<p><br /> Doubts about the long-term safety of mobile phones could be settled by a major investigation launched by scientists.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Cohort Study on Mobile Communications (Cosmos) will monitor the health of at least 250,000 mobile phone users for 20 to 30 years.<br /> </p><p><br /> Experts hope it will provide a definitive answer to the question of whether mobile phones are linked to cancer, migraines, infertility and other health problems.<br /> </p><p><br /> Those taking part in the research will be aged from 18 to 69 and live in five European countries including the UK.<br /> </p><p><br /> The UK arm of the study is led by a team from Imperial College London.<br /> </p><p><br /> More than 70 million mobile phones are in use in the UK alone, and an estimated six billion around the world.<br /> </p><p><br /> Ever since the technology emerged in the 1980s and 1990s there were claims of health problems linked to mobile phones ranging from brain cancer to migraines and infertility.<br /> </p><p><br /> Currently the jury is out on whether or not mobile phones are associated with any long term adverse health effects.<br /> </p><p><br /> There appears to be little evidence of problems arising after short periods of usage.<br /> </p><p><br /> A report from the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) led by Sir William Stewart concluded in May 2000 that there was no clear evidence of harm to health from exposure to mobile phone signals.<br /> </p><p><br /> However the Stewart Report said further research was needed to settle scientific uncertainties, and called for a precautionary approach.<br /> </p><p><br /> It recommended discouraging excessive use of mobile phones by children, whose thin skulls could make them more susceptible to mobile phone radiation.<br /> </p>
