IRTS News for 10th April 1994 HOW SAFE IS THAT CELLULAR TELEPHONE? ------------------------------------ The concern for danger from cellular mobile telephones is again at the top of the telecommunications headlines. The alleged link between wireless telephones and cancer became news when a Florida man inferred that a portable telephone had caused the brain tumour that killed his wife. Mr. David Raynard, who told his story on an American national TV programme, said that his wife had developed the fatal tumour just behind the ear to which she regularly held her cellular telephone. Mr. Raynard believed that radio waves transmitted through the antenna killed his wife, but offerred no medical evidence to sustain his claim. In response to the negative publicity, the cellular tele- communications industry association plans to conduct medical research to prove that cellular telephones are indeed safe to use. Meanwhile the federal legislators have been considering this subject. Early in 1993 a sub-committee of the US Congress organised a hearing on the very issues raised. The Congressmen heard evidence from a panel of experts, and they all agreed that there was insufficient scientific evidence to prove that cellular telephones posed a health risk. The matter has been further advanced since Mr. Raynard issued a claim against the phone manufacturers. It was disclosed at the meeting that not enough research was conducted on the radio waves used by cellular phones. Doctors from the federal agencies and research institutes stated that the amount of radiation from cellular phones was too low to cause cancer, but were divided on the question whether, if somebody already stricken with cancer were using a cellular telephone, such use might assist in the more rapid spread of the disease. Research on the issue is already underway, and the findings may take up to two years before being published. In the meantime close monitoring of the occurrence of cancer within the amateur radio fraternity is also being studied by the teams. SOUTH DUBLIN ARC ---------------- SDR members set up two stations on 27 March to give the pupils studying for the theory exams some practical experience on the air. Operation was mainly on 80m and 40m, with an occasional QSY to 15m and 20m to work DX in the WPX contest. The new operators were very mike shy at the outset, but improved with practice, and were reluctant to shut down at the end of the day. There were many long QSOs with EI and GI stations, and SDR wishes to thank those stations for helping out. LOUGH ERNE ARC RALLY -------------------- The Lough Erne club will hold its 13th annual rally today, 10 April, at 12 noon, in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen. It is offering the amateur community the best possible cross section of traders, and is also well geared towards homebrew equipment with a company well renowned for their printed circuit boards. The usual raffle will take place, and there will be a bring and buy stand and talk-in on S22. For further information contact Herbie GI6JPO at QTHr or phone 0365 87761, or Alec GI1RBI at GB7TED BBS. IRTS DINNER AND AGM ------------------- The IRTS AGM and annual dinner will be held in Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey, on 23/24 April. The special rate for B and B in the hotel will be 22 pounds per person sharing. This includes a full breakfast and access to the hotel's leisure facilities, such as a 22 metre pool, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi and gymnasium. For further information contact Ken McDermott at Curraghmore, Ballybofey, or ring 074 31109. That concludes the bulletin for this week. Items for inclusion in the radio news should be sent to Steve Wright EI5DD, c/o Dept. of Pathology, Regional Hospital, Galway. Fax messages may be sent to EI5DD at 091 24216. All such items will be forwarded to Dave Moore for inclusion in the printed news. Items for the printed news only should be sent to Dave Moore EI4BZ, QTHr, or phoned to 021 632444 (daytime), or 021 883555 (evenings). Items may be sent by packet radio to EI4BZ at EI7DKB-5. Fax messages may be sent to 021 632730.