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Breakthrough in cellphone radiation
02/03/2001 12:52 - (SA)
Hong Kong - Hong Kong scientists claim to have made a major breakthrough in the
battle to block radiation waves from mobile phones, which are
alleged to cause cancer, it was reported on Thursday.
A team of scientists from the Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology said a 0.5mm thin sheet of material was the key
component in a device they claimed could block up to 90 percent of
radiation emitted from mobile phones.
Chan Che-ting, associate professor at the university's physics
department, said the team would welcome any enquiries from mobile
phone manufacturers, although so far none had come forward to
express interest in their invention.
"The wonderful thing about this material is that it is ultra-thin,"
Chan was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying, adding
that the protective sheets cost only about 20 dollars ($2.57).
?Production of the material is fool proof, but it depends whether
mobile phone manufacturers are interested."
Chan said the absorption and reflection properties of the device
could block more than 90 percent of radiation at 900 megahertz, the
frequency at which many mobile phones operate.
When attached to front of the antenna facing the user, the material
could protect the brain from potentially harmful radiation
emissions without distorting transmission quality, he added.
Although a number of world-wide studies have reported a link between
radiation and illnesses ranging from dizziness and headaches to
brain tumours, the allegations as yet remain unproved.
Global mobile phone giant Vodafone was recently hit by a billion
dollar lawsuit after users claimed that radiation from their mobile
phones had caused their brain tumours.
Chan was not immediately available for comment. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA
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