Accra, May 28, GNA - The belief that emissions from radio frequency base stations and cell phones can induce or promote cancer is not borne out by scientific evidence, a research scientist said on Wednesday. Mr Joseph Amoako of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission said there was at present no conclusive scientific evidence to prove that radiation from base stations and cell phones posed serious health dangers to the populace.

He was speaking on the topic: "Health Impact of Telecommunication Equipment," at the ongoing International Telecommunication Union's Africa Standardisation Development Forum and Preparatory Meeting being held in Accra.

The five-day meeting is being held on the theme: "Bridging the ICT standardization gap in developing countries for the Africa Region." The Africa meeting precedes this year's World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa, from October 21 to 30 2008 that would adopt working methods and approve the ITU-T work programme as well as appoint chairs and vice chairs of study groups. According to him the radiation exposure levels from the base stations and cell phones are insignificant to have adverse effects on the population.

There are, however, a minority of the population which could be affected.

This, he said, raised the need for more research to clearly establish the effects, if any, on the health status of the population. "But for now the conflicting research does not suggest any health hazards from emissions from radio frequency base stations and phones," he said.

Mr Amoako said the absence of conclusive scientific evidence should not serve as license for industry operators to haphazardly site base stations.

He, therefore, called on the National Communication Authority, the industry regulator, to take proactive stance to regulate the location of local base stations close to homes and in residential areas to stem any potential health hazards.

There is also the need for the regulator to make the holding of consultation with communities before the sitting of the base stations part of the licensing requirements to prevent conflicts. There are currently about eight million cell phone subscribers in the country.