Parents are ignoringhealth warnings by allowing young children to use mobile phones, according to a leading expert. In his latest report, Sir William Stewart, head of the National Radiological Protection Board, says there is still no proof that mobiles are harmful, but nonetheless he recommends a precautionary approach because of the difficulties of assessing the impact of such a rapidly evolving technology. He points out that childrens' skulls are not fully thickened and their nervous systems not properly developed - any radiation from a phone will penetrate further into their brains. Sir William also calls for a review of the planning process for base stations and argues that mobile phone masts should not be sited near schools, saying he is now more concerned about possible health hazards than he was five years ago. According to the latest figures, one in four children between the ages of seven and ten, now owns a mobile phone.
Parents can help reduce the risks by chosing phones with a low emission rate or SAR - go to the Mobile Manufacturers Forum website for information on individual phones.
Do you think children under 8 should be allowed to use mobile phones? Tell us what you think by voting in our Tigerpoll.
The 24 Hour Museum is a charitable organisation funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Its website allows users to search for a museum or gallery by type of collection, location or both. The list of entries included in the directory is very substantial, encompassing the whole of the United Kingdom.
The Enjoy Britain website features links to museums in England, Wales and Scotland by region (as well as links to other attractions). The GoIreland website lists over fifty museums and galleries in Northern Ireland, with the facility to search more specifically by region or county.
For those living in the North West region, Arts about Manchester works to encourage arts organisations to develop familiy friendly policies and programmes, so that the whole experience of attending the theatre or an exhibition is one that families can enjoy. Their Family Friendly site provides information about arts events and activities throughout the Greater Manchester area.
For more information about what’s going on in your area, visit your Local Authority’s website. It can provide details on activities, attractions and services available to you and your family.
Juliet Jones lives in domestic chaos with husband Steve, son Oliver (aged 5) and daughters Billie (aged 3) and Rosa (born 1 May 2003) in Hertfordshire.
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