Though there is a growing concern about the number of Base Stations in the country being erected by Telecom companies, Nigerians are worried about the hazardous effects these might pose to their health. Studies had shown that there could be increase in fatigue and headaches for heavy mobile handset users or increase in the sensation of heat on the user’s ear, face or head. What about a team of Hungarian scientists, based on its research, that carrying a phone in hip pocket or in a holster on the waist could cut sperm count by nearly 30 percent?.
However, the Nigerian Communications Commission came out with an official statement on the above when it publishes in its website that “there is no known conclusive scientific evidence at present to indicate that radiation from telecommunication masts or handsets could cause such dangerous diseases as cancer among humans”
The truth however is that, it is urgently required that a more research should be commenced by the government into probable hazards this emission from Masts and Handsets has on humans. This is not because there is concern about health effects, but that such research makes sense to quell any public concern.
Although scientific evidence for health hazards of low level cellphone radiation is weak, the World Health Organization has recommended a risk management policy applied in circumstances with a high degree of scientific uncertainty, reflecting the need to take action for a potentially serious risk without awaiting the results of scientific research.
In conclusion, although much more research needs be carry out, regular mobile-phone use is likely to have adverse health consequences in many people who use them. The newer, digital, ones (especially 3G) are likely to have more biological effects than the older, analogue, ones. Although existing evidence does not yet conclusively prove that there are any long-term adverse health implications, we feel that there is the need to advise people to use them as little as possible.
