WASHINGTON
- Senator Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and Representative Ed Markey,
D-Mass., Tuesday called on the federal government to ensure that
consumers are provided with readily accessible, easy to
understand and up-to-date information on the possible health
risks posed by cell phone use.
In making the recommendation, the two
legislators released a General Accounting Office report on cell
phone safety requested in October 1999. The report concludes
there is a consensus that research to date shows no adverse
health effects. However, the GAO reports, "there is not
enough information at this point to conclude that the phones
pose no risk... The government’s role in providing the public
with clear information on this issue is particularly
important."
Approximately 110 million Americans use wireless
telephones today, compared to 16 million in 1994. By 2005, an
estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide will use cell phones.
"Anytime health or safety concerns are
raised about a widely-used product, consumers will naturally be
on high alert and will want immediate answers," Lieberman
said. "Hopefully, over time, a greater body of scientific
evidence will lead to a definitive conclusion and put everyone's
anxieties to rest. In the meantime, our first responsibility is
to educate consumers so that they can make fully informed
decisions about their personal use of mobile phones."
"Consumer concerns about the potential
long-term health effects of cell phone use need to be addressed
clearly, honestly and without bias," Markey said.
"There are now 110 million cell phones in the United State
alone, and that number is growing rapidly. While the studies
continue, the public should be able to rely on its government to
provide up-to-date information that is accurate and complete. We
need to do more to merit that reliance."
In letters to the Food and Drug Administration
and the Federal Communications Commission, Lieberman and Markey
are requesting the agencies improve out-of-date and difficult to
understand information they currently provide and that they
create an easily understandable web site that combines health
information, explanations of radiation issues, and access to
information about emissions from different model phones. The two
are asking the FCC to expedite the establishment of standards
for testing procedures to determine the radiation level of
phones. And they are writing the National Institutes of Health
and the FDA asking them to review, on an ongoing basis, whether
the government should be supporting more research in this area..
Finally, Lieberman is calling upon cell phone manufacturers and
retailers to make product information already contained in cell
phone packages available to consumers in stores before they make
a purchase.
Statement
By Senator Lieberman
Letter to the
National Institutes of Health
Letter to the
Food and Drug Administration
Letter to the
Federal Communications Commission
