The European Parliament has raised new alarms over mobile phone base stations, calling for higher electromagnetic frequency limits, more prudent positioning of the base stations and for operators to share base station resources so as to reduce their numbers.

The emergence of large numbers of mobile phone base stations in Malta some years back had led to public outcry and health concerns, fears that appear to have dissipated to a certain extent with familiarity.

But not so at the European Parliament, where MEPs this month voted in an overwhelming majority in favour of a resolution calling for a shake-up in the regulations governing not only base stations but also other sources of electromagnetic frequencies such as high voltage power lines – with a specific focus on children’s and young people’s exposure to electromagnetic fields.

While more recent figures were not immediately available, Malta, which measures 316 square kilometres, had over 400 mobile base stations adorning its rooftops in 2006, and the number is known to have mushroomed considerably in line with higher mobile telephony usage and the market entry of new operators running their own mobile networks.

But despite the country’s sheer population density, Malta is one of just a handful in European countries that has not carried out any studies on the potential health effects of electromagnetic frequencies.

Nor has it carried out any analysis on citizens’ perception of the risks involved or examined growing public concerns about the possible detrimental effects of electromagnetic radiation, according to a European Commission review published last September covering the implementation of an EU directive limiting the general public’s exposure to electromagnetic fields.

While the report also found that Malta adhered to both the EU reference levels for electromagnetic frequencies as well as basic restrictions associated with such devices, a number of EU countries have unilaterally and voluntarily chosen to implement stricter reference levels and restrictions, indicating a need for stricter guidelines.

The EP report raises particular concern over the exposure of children and young people to electromagnetic fields, and calls for EMF-transmitting devices to be kept well clear of schools, crèches, retirement homes and health care institutions.

The report also calls for industry players, public authorities and residents associations to negotiate the placement of mobile antennas, phone masts and high-voltage power lines between themselves so as to minimise health risks, and as such ensure they are kept away from schools and health care facilities.

In addition, the House also recommended that mobile phone operators enter into negotiations to share their infrastructures in order to reduce “the exposure of the public to EMFs”.

While calling for stricter regulation and protection for residents and consumers, the report acknowledges the wide use of wireless technologies and other electromagnetic emitting technologies and their benefits to society, but also raises concerns over their “continuing uncertainties about possible health risks”.

The report, which was approved by a margin of 559 votes in favour and just 22 against, notes that industry stakeholders are at present able to influence a number of safety factors – such as the direction of the transmitting antenna in relation to living spaces, and the distance between the site and the transmitter. It also encourages industry players to use that power to give better protection to people living nearby, and to prevent a “proliferation of poorly positioned masts and transmitters”.

All Maltese MEPs present voted in favour of the report.

The adopted report makes a number of suggestions to improve citizen’s access to reliable information, including making maps available on the Internet showing areas of exposure to EMF transmitting devices, a facility the Malta Communications Authority already provides on its website.

The Parliament has also urged the European Commission to undertake a review of “the scientific basis and adequacy of the EMF limits as laid down in Recommendation 1999/519/EC” and to then report back to Parliament – in the light of the fact that many member States have voluntarily introduced much stricter regulations than are required by the EU.

Referring to the Interphone study that began in 2000 – a wide ranging scientific project looking into the links between mobile phones and certain types of cancer, including brain, auditory and parotid gland tumours. With the study’s results having been expected since 2006 and with repeated postponements, the MEPs said they were particularly concerned by the “appeal for caution” from the Interphone study coordinator that “as far as children are concerned, mobile phones should not be used beyond reasonable limits”.

Noting that children and young people between 10 to 20 years of age are among the highest users of mobile phones, the Parliament said it was particularly concerned with the remaining uncertainties about the possible health risks, “particularly to young people whose brains are still developing”.

The report suggests that in order to raise awareness on the dangers of mobile phones, and to encourage good mobile phone techniques, such as using hands-free kits, keeping calls short and switching off phones, that “the Community funding earmarked for studies on EMFs be partly switched to finance” an awareness-raising campaign along such lines.