British scientists take key role in health study of mobile phones

Cosmos (Cohort Study on Mobile Communications) will monitor the health of at least 250,000 mobile phone users for 20 to 30 years.

Experts hope the multi-million-pound investigation will help settle once and for all the debate about the safety of mobile phones.

Unlike earlier studies which relied on people who developed illnesses recalling their mobile phone usage, Cosmos will pick up diseases and symptoms as they arise.

Changes in people's health will be compared with their usage of mobile phones, taking into account both the number and duration of calls and the positioning of handsets.

Those taking part will be aged 18 to 69 and recruited through co-operating network operators. Between 90,000 and 100,000 people are expected to participate in the UK, others joining from Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark.

The total cost of the study for the first five years is estimated at 5-7m, while the the UK arm alone will cost 3.1m, jointly funded by the Government and industry.

One of the principal investigators, Dr Mireille Toledano from the School of Public Health at Imperial College London, said: "Previous studies have looked at usage for less than 10 years and focused mainly on retrospective use. They've had a short observation period from the start and only been able to focus on brain cancers. We'll be prospectively monitoring mobile phone use and prospectively looking at any health developments."

The scientists will be analysing trends for brain, head and neck cancers, but also multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neurone disease, as well as strokes and heart conditions.

They will also take note of less serious problems such as sleep disorders, headaches, tinnitus and and depression.

Data on fertility will not be included since this is one aspect of health that does not lend itself to a long-term prospective study.

Findings will be released at periodic intervals, and announcements made of any striking results with public health implications.

A report focusing on cancer will be published after 10 years.

The jury so far remains out on whether or not mobile phone usage is associated with any long term adverse health effects.

A report from the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones led by Sir William Stewart concluded in May 2000 that there was no clear evidence of harm to health from exposure to mobile phone signals.