Vienna Medical Association Calls for Cell Phone-Free Zones in Public Spaces

from Alex Swinkels, International EMF Alliance, The Netherlands, 6 December 2012 (Google translation – the editor of this blog has taken the liberty of correcting the English.) 

People need to be made aware of the use of mobile technology – recycling measures required

Vienna (OTS) – The Vienna Medical Association has called for the establishment of cell phone-free zones, similar to the smoke-free areas in public buildings. This was necessary in order both to minimize radiation exposure and to make people aware of the use of mobile technology, says the Head of Environmental Medicine at the Vienna Medical Chamber, Piero Lercher.

The judgment of the Italian High Court that excessive calls with mobile and cordless phones can cause an 80 percent disability, clearly demonstrates the related health risks. In its view, it was “extremely serious” that medical health advice and recommendations were ignored. Action must be generated by court decisions.

It was undisputed that mobile phones have been established as a viable tool to address many everyday situations, including as a warning system in emergency situations. “The mobile phone, however, as a constant companion, even in bed, goes much beyond the target,” said Lercher. In everyday situations, we already see certain “withdrawal symptoms” in many people once the phone is suddenly no longer there.

Moreover, according to Lercher, there is intensification of recycling activities. He points out that in the production of mobile phones, “rare earth metals” and expensive raw materials are used. However, their production is environmentally questionable: “Rare earths are sometimes even poisonous or the habitat of many people is poisoned, since the degradation is carried out with acids, used to wash the metals from the boreholes. What remains is poisoned mud. ”

Lercher proposes the implementation of a mobile deposit system, so as to prevent cell phones from being stockpiled at home. “Sympathetic”, in his view, is the idea of ​​Ö3 piñata (?), where money from the collection of old mobile phones and network devices is used for charitable purposes.

4.6 billion persons use mobiles

Studies substantiating the dangers of intense cellular and cordless telephony use are problematic in that the period since the establishment of this global mass phenomenon is still too short. Lercher refers in this context to the fact that an estimated 4.6 billion people worldwide are registered as users of a mobile device – and rising. “The dimension of this mass phenomenon shows how important it is to develop rules for a moderate and safe use of this technology,” said Lercher.

Since publication of the “10 medical mobile phone rules” six years ago, they have not lost their topicality. In this sense, Lercher urges a safer use of mobile technology, also by calling on the industry to place greater emphasis on low-radiation cordless phones: “There have been such phones, but they are no longer on the market.”

(SERVICE – The posters “Beaming information: 10 mobile medical rules” can be ordered for free from the press office of the Vienna Medical Chamber – for schools – at Tel 01/51501-1223 DW, e-mail: pressestelle@aekwien.at . The download of a poster is available on the homepage of the Vienna Medical Chamber: http://www.aekwien.at/media/Plakat_Handy.pdf ).

http://www.buergerwelle.de:8080/helma/twoday/bwnews/stories/4493/