Om P. Gandhi, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, was the lead author of the study of radiation absorption by child-size heads. In a phone interview with 5th Estate, he declined to say whether he would let his own child use a cell phone, or to answer any questions about the health implications of his findings. Other cell phone researchers, however, were willing to comment. He said he would advise parents not to let kids become regular users of cell phones. Dr. Linda Erdreich, an epidemiologist at an independent consulting firm whose clients include the wireless industry, said she is not alarmed about kids using cell phones.
Parents can control that.
Now, Government Regulators Say While acknowledging public concerns about cell phone safety, the FDA says no regulatory action is needed. Nevertheless the agency is urging the cell phone industry to support additional research, to design mobile phones in a way that minimizes exposure to RF, and to cooperate in providing mobile phone users with the best possible information about cell phone safety. Dr. Carlo contends that the industry is not following the FDA s recommendations. He says that people who began using cell phones in the late 80 s should be tracked to see what health problems they may develop, but that the cell phone industry has decided instead to do more laboratory and animal research. Frances Cerra Whittelsey is the Editor of 5th Estate.