By Laju Iren

ARE there any health effects from the use of mobile phones? A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk.

To date, no adverse health effects have been established as being caused by mobile phone use.” These were the words of Dr. Omobola Johnson, the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology, FMCT, at the 2nd West African Conference on Electromagnetic Fields Exposure and Health which held in Lagos recently.

The assertions made by the minister here, echo the findings of the World Health Organisation and other organisations around the world. However, the fears of the average Nigerian that mobile phone technology has an adverse effect on health have not been allayed. It seems that even among experts, there are differing opinions. The conference, titled: EMF in a highly connected society: Understanding the myths and realities, presented an opportunity for these different opinions to be heard.

The representative of the Minister, Oluwole Edun, who is the Director, Planning and Statistics at the FMCT said: “Even as we celebrate the gains of the telecom revolution, it is important that we are mindful also of the health of our people, both in the short and in the long term. Mindful of the concerns, which have been expressed both locally and internationally, on whether exposure to electromagnetic fields poses any health hazards to humans; and determined to ensure that the people of West Africa are well advised as to the facts regarding the issue, the Federal Government of Nigeria decided to take the initiative to bring about this conference, which is a follow up to the first one held in 2012.”

The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, Dr. Eugune Juwah  opined that although the World Health Organisation studies are yet to find any clear risk or health hazards associated with electromagnetic fields based on current findings, “as responsible regulators and governments, we need to constantly be on top of the game by keeping the citizenry informed and reassured as information becomes available regarding any health risks associated with electromagnetic fields, which need to be properly considered and reported during the rollout of new technologies as they become available.

Then, it was the turn of the experts. Prof. Idowu Peter Farai of the University of Ibadan, represented by Dr. Nnamdi Jibiri who spoke on the differences between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, said that GSM radiation is about 100 million times less in frequency and energy than the radiation that can cause ionization and serious health effects. Adding that, “claims of the various health effects from GSM are myths as there is little evidence in humans and less in animals to support them. Mobile phone technology is safe, except it is used while driving.”

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Kayode Obembe however called on Nigerians to take precautions “before we are told whether or not it causes complications.” According to him: “We have not followed this new technology long enough to know its inherent complications.

Inherent complications

In medical research, to truly study a trend, you must have followed it for at least fifty years. And this kind of technology has only been around for about ten years.”

Following the same line of argument, Dr. Anago Peters, a consultant and clinical pharmacologist said that according to the World Health Organisation, WHO, there is no convincing evidence that weak Radio Frequency, RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse effects on human health. However, according to him, “EMF has been loosely implicated in alterations in cerebral blood, issues in infertility, hypersensitivity among others. Precautions must be taken so that if it is not true that there is a link, we have lost nothing, but if it is true, then we have ourselves to blame. We must enforce articulated standards developed with the help of relevant international agencies and adapted to local conditions.”