Today's headlines in UK's SUNDAY EXPRESS.

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Sunday 22nd June 2008

SUICIDES `LINKED TO PHONE MASTS'

 

Sunday June 22,2008

Lucy Johnston

 

THE spate of deaths among young people in Britain's suicide capital

could be linked to radio waves from dozens of mobile phone

transmitter masts near the victims' homes.

 

 

Dr Roger Coghill, who sits on a Government advisory committee on

mobile radiation, has discovered that all 22 youngsters who have

killed themselves in Bridgend, South Wales, over the past 18 months

lived far closer than average to a mast.

 

 

He has examined worldwide studies linking proximity of masts to

depression. Dr Coghill's work is likely to trigger alarm and lead to

closer scrutiny of the safety of masts, which are frequently sited on

public buildings such as schools and hospitals.

 

 

It is also likely to fuel more campaigns against placing masts close

to public places on health grounds.

 

 

Dr Coghill said last night there was strong circumstantial evidence

that the masts may have triggered depression in those from Bridgend

who took their lives.

 

 

They include Kelly Stephenson, 20, who hanged herself from a shower

rail in February this year while on holiday in Folkestone, Kent.

 

 

Dr Coghill said: " There is a body of research that has over the years

pointed to the fact that exposure to mobile radiation can lead to

depression. There is evidence of higher suicide rates where people

live near any electrical equipment that gives off radio or electrical

waves. "

 

 

There are now 70 million mobile phone handsets in the UK and around

50,000 masts. Both emit radio signals and electromagnetic fields that

can penetrate the brain, and for many years campaigners have argued

that this could seriously damage people's health.

 

 

The national average for proximity to a mobile phone transmitter

varies depending on the type of mast. The latest masts are far more

powerful so they can transmit more sophisticated data, such as photos

and videos for people to download on internet phones.

 

 

Masts are placed on average 800 metres away from each home across the

country. In Bridgend the victims lived on average only 356 metres

away.

 

 

The national average distance from a new powerful mast is a kilometre

while in Bridgend it is 540 metres. Three transmitters were within

200 metres, 13 within 400 metres and as many as 22 within 500 metres

of victims' homes. Carwyn Jones, 28, who hanged himself last week,

was the third young person in his street to commit suicide.

 

 

Research shows young people's brains are more susceptible to radio

wave energy. Only two weeks ago a report identified mobiles as having

an effect on sleep patterns.

 

 

Dr Coghill added: " What seems to be happening is that the electrical

energy is having an effect on the chemistry of the brain, depleting

serotonin levels. We know that in depression serotonin levels are low

and that a standard treatment for depression is to give drugs to

boost serotonin levels. As they begin to work, the patient's

depression lifts. "

 

 

He said urgent research was needed because Britain was now covered

with thousands of masts, many close to homes, schools and offices.

 

 

Since January 5, 2007, there have been 22 deaths of young people in

the Bridgend area. Some believe the suicides are linked but so far

experts have failed to find a common cause.

 

 

Thomas Davies, 20, hanged himself in February 2007. Last night his

brother Nathan, 19, welcomed Dr Coghill's research. " As far as this

family is concerned nothing can bring Tom back, " he said. " But if

there is a link found and something can be done then it could prevent

further suicides. "

 

 

But Mike Dolan, executive director of the Mobile Operators

Association, dismissed Dr Coghill's research. " This is an insensitive

and outrageous piece of speculation which has no basis in established

science, " he said.

 

 

The Government's Health Protection Agency insisted that fields from

mobile masts – even modern powerful masts – were well within

international agreed safety limits. " There is no evidence that masts

do you harm. The levels of radio waves are very low. "

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