SUICIDES 'LINKED TO PHONE MASTS'

[Guest guest]

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.

 

http://www.express.co.uk/printer/view/49330/

 

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."

 

 

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~

To to this group, send email to:

MedicalConspiracies- (AT) googl (DOT) com