Just five minutes of exposure to mobile phone emissions can trigger changes that occur during cancer development, according to new research.
Scientists found mobile signals can activate cell division – central to the growth of tumours – even at very low power levels.
Government guidance that mobile phone use is safe is based on the mainstream scientific assumption that electromagnetic radiation from devices such as mobiles could only cause health hazards as a result of heating.
The new research, highlighted in this week’s New Scientist, supports the position of some researchers who argue handsets can trigger potentially harmful changes to cells irrespective of temperature changes.
However other scientists said cell division is a natural process that occurs constantly in the body and does not usually signify health hazards.
Graham Philips, of the campaign group Powerwatch, said: “Current safety guidelines assume health effects from mobiles can only occur when significant heating of body tissue occurs.
“This study shows biological changes in response to low level mobile phone radiation – something that could potentially have implications for health…