Sandeep Joshi Concerned over "misinformation' being spread Increase level of understanding on mobile phone technology: COAI Cellular operators quote research by global organisations The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has expressed concern over the "misinformation' being spread among the general public regarding health-related concerns due to electromagnetic radiation generated from mobiles and antennas. Remove mistrust Asserting that various global scientific studies and research have proved that there are no health hazards due to radiation, the COAI has urged the government to increase the level of general understanding about mobile phone technology and reduce any perceived mistrust and fears among public. TEC report The reaction from the COAI, the trade body of cellular operators, comes following a report from the Department of Telecommunications' (DoT) Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), which pointed to possible health problems to people, particularly children and pregnant women, from electromagnetic radiation generated from mobile phones and towers. Extensive research Refuting claims made in the TEC report, COAI Director-General T.V. Ramachandran said extensive radio frequency (RF) researches had been undertaken at top organisations including the World Health Organisation, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the British Medical Association, the U.K. Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, the Food and Drug Administration (U.S.), and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. "Many expert panels have concluded that compliance with the existing science-based ICNIRP standards is sufficient to protect public health. Radio frequency (RF) radiations emitted by mobile communication systems lie in the non-ionizing part of the electromagnetic spectrum and thus do not have enough energy to cause any genetic damage. Similarly, RF emissions from base stations are some 50,000 times lower than the levels at which the bad health effects begin to be established,' he said. Policy decision Asking the government to take notice of all such facts before taking any policy level decision relating to the use of mobile phones and antennas, Mr. Ramachandran said: "In 2005, the WHO said that ICNIRP guidelines are protective for all sections of population, including children. Thus, prohibiting the use of mobile phones by children is against the consensus view of international scientific community and is not supported by the WHO, the ICNIRP and other international bodies.' Pressing need "There is pressing need to establish an effective system of health information and communication, designed by scientists, government, industry and public, to raise the level of general understanding about mobile phone technology and reduce any perceived mistrust and fears. The information transmitted should be accurate and based on scientific evidence. "We maintain that current discussion should be based on holistic review of scientific evidence, and not selected projects which could paint an alarming, misleading, and inaccurate picture of the situation,' he added.