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Bristol academics awarded £250,000 for Cyprus antennae health survey

Press release issued: 26 November 2002

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
Media release
Bristol academics awarded £250,000 for Cyprus antennae health survey


Academics at Bristol University's Division of Medical Physics have been awarded £250,000 to carry out a major study investigating the health of Cypriots living near the large military antennae at Akrotiri.

Professor Alan Preece, Research Fellow in Medical Physics and Elizabeth Dunn, Research Scientist in Oncology, will lead the Bristol team, accompanied by Professor Stephen Farrow, Independent Public Health Consultant and Dr Andreas G. Georgiou, Chief Medical Officer in Cyprus. The research study has been commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Cyprus and the British High Commission (Nicosia).

The study aims to address the concerns of people living near to the antennae about possible health effects. Detailed information about the health of residents who live within one kilometre of the military communications antennae and that of a similar community 20 kilometres away will be collected. This will establish whether there is any difference in the health status of the exposed and unexposed villages. The electromagnetic field levels, both from electricity power sources and the radio-frequency antennae, will also be measured in a sample of homes to give a clear picture of exposure levels.

Professor Preece said: 'Recent media concerns surrounding electromagnetic fields have affected proposals to install an additional antenna which have been met with widespread public opposition.

We hope the result of the study in 18 months will address any concerns about possible health effects.'

The UK Ministry of Defence has had communication antennae at the Akrotiri Salt Lake for several decades.

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Email: public-relations@bristol.ac.uk
Copyright: 2002 The University of Bristol, UK
Updated: Tuesday, 26-Nov-2002 10:44:30 GMT

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