Dr Irvine is particularly concerned about possible effects related specifically to pulsed radiation, and notes the views of Dr Hyland regarding the importance of the pulsed pattern of emissions. Dr Irvine believes that even if there is an increase in disease, it would be difficult to attribute it to base station exposures, so precautionary approaches should be adopted. She further stated that the inadequacy of current evidence was not a good reason for failing to adopt a precautionary approach. She wanted to give greater weight to anecdotal reports from those who have been exposed to emissions from handsets and base stations, and noted that Microshield Industries plc maintain a database of such reports. In addition, moves by mobile phone manufacturers to patent protective devices and distribute hands-free kits, suggest that they are trying to reduce the hazard without acknowledging it.
Precautionary approaches are popular with the electorate.
Furthermore, they have been accepted in principle by half of Scottish local authorities and are recommended by the Local Government Association, the British Medical Association, and the Editor of the Lancet . The Maastricht Treaty also advocates the precautionary principle, although cost-benefit analysis may be difficult in this area. Dr Irvine stated that local authorities have a duty to protect the health of children, and that, in fact, Stirling Council has emphasised this promise in a colourful booklet entitled The things children want . Furthermore the promotion of tobacco, the continued use of asbestos and the recent BSE epidemic were all lessons to be learned, teaching us to be careful for once. Subsequent discussion dealt with possible conflicts of interest where local councils were both planning authorities and landlords receiving income from base station sites.