THE Office of Utility Regulation sees no reason why guidelines on mast emissions should be reduced. It follows a call from electromagnetic energy expert Roger Coghill for them to be lowered in the island.

He believes the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines and standards, set nine years ago, which are aimed to limit public exposure to radio waves from base stations and mobile phones, are out of date.

A rising number of people are concerned about a possible proliferation of telecoms masts in Guernsey.

‘The OUR fully understands why many islanders want more information on this issue,’ said director-general John Curran.

‘While we don’t necessarily share their concerns with regard to health effects, we recognise that for many people they are very real and it is important that all agencies involved – the mobile phone operators themselves, the Environment Department, Environmental Health and the OUR – ensure that people have enough information to make fully informed decisions.’

The OUR requires all licensed operators – including the mobile operators – to ensure that if they are using radio signals for their networks, they must fully comply with the ICNIRP guidelines on the levels of emissions.

‘We apply the ICNIRP guidelines because they are accepted across the world as the best on this issue and are endorsed by, among others, the World Health Organisation and the European Union. They are employed by governments and health advisory authorities worldwide to ensure the protection of citizens from any potential adverse health effects that might arise from exposure to electromagnetic signals,’ said Mr Curran.

‘Those guidelines are under continual review and are repeatedly found to be still appropriate. The OUR will continue to ensure that operators in Guernsey continue to comply with whatever is the most recognised standard in this area.’

He stressed that to keep this issue in context, the level of emissions from phone masts in Guernsey was audited by the OUR and the maximum exposure reading for 2G services was several thousand times below the guideline levels and for 3G ones, several tens of thousands of times below.

‘I would hope this provides some reassurance on the level of compliance with the ICNIRP guidelines in Guernsey.

‘The exact location and type of mast and the number needed to operate a comprehensive network are matters for the individual operators and the Environment Department. The OUR fully supports mast sharing in the right circumstances, but we recognise that it is often not possible for a variety of reasons.’