In the UK, the Stewart Report expressed concern about the potential health impact of RF emissions. What has happened since then?
The original Stewart committee report, published in 2001, reviewed the frequencies at which the mobile phone networks operated. It did not examine TETRA in detail and so did not make any specific recommendations about TETRA technology. However it did mention scientific work, dating back to the 1970s, that implied that radio signals with modulations around 16Hz might have an impact on release of cellular calcium. The report acknowledged that this evidence was inconclusive but suggested that as a precautionary measure, amplitude modulation around 16Hz should be avoided if possible in future development of signal coding. Professor Lawrie Challis, who was the vice chairman of the Stewart Inquiry, has explained that this recommendation was made not because of any worries about health, but merely to acknowledge the existence of this unreplicated research.
