For thirty years scientists have investigated the health risks of mobile phone radiation. This debate has intensified with the surge in mobile phone subscriptions over the last decade.

According to the UN's International Telecommunications Union (ITU), 2009 saw mobile phone subscriptions hit 4.1 billion compared to just 1 billion in 2002. The ITU also estimated a 60 per cent penetration rate by the end of 2008, compared to 12 per cent in 2000.

More recently, the ITU reported mobile phone penetration has continued to soar despite the recent global financial crisis.

'Despite the recent economic downturn, the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services, such as mobile phones and the Internet, continues to grow worldwide. By the end of 2009, there were an estimated 4.6 billion mobile cellular subscriptions, corresponding to 67 per 100 inhabitants globally. Last year, mobile cellular penetration in developing countries passed the 50 per cent mark reaching an estimated 57 per 100 inhabitants at the end of 2009. Even though this remains well below the average in developed countries, where penetration exceeds 100 per cent, the rate of progress remains remarkable. Indeed, mobile cellular penetration in developing countries has more than doubled since 2005, when it stood at only 23 per cent.' says the ITU.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reported in June 2006 that 82 per cent of Australians aged 14 and over used a mobile phone. Furthermore, ABC's Lateline reported last year that the number of mobile phones exceeded the population, and the Australian mobile phone industry earns 6.5 billion dollars annually.

With global mobile phone usage on the rise, so to might be the incidence of cancer related to mobile phone radiation. The mobile system emits Radio Frequency (RF) continuously via base station antennas at low frequency, which can penetrate the whole body as well as entire communities of people. However, there is real concern over stronger rays emitted by mobile handsets to the particular part of a human’s head where they are held.

For years scientists around the world have tested to see if mobile phone radiation poses a health risk, but the results are always mixed. It is true that mobile phones emit low radio frequency waves through our heads, but it is not clear if this leads to brain cancer or any harmful biological affect.

Studies indicate that mobile phone rays cause some biological changes such as increases in brain temperature and blood pressure, damage to DNA cells and a higher rate of illness in laboratory rats. However, none of this evidence points to cancer or deadly illness, prompting many scientists and the mobile industry to dismiss much of the concern over mobile phone radiation.

However, in 2004 a Swedish scientist discovered a huge increase in benign brain tumours (acoustic neuroma) in a focus group of people that used mobile phones for more than ten years. These tumours grew on the side of the head where handsets were used. 

According to Professor Devra Davis from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, the problem is that tumours go undetected for decades after exposure to radiation.

In 2009, Professor Davis told the ABC:

'When it comes to proof of human harm, we've kind of been led down a garden path that says the only proof that really counts is enough sick or dead people. And I think that approach has got to change and particularly with respect to something like brain cancer. Brain cancer can take 10, 20 or 30 years to develop. It may affect people 30, 40 years after they've been exposed. Our children are using cell phones in growing numbers. They're marketing cell phones now to five-year-olds.'


This may be a worry for Australian parents allowing their children to own mobile phones. According to the ABS, in 2009 about 31% (841,400) of Australian children owned a mobile phone, especially those between the ages of 12 to 14 years.

International safety standards require mobile phone radiation to sit below two watts per kilogram and last year the Environmental Working Group outlined how 1,200 mobile phone models compare to this standard.

According to the EWG, the biggest emitters of mobile phone radiation were:
Motorola MOTO VU204 (1.55 W/kg)
T-Mobile myTouch 3G (1.55 W/kg)
Kyocera Jax S1300 (1.55 W/kg)
Blackberry Curve 8330 (1.54 W/kg)
Motorola W385 (1.54 W/kg )
Motorola i335 (1.53 W/kg)
T-Mobile Shadow (1.53 W/kg)
Motorola C290 (1.53 W/kg)
Motorola MOTO VE240 (1.52 W/kg)
Blackberry Curve 8300 (1.51 W/kg)

The EWG also discovered the lowest emitters of mobile phone radiation are:
Samsung Impression (0.15 - 0.35 W/kg)
Motorola RAZR V8 (0.36 W/kg)
Samsung SGH-t229 (0.38 W/kg)
Samsung Rugby (0.22 - 0.46 W/kg)
Samsung Propel Pro (0.14 - 0.47 W/kg)
Samsung Gravity (0.49 W/kg)
T-Mobile Sidekick (0.50 W/kg)
LG Xenon (0.52 W/kg)
Motorola Karma QA1 (0.55 W/kg)
Sanyo Katana II (0.22 - 0.55 W/kg)

Amongst the jumble of opposing evidence and opinion, it is difficult to know if there is a real cause for concern. Should we be conscious of radio frequency levels when purchasing a mobile phone? Should we avoid using mobile phones altogether? Or, should we just not worry because the risk is so low? Or is it all just too confusing?
After researching the safety of mobile-phone radiation, Professor Bruce Armstrong from the University of Sydney Cancer Research Network still advises people to minimise the health risks posed by mobile phones.

‘I don't think anyone can honestly say at this point that there is no risk and I certainly support this group's initiative to publicise this data. If I were buying a mobile phone and that information was available, I would certainly consider it in part of my decision-making process,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald in October 2009.

The Environmental Working Group also thinks it is wise to bear in mind mobile phone radiation risks,
‘We at Environmental Working Group are still using our cell phones, but we also believe that until scientists know much more about cell phone radiation, it’s smart for consumers to buy phones with the lowest emissions.’

At present, completely discarding mobile phones may be do more harm than good given they can be crucial in an emergency situation and they are a fundamental component of modern day life. General consensus says keep your phone for now, but do be wary.

If you are concerned, there are many practical ways to minimise radiation exposure such as purchasing a phone with a low radiation rating, communicating via other means such as email, and switching to hands-free when using your handset.