“Bans appear moderately successful at reducing single-vehicle, single-occupant accidents if bans are universally applied and enforced,” said Rahi Abouk and Scott Adams from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

“Any reduction in accidents following texting bans is short-lived, however, with accidents returning to near former levels within a few months. This is suggestive of drivers reacting to the announcement of the legislation only to return to old habits shortly afterward,” they said.

To date 39 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers. Also 10 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.

The researchers looked at only single vehicle crashes in which the driver was the only occupant and where they crashed into an object other than another vehicle in order to remove the effect of other potential distractions like talking to passengers or other crash causes. They then compared fatality data from across the United States from before and after the bans were introduced. They reviewed crash data from 49 states over a 48 month period for a total of 2,352 observations.

“The most important finding is that while the reduction in the number of accidents is substantial in the month following a ban, the effect begins to decline rapidly. Thus, drivers appear to be reacting to bans by initially altering their behavior, only to return to normal behavior later,”Abok and Scott said.

Drivers are likely to be reacting to limited enforcement of bans or learning new ways to evade detection because bans with more limited enforcement or coverage seem to result in drivers returning to old behaviors more rapidly, they said.

Research (pdf) into the risk of distractions during real-life driving shows listening and talking on cell phones while driving is not particularly risky and drivers should focus heavily on the less frequent and newer cell phone tasks of texting, typing, reading, dialling, and reaching for a phone.

“Taking your eyes off the road to dial a cell phone or look up an address and send a text increases the risk of crashing by 600 to 2,300 per cent,” said Professor Tom Dingus, Director of the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute who conducted the research.

The USA’s four biggest cell phone companies are about to launch their first joint advertising campaign against texting while driving over the summer months according to recent media reports.

Also, a recent survey of drivers that found that despite knowing the risks at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady since 2010.

See also the GSMA tips for drivers.

The efficient rollout of mobile phone network infrastructure is crucial to supporting the continued evolution of connected devices and machines – from smartphones and tablets to connected cars, medical equipment and future innovations.

To provide an uninterrupted and quality connection, every mobile phone or connected device relies on a signal from a network antenna, which range in size from tall towers to small antennas mounted on light poles.

As the number of connections in an area increases and the volume of data transferred between the network and devices grows, additional antennas need to be installed in the area and existing infrastructure needs to be upgraded to increase the capacity and speed of the network.

The GSMA’s new animation, entitled Mobile Networks Are Necessary to Deliver a Connected World, explains why mobile networks must continue to expand and evolve in response to the growth of connections and mobile data.

The below infographic also provides an insight in to the exponential growth the world has seen in mobile connections and highlights the importance of streamlined planning policies to support the efficient rollout of networks and access to services.

By implementing strong network planning policies that allow for the efficient delivery of an evolving and expanding mobile network, users will benefit from access to faster data speeds, better quality connections and access to the growing number of connected devices and machines that are changing the way we live.

See the GSMA’s earlier interactive presentation on mobile phones and base stations for a more comprehensive overview of how mobile devices and network equipment operate, the health and safety standards and exposure limits that the technology must comply with and the various tests used to ensure both handsets and towers are safe.

This brochure explains the technical side of mobile roaming and investigates price trends, the impact of regulation and best practice.

To find out more, download the brochure:
Arab World – International roaming explained – English

April 2013

Details

China: Studying the protein expression in human B lymphoblastoid cells exposed to 1.8-GHz (GSM) radiofrequency radiation (RFR) with protein microarray, Zhijian et al., Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 433(1):36-39, 29 March 2013.

‘…results validated with Western blot assay indicated that the expression of RPA32 was significantly down-regulated (P < 0.05) while the expression of p73 was significantly up-regulated in RFR exposure group (P > 0.05)…’

Germany: When Precaution Creates Misunderstandings: The Unintended Effects of Precautionary Information on Perceived Risks, the EMF Case, Wiedemann et al., Risk Analysis, Published online: 28 March 2013.

