HERMO - Health Risk Assessment of Mobile Communications - was started in 2004 with the aim of studying any possible health effects and risks of mobile communications.
The increasing use of mobile phone has radically increased human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. At present, more than 80 % of the Finnish population have a mobile phone.
Although the exposure levels are low, the high number of users and some provocative but inconclusive scientific results have raised concerns. Those focus on the possible adverse health effects of electromagnetic field exposure from mobile phone and from the base stations of mobile communications networks.
HERMO programme researchers examined radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and how they effect human beings, especially the nervous system and sensory organs. In addition, studies looked for any possible detrimental effects on children and adolescents.
Using cell cultures, test animals, human subjects and mathematical models, the researchers say that their studies did not uncover any evidence of ill effects on health.
The research programme was comprised of 13 different projects examining various aspects of the issue. The research partners were the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority - STUK, the Tampere University of Technology, VTT Information Technology, the University of Kuopio, the University of Turku and the University of Helsinki.
The main funding was provided by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation - Tekes. Additional funding came from Nokia, Elisa, Sonera Mobile Networks, and Finnet Networks.
