Mr Philips noted that members of the public have access to information via the internet and are aware that there are uncertainties relating to possible health effects. As a result, complete denials are not believable. He also feels that media scaremongering can result in unwarranted concern. If organisations such as Powerwatch are excluded from the general consultation process their only recourse is the national media. Although invitations are a matter of discretion, Mr Phillips believes that it is inappropriate for an important public health science exposure metrics meeting to invite non-scientific cellular industry personnel, but exclude critical scientific voices.
Additional caution is warranted because the timescale for cancer development tends to be very long.
In the past the industry has tried to deny the existence of the problem and put pressure on retailers not to stock screening cases as their sale might cause unnecessary concern. He noted that hands-free kits may be sold as Linus blankets and that there are potentially large profits to be made from this business. Mr Philips indicated that as antennas are normally located on the back of phones, wearing a phone on the belt could result in high power absorption by body tissues. He agreed to supply to the Group a copy of a paper by Peter French and John Holt that reported promotion of cancer by athermal exposure to microwaves. The Group asked Mr Philips to explain why he selectively cited only papers that showed adverse effects.