‘…our findings do not support the assumption that informing people about implemented precautionary measures will decrease public concerns.’

Germany: Discourse and policy making on consumer protection in the areas of mobile telecommunication and tanning, Schweikardt et al., Communication & Medicine, 9(1):59-70, 2012.

‘…the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) held the view that alleged health risks from electromagnetic telecommunication were not proven, and propagated the precautionary principle. This opinion did not endanger the agreement of 2001 between the government and mobile telecommunication operators…’

Iran: A theoretical model for the frequency-dependent dielectric properties of corneal tissue at microwave frequencies, Saviz et al., Progress In Electromagnetics Research, 137:389-406, 2013.

‘…The model is also useful for the prediction of dielectric properties for high-frequency computational dosimetry, and for understanding the physical mechanisms behind the macroscopic dielectric behaviour in general.’

Malaysia: The influence of human head model wearing metal-frame spectacles to the changes of SAR and antenna gain: simulation of frontal face exposure, Mat et al., Progress In Electromagnetics Research, 137:453-473, 2013.

‘…The gain decreased when the energy source was very close to the spectacles and SAR increased enormously.’

The Netherlands: Geospatial modelling of electromagnetic fields from mobile phone base stations, Beekhuizen et al., Science of The Total Environment, 445-446(0):202-209, 15 February 2013.

‘…average measured GSM900 field strength was 0.21 V/m, and UMTS 0.09 V/m. The model underestimated the GSM900 field strengths by 0.07 V/m, and slightly overestimated the UMTS field strengths by 0.01 V/m…’

South Korea: The effects of Exposure to 915 MHz RFID on Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Rat: A [F-18] FDG Micro PET Study, Kim et al., International Journal of Radiation Biology, Posted online on April 15, 2013.

‘…Our results suggest that 915 MHz RFID radiation exposure did not cause a significant long lasting effect on glucose metabolism in the rat brain.’

South Korea: Mobile Phone Use, Blood Lead Levels, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Symptoms in Children: A Longitudinal Study, Byun et al., PLoS ONE, 8(3):e59742, Published: March 21, 2013.

‘…The results suggest that simultaneous exposure to lead and RF from mobile phone use was associated with increased ADHD symptom risk, although possible reverse causality could not be ruled out.’

Sweden: Reduce the hand-effect body loss for LTE mobile antenna in CTIA talking and data modes, Zhao et al., Progress In Electromagnetics Research, 137:73-85 2013.

‘…Three different positions of the proposed antenna in the talking mode are compared, and the position with the antenna located on the bottom of the mobile handset and facing the head phantom is recommended for minimal body loss…’

Switzerland: Assessing Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields From Wireless Power Transmission Systems, Christ et al., Proceedings of the IEEE, PP(99):1-12, Publication on line: 13 March 2013.

‘…the safety guidelines and the fundamental coupling mechanisms of the human body with the electromagnetic near fields of WPT are reviewed as well as the methodology and the instrumentation for the demonstration of the safety of such systems operating between 100 kHz and 50 MHz…’

Switzerland: Environmental and Occupational Interventions for Primary Prevention of Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Policy Framework, Espina et al., Environmental Health Perspectives, 121:(4):420-426, April 2013.

‘…Prevention is most effectively achieved through primary prevention policies that reduce or eliminate involuntary exposures to proven and probable carcinogens…’

Taiwan: Risks Perception of Electromagnetic Fields in Taiwan: The Influence of Psychopathology and the Degree of Sensitivity to Electromagnetic Fields, Tseng et al., Risk Analysis, Published online: 28 March 2013.

‘…Higher sensitivity to EMFs, psychopathology, being female, being married, more years of education, and having a catastrophic illness had positive associations with perceived risks of EMF-related environmental sources as well as for all environmental sources combined…’

Ukraine: GSM 900 MHz cellular phone radiation can either stimulate or depress early embryogenesis in Japanese quails depending on the duration of exposure, Tsybulin et al., International Journal of Radiation Biology, Posted online on April 11, 2013.

