WASHINGTON-Baltimore superlawyer Peter Angelos is teaming with George Carlo, who headed the U.S. industry-funded mobile phone-cancer research program before breaking with the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) last year, to create a new radiation-protection project that will include follow-up studies and establish a comprehensive surveillance system to help identify any health problems among the 84 million wireless subscribers in the United States.
“We’re putting in place a program to follow up the work of the [Wireless Technology Research project],” said Carlo.
The industry insists most research proves mobile phones safe, but others point to studies that show DNA and genetic damage from mobile phone-like radio-frequency radiation.
The radiation-protection project is under final review by Angelos, who has litigated successfully against asbestos and tobacco companies and is currently pursuing lawsuits involving alleged personal injuries from lead paint manufacturers and from a tape-erasing machine that produces a strong electromagnetic field.
Carlo said Angelos, a multimillionaire, offered to fund the radiation-protection project directly. Carlo said he declined, saying such an arrangement might taint subsequent research. Instead, Carlo said the two men agreed to raise an initial US$6 million through outside fund-raising. Carlo recently wrapped up a six-year, US$28 million research program for CTIA, an association representing U.S. wireless carriers. Most results came up negative, but some findings suggest a possible link between popular phones and illnesses.
Carlo hinted that he and Angelos might enlist the support of U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, who is pushing legislation that would earmark US$10 million for mobile phone research and give local regulators authority to weigh health effects in considering applications to build mobile phone towers.
Scientific data collected from Carlo’s follow-up research could become the foundation for class-action lawsuits in the future.
“It (the radiation-protection project) is still in a formative stage,” said Angelos. But he added, “Obviously if the program indicates there is a connection-a cause and effect between phones and injuries-then obviously we would go forward [with litigation].”
Research targets
Carlo’s program includes a passive surveillance system, which would entail advertising, a Web site and a toll-free telephone number to collect information from mobile phone users who suspect health problems from their phones.
In addition, an active surveillance system will be put in place that looks at the mortality rate of analog and digital mobile phone users from 1995 through 1999. The program also may include screening of individuals identified through either the passive or active surveillance system for specific clinical conditions so that expeditious treatment can be given.
Carlo has targeted additional mobile phone research needs he claims are not being addressed by the World Health Organization, the European Commission and other programs funded by the wireless industry.
The decision by Angelos and Carlo to go forward with additional mobile phone health research comes on the heels of a new federal appeals court ruling that affirmed Federal Communications Commission RF safety exposure guidelines. In addition, a newly published study-funded by Motorola-failed to find an increased rate of brain cancer or other diseases among nearly 200,000 Motorola workers from 1976 to 1996.
At least one top wireless player appears to be breaking with the industry and taking a proactive approach to mobile phone health questions. Metrocall Inc., a leading paging carrier and formidable mobile phone reseller for AT&T and Sprint PCS, has instructed sales personnel to recommend to customers to use portable hands-free headsets and vehicle adapters to minimize any health risk and to promote safer driving.
“We also recommend that parents who are buying for a child or young adult consider a wireless messaging unit versus a wireless phone due to potential health risks as described by the national media and industry research,” stated Metrocall in a 3 January 2000 health and safety bulletin.
Metrocall, based near Washington, is 19.9-percent owned by AT&T, the nation’s largest mobile phone operator.
