14/12/2006 Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) initiates a new research project that focuses on the health of mobile phone users. The first results of the study will be ready in five years.
The main goal of the study is to find out whether mobile phone use could be connected to occurrence of headache, sleeping disorder or depression. In addition, the possible connection between mobile phone use and neurological diseases will also be studied. The study is a part of an international project, started on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initiative. Besides Finland, also Sweden, Denmark and Great Britain participate in the project. 3000 mobile phone users, randomly selected from the clientele of the Finnish mobile phone operators, will be sent an information bulletin concerning the study and a letter of consent in the near future. By approving and returning the letter of consent a person can take part in the study. After this the study persons will be asked about their mobile phone use and health in more detail. The health of the study persons will be followed up with their consent, e.g. using Finnish registries and databases of health care. The earlier studies on health effects of mobile phone use have mainly aimed to determining brain tumors, and the individual mobile phone use has been assessed retrospectively. A clear connection between mobile phone use and brain tumors has not yet been detected. ”In Finland, there are excellent conditions for a study like this because the use of mobile phones has been common already since the 1980s. In addition, we have high level health care registries in Finland,” states Dr. Anssi Auvinen, Research Professor at STUK. Further information: Page updated 05/01/2007 |
/ STUK |