‘…Effects of GSM 900 MHz cellular phone radiation on early embryogenesis can be either stimulating or deleterious depending on the duration of exposure.’

USA: Cell Phone Exposures and Hearing Loss in Children in the Danish National Birth Cohort, Sudan et al., Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, 27(3):247-257, May 2013.

‘…Our findings could have been affected by various biases and are not sufficient to conclude that cell phone exposures have an effect on hearing. This is the first large-scale epidemiologic study to investigate this potentially important association among children, and replication of these findings is needed.

The MMF is an international association of wireless communications manufacturers established to support scientific research in relation to mobile telephony and health www.mmfai.info

The GSM Association (GSMA) is the global trade association that exists to promote, protect and enhance the interests of GSM mobile operators throughout the world. www.gsma.com/mobile-and-health

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the abstracts mentioned in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of either the MMF or GSMA. 

If you are aware of an article published this month that isn’t mentioned here please email articles@mmfai.info

Download PDF

• 6.6 billion mobile connections.
• 45 % of the world’s population uses mobile communications.
• People own multiple mobile devices.
• On average consumers have 1.5 SIM cards.
• 65% of mobile data usage occurs indoor
• Global machine-to-machine connections is forecast to rise from 2 billion in 2011 to 12 billion in 2020.

The Mobile and Health programme has also released a new animation entitled Mobile Networks Are Necessary to Deliver a Connected World

It looks at how increased reliance on data services has changed the way we live and how good mobile network policy supports access to services.

For more information on the programme, please contact Jack Rowley.

Download an Infographic PDF in:

English

Spanish

French

Australia: Air safety watchdog should ease ‘airplane mode’ rules

Use of mobile phones for making or receiving calls remains totally banned in Australia whether on the ground or in the air. But we can see no good reason for maintaining the ban on using them in the so-called airplane mode to read email, news or an e-book or to listen to music.

Belgium: Overly stringent standard causes decline of existing 2G and 3G networks in Brussels, also prevents 4G

There is discussion in Brussels about the potential revision of the Brussels 3V/m standard that regulates emissions from mobile phone masts.

Canada: Expert panel convened to assess potential health risks of RF from wireless devices

At the request of Health Canada, the Royal Society of Canada has assembled an expert panel to conduct a review of Safety Code 6, which concerns the potential health risks of radiofrequency fields from wireless telecommunication devices. 

Europe: Revised Directive on workers’ exposure to electromagnetic fields

The Council of the EU, the European Parliament and the European Commission have agreed on a new Directive that includes new health and safety requirements for workers who risk exposure to electromagnetic fields within their work environment.

France: Electromagnetic waves have real effects on health

According to a recent study conducted on animals, the electromagnetic waves emitted by the antennas would have consequences on sleep and temperature regulation.

Saudi Arabia: Study finds KSA’s mobile towers are not hazardous

A report published by the Communication and Information Technology Commission (CITC) concluded that the radiation levels of 588 areas around the Kingdom, in which mobile phone towers have been constructed, do not represent a health hazard to human beings.

UK: Electrosensitivity – is technology killing us?

Dr James Rubin of King’s College Institute of Psychiatry is adamant EHS is not a genuine syndrome. Rubin is a bogeyman in the electrosensitive community thanks to a 2008 paper that suggested the condition was psychosomatic.

USA: San Francisco takes first step to approve watered-down cell phone radiation settlement

A San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a settlement with the wireless industry over legislation that required cell phone retailers to distribute radiation warning materials.

USA: Should the FCC re-examine cell phone radiation?

There is so much confusion surrounding the question of possible danger from cell phones, that the FCC announcement raises questions about what sort of review will be conducted. 

USA: California court bans checking smartphone maps while driving

In California, drivers can now be pulled over for using their GPS while driving.

