Telecoms radiations not behind cancers, says WHO

The World Organisation (WHO) has stated that Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) or radiations emitted by telecommunications masks do not cause cancers or anything untoward to human health.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) quoted the global agency yesterday at the 103th Consumer Outreach Programme (COP) in Calabar, Cross River State.

The commission’s Head of Consumer Protection and Advocacy, Consumer Affairs, Ayan Banji Ojo, stressed that it was necessary to educate consumers following the negative perceptions about location of telecoms facilities in communities.

He said: “Today, there has been some negative public perceptions and conceptions about consumers on electromagnetic fields (EMFs) or radiations from telecoms equipment/facilities sited within their vicinities. This has generated public health concerns.”

“Study conducted by WHO to determine whether or not electromagnetic radiations (EMR) emitted by telecommunications masks are injurious to human health and the environment has concluded that there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak radio frequency signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.”

He noted that the commission, as a responsible public sector meeting international standards set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), would not engage in practices that pose harm to public health.

The Executive Vice Chairman and (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Umar Danbatta, submitted that the programme was to bring together consumers to interface with service providers and regulators.

Represented by the Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, Alhaji Ismail Adedigba, he noted that the theme, Mitigating Effects on Cyber Crimes: The Roles of Telecom Consumers, was, owing to the increased rate in cybercrimes nationwide.

The EVC said the commission had initiated a process to establish an industry code of practice for Internet service providers (ISPs) in the country.