fears
Barry McIntyre
She may have healthy green eyes and a vibrant pink complexion, but this model female head could prove to be a headache for the cellular phone industry.
The unchristened head, packed with probes and sensors, will play a key role in a 500 000 European Union- funded study to measure the electromagnetic waves absorbed by someone using a cellphone.
During the past year, the cellphone’s image has suffered from scares blaming it for ailments from headaches to hormonal imbalances.
Research variously suggests frequent exposure to the microwaves used to carry the signals may lead to brain tumours, memory loss, learning difficulties and fatigue; they may also interfere with unborn children and upset the body’s own electromagnetic fields.
One British pressure group has gone to court to try to have cellphones branded with a health warning.
It is hoped the plastic head – which uses a combination of everyday materials, including polythene powder, salt, water, anti-freeze and children’s modelling clay to recreate the responses from brain, skull, muscle and skin tissue – will help set safety standards for cellphones.
The head was created, complete with real teeth, by a team of researchers at Bristol University. During the two- year study it will be bombarded with electromagnetic waves to simulate regular cellphone use. A second head is planned to compare digital and analogue signals.
Dr Alan Preece, who leads the modellers at Bristol’s Centre for Physics and Engineering Research, was doubtful the research would offer proof that regular cellphone users needed their heads examined.
“It is not thought that there will be problems for cellphone users, as the outputs are low. But it is important to determine safety levels and to provide manufacturers with a standardised measuring system,” said Preece.