U.K. Volunteers needed for phone mast study
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=27470
Volunteers needed for phone mast study
15 Jul 2005
Researchers studying whether mobile phone masts affect
health need your help.
The team from the University of Essex, UK, is
conducting the largest ever study into the impact of
emissions from the masts, both conventional and third
generation (3G), on health.
The researchers from the Department of Psychology are
now starting their testing programme on 132 “control”
volunteers, who have not reported any symptoms or
sensitivity to the electromagnetic fields emitted by
masts. They need to hear from members of the public
aged 35 to 60 who are willing to be tested on four
separate occasions.
Principal investigator Professor Elaine Fox said:
“There is widespread public concern about the
emissions from mobile phone masts, but there is a
shortage of hard evidence based on large-scale
studies. Our testing programme sets out to establish
conclusively what symptoms are suffered, and how
common the occurrence of electromagnetic
hypersensitivity is in the general population. To
obtain this vital evidence, we need volunteers who are
prepared to give their time to be tested under
controlled conditions.”
Testing of electromagnetic hypersensitivity sufferers
has already begun, although more volunteers in this
group are also needed. Professor Fox said: “We
recognise how difficult it is for hypersensitivity
sufferers to submit themselves to our testing
programme. However, the results could aid medical
recognition of the condition to the benefit of future
sufferers.”
Volunteers will be tested in the specially-designed,
electrically-screened, Electromagnetics and Health
(EMH) laboratory at the University of Essex in
Colchester. Each of the four sessions, spaced at least
one week apart, lasts approximately two hours. Testing
takes place over the next 12 months.
To volunteer, or for further information, please
contact the research team on 1206 873784, e-mail
ehstudy@essex.ac.uk, or see essex.ac.uk/psychology/EHS
The two-year £328,000 research project is being funded
by the Government and industry under the Mobile
Telecommunications and Health Research Programme. The
research team has already surveyed 20,000 people in
Essex and Suffolk to find out what proportion reported
sensitivity to electromagnetic fields, and to
establish key symptoms of this sensitivity. The
results of this phase of the project are due to be
published in the autumn.
For further information, or to arrange to interview
one of the researchers, please contact the Public
Relations Office
on +44 (0)1206 872400,
email proffice@essex.ac.uk
Reference URL
essex.ac.uk/psychology/EHS
SOURCE: http://www.alphagalileo.org
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