J,(2004) A Novel Head-Only Rf Exposure System For Mice. BEMS Conference.
• Bottomley A L, Bartram R, Blackwell R P, Haylock R G E and Sienkiewicz Z J, (2004) Effects Of Head-Only Exposure To Radiofrequency Fields On Learned Behaviour In Mice. BEMS Conference.
• de Pomerai D, Dawe A, Smith B, Vasic N, Thomas D, Loader B and Gregory A
  Nematode heat-shock responses to electromagnetic fields: what is the underlying mechanism? Submitted to the Kos (3rd IWBEEMF) work -shop proceedings.
• Tattersall J E H, Smith A J, Harrison P K, Underwood G, Uney J B, Hobson R J, Bottomley A L, Bartram R and Sienkiewicz Z J, (2004). The Effects Of Radiofrequency Radiation On Brain Physiology And Function: A Study In Mice. BEMS Conference.

Dosimetry

• Clarke R (2003)‘Traceable Calibration of Field Strength Probes for Specific Absorption Rate Measurements’ IoP Conference ‘RF Interactions with Humans’, at the IoP, London, on 27 – 28 February.
• Dimbylow P, Khalid M, and Mann S, (2003) Assessment of specific energy absorption rate (SAR) in the head from a TETRA handset. Phys. Med. Biol., 48, 3911-3926.
• Faraci F D, (2003). “Interaction of Emerging Mobile Telecommunication Systems with the Human Body”, EMC York 2003 Conference Proceedings, University of York, 1 July.
• Faraci F D, (2003). “Interaction of Emerging Mobile Telecommunication Systems with the Human Body”, National URSI Symposium, University of Leeds, 7-8 July. Paper K2.
• Faraci F D, PorterS J, Capstick M H, Flintoft I D, Marvin A C, (2004) “Efficient modelling of antennas for exposure assessment of devices used in close proximity to the human body”, accepted for publication at the 3rd International Workshop on Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, Kos, Greece, 4-8 Oct., Paper number A3:1
• Faraci F D, Porter S J, Flintoft I D and Marvin A C,(2003) “Interaction of Emerging Mobile Telecommunication Systems with the Human Body”, 8th IEEE High Frequency Postgraduate Student Colloquium, HFPSC2003, Belfast, 8-9 September pp. 19-22.
• Flintoft I D, Porter S J, Capstic M H and Marvin A C,(2002) “RF Exposure Assessment for Emerging Technologies”, EMC Europe 2002, International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Sorrento, 9-13 Sept. pp.473-478.
• Peyman A, Holden S, Watts S, Perrot R and Gabriel C, (2004). BEMS Study of the Dielectric properties of porcine head and neck tissue at microwave frequencies BEMS Conference.
• Peyman A, Holden S, Watts S, Perrot R and Gabriel C, (2004). Dielectric properties of porcine abdominal tissues and body fluids at microwave frequencies BEMS Conference.
• Peyman A, Holden S, Watts S, Perrott R and C. Gabriel. A Comprehensive Study Of Dielectric Properties Of Porcine Head And Neck Tissues At Microwave Frequencies
• Peyman A, Holden S, Watts S, .Perrott R and Gabriel C, (2004. ) The Fourth World Congress on Microwave and Radio Frequency Applications. Accepted for platform presentation – Nov.
• Porter S J, Capstick M H, Faraci F, Flintoft I D and Marvin A C, (2004) “SAR and Current Measurements on Wired Hands-Free Mobile Telephones”, submitted to AMS 2004, IEE Technical Seminar on Antenna Measurements and SAR, University of Loughborough, 25-26 May.
• Porter S J, Capstick M H, Faraci F, Flintoft I D and Marvin A C,(2004) “SAR Associated With The Use Of Hands-Free Mobile Telephones”, submitted to EMC Europe 2004, International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatability, Eindhoven 6 – 10 September.