Mobile radiation levels to be revealed

Mobile phone manufacturers are to provide customers with information about the levels of radiation produced by their handsets, as concerns rise about the impact of phone radiation on health.

US trade body the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) has proposed that all mobile phone makers should disclose individual radiation levels by 1 August in the US, and manufacturers have agreed to co-operate.

Jan Ahrenbring, vice president of marketing and communication at Ericsson Mobile, confirmed to vnunet.com that from 1 August the manufacturer will provide such information on its devices in the US and that this will be implemented globally shortly after.

"It is important to provide customers with good information. We are in the process of discussing with other mobile manufacturers to standardise what information we need to offer. There is no date set for outside of the US, but it should not be too far behind," said Ahrenbring.

Concerns over the safety of mobile phones in the UK led to a government investigation published earlier this year. The Stewart Report recommended that tough controls need to be brought in despite concluding that there was no scientific evidence proving that mobile phones or mobile phone masts gave out harmful levels of radiation.

Tom Wheeler, CTIA president, said in a statement on the group's website that there is no proven threat to health from mobile phones. "After a substantial amount of research, scientists and governments around the world continue to reaffirm that there is no public health threat from the use of wireless phones," he said.

Other manufacturers, including Nokia and Motorola, are also expected to provide information for their devices, but were unavailable for comment this morning.