The classification was first announced in May 2011 and it can take up to two years for the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC’s) full monograph to be published.

“Although this is not new research, the full report provides important details about IARC’s assessment, including how this assessment relates to the overall health assessment of mobile phone technologies and health,” Senior Director of Research and Sustainability for the GSMA Dr Jack Rowley said.

The IARC Monograph includes a General Remarks section which explains:

“This Monograph is focused on the potential for an increased risk of cancer among those exposed to RF radiation, but does not provide a quantitative assessment of any cancer risk, nor does it discuss or evaluate any other potential health effects of RF radiation.”

“IARC has concluded that some scientific evidence indicates the possibility of a hazard and identified gaps in the available information that should be resolved with further research ,” Dr Rowley said.

The WHO’s overall risk assessment of all health outcomes for mobile communication technologies has started and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

“If mobile phones do substantially increase the risk of brain cancer, the worldwide rates of this disease should be increasing, because mobile phone subscriptions have risen dramatically over the last few decades,” Dr Rowley said.

“But studies in the US, New Zealand, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland have found no such trends. In the UK, the incidence of brain cancer has been broadly flat for the past few decades.”

The IARC Monograph also commented on this point and says:

“Time trends in cancer of the brain have not shown evidence of a trend that would indicate a promptly acting and powerful carcinogenic effect of mobile-phone use.”

Following the IARC classification announcement the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its advice for mobile telecommunications users in their June 2011 fact sheet which concludes:

“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.”

The fact sheet recommends that governments should adopt RF exposure limits for mobile devices based on international scientific recommendations. It also explains that exposure can be reduced by using a hands-free kit, limiting phone use and using in areas of good reception but warns against the use of commercial devices for reducing exposure as these have “not been shown to be effective.”

The audit of every mobile mast on the islands, which took five months to complete by external specialists Red-M, found that the highest reading was only one-seventh of the safety limit.

The Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities (CICRA) commissioned the independent survey of the 80 sites in Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm and Jethou and the 175 sites in Jersey.

Channel Islands Strategic Lead for Environmental Health, Val Cameron, said in a media release (PDF) the results were reassuring for Channel Islanders:

“The emissions from mobile phone masts are one of those issues that can cause the public some concern so it is particularly good news that all masts within the Channel Islands are well below agreed limits.”

The Channel Islands are located between the south coast of the United Kingdom and northern France and includes two separate self-governing bailiwicks, the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. Both are British Crown Dependencies, and neither is part of the United Kingdom.

CICRA commissioned the audit as part of its on-going obligations in both bailiwicks to provide information to the public on mobile mast emissions.

CICRA Chief Executive, Andrew Riseley, said the results of the survey demonstrated that mobile phone masts in the Channel Islands complied with international standards.

He said Red-M had made a series of recommendations which the regulator would implement including:

• To maintain an up-to-date database of all mast sites including new sites, site upgrades and decommissions
• To ensure that all mast sites have appropriate and visible signs
• Annual monitoring of a sample of mast sites, including random testing of low power base stations (or kiosks – usually in telephone boxes)
• To ensure that indoor sites comply with touch-safe ICNIRP limits
• To encourage site sharing between operators

Mr Riseley added, “Mobile telephony is a vital part of many people’s daily lives. The range of services on offer to consumers in the Channel Islands through their mobile phones is increasing all the time and will only continue to grow with the development of high-speed mobile data and 4G.

“These services rely on a network of mobile masts which emit EM radiation. Under their telecommunications licences and planning consents the mobile operators are required to ensure that emissions from these masts comply with the international safety limits.

“CICRA monitors operators’ compliance with these licence obligations and publishes emissions information so that local residents are informed as to emission levels from sites close to them.

CICRA has published digital maps of both bailiwicks on its website, which shows the location of all masts with downloadable measurement reports for each mast.

Research into mobile users’ privacy attitudes – Key findings from Mexico (Spanish)