Airwave Health Monitoring Study

Aims of the Study

What are the aims of the study?

The aim of this study is to investigate any possible short or long-term health impacts associated with Airwave use among Police personnel over the next 10 - 15 years.

Who is conducting the study?

The study is being conducted by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Imperial College London. Full co-operation and support have been given by The Police Federation and Unison.

Why do we need Airwave Health Monitoring?

Following questions about whether there might be any possible health consequences for users of TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) communications systems such as Airwave, a report was prepared for the Government by an independent panel of scientific experts, the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR). They concluded that: current evidence suggests that it is unlikely that ... signals from TETRA ... pose a hazard to human health. However, recommendations included the need for further medical research to examine the possible short and long-term health consequences of using TETRA technology. In response, the Home Office (as it was then called) started a program of National Research into exposure to radio waves from Airwave handsets and possible health effects

Are you investigating base-stations?

No, base-stations are outside our remit. However, the MTHR has recently announced funding for three studies looking at base stations.

What other research is being carried out on Airwave health and safety?

There is a lot of research ongoing at present, for example:

The Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) are the umbrella organisation that are coordinating and funding research into the possible health effects of Mobile Communications. Details of this programme of work can be found here
The University of Birmingham are researching patterns of use of Airwave terminals. Details;
Microwave Consultants Limited (MCL) and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) have or are completing contracts to look at issues relating to Airwave and health.

Health Effects of Airwave

Is the Airwave system harmful to my health?: There is no current evidence that Airwave is harmful to health. However, there is general agreement that further research is required into the possible short and long-term health consequences of using TETRA technology.
I'm sure my Airwave terminal is making me ill. What should I do?: If you have any concerns about your health, you should contact your Occupational Health department or your GP. Moreover, as part of this study we are conducting a neurocognitive study that will examine individuals who are experiencing symptoms whilst using their Airwave radio.

Taking Part in the Study

Do I have to take part?: No, it is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. Nevertheless, your participation is vital to investigating possible health effects in relation to Airwave. This will be important not just to you as an individual, but to future users as well.
What does taking part involve?: You will be given abstraction time to complete a health questionnaire. This will collect information on Airwave use, health, lifestyle, and details on personal mobile phone use. We also need your consent to follow up your health records. You may be offered a health screen, but this is optional.
What is health screening for?: We are currently providing the opportunity for participants to receive a free health screen. This will improve our overall health assessment and give us the opportunity to provide free and independent health feedback directly to participants. Only you and your GP (if you give us consent) will receive this feedback; your employer will not receive these results.
Why should I help?: This study is an important part of the National Research Program funded by the Home Office that is designed to investigate if the use of Airwave radios is associated with health effects. The results of the questionnaire and the health screen will be vital for investigating possible health effects in relation to Airwave use, clinical and lifestyle factors.
What will my health screening samples be used for?: Samples will be barcoded without any individually identifiable labels, and kept in long-term storage. The researchers can then do additional analyses on them, including genetic analysis to look for genes that might predispose people to disease. Future research findings will provide important information for improving treatment of illness, health promotion, diagnosis and prevention of disease.
Can I withdraw from this study?: Yes. If you withdraw, your would be withdrawn from future participation in the study (i.e. not contacted again by the researchers). Researchers would however continue to access data and samples but under the strictest confidentiality (i.e. data and samples will be stored de-linked from personally identifiable information).

Enrolment

How can I enrol on the study?: You can only enrol in the study when your Force or Constabulary is enrolled. You enrol by completing the Study questionnaire and by providing consent for us to examine your future health events
Which forces will be enrolled in the Airwave health-monitoring programme first?: We are continuing with enrolment in Leicestershire, West Midlands and Staffordshire. Thereafter we anticipate participation from Lothian and Borders, Staffordshire, Gwent, West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, SOCO, Cheshire and Merseyside. All forces will be enrolled into the study eventually. Regular updates on the roll-out of the Airwave health monitoring programme will be provided on our website.
How can I arrange a Health Screen: Health screening is an optional part of the enrolment process. To be accepted for health screening you need to complete a questionnaire and tick the relevant box. Your personnel department will then arrange the time for the screening, which will take about an hour of abstraction time.

The Questionnaire

I am not using an Airwave radio: should I still complete the questionnaire?: Yes! Even if you do not currently use Airwave, we still need your health questionnaire. You may need to use Airwave in the future, and it's important that we have health-related information before you use it. Even if you never expect to use Airwave, you can still benefit from the free health screening; and the study will benefit from having information on individuals who don't use the system (to compare with those that do).
Can I Send in the Questionnaire anonymously?: No. Unsigned questionnaires are discarded as we must have your signed consent to use your data in the research. If you are concerned about who will see your answers, please see the confidentiality FAQs, below.

Confidentiality

Will my information be kept confidential?: Yes. Your privacy and confidentiality has been a main aspect in the planning of this research. The study will comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. All individually identifiable data collected will be dealt with in the strictest confidence by the research team, and will not be passed on to the Police Force or the Home Office. All data will be stored securely on a private computer network at Imperial College.
Will anyone have access to my samples?: All of your samples will be coded such that you will not be personally identifiable except by access to the database on the Private Network. The Home Office or the Police will not be able to access your samples. In the future, other research institutions may want to carry out research projects on data and/or samples; however, they will never be able to link the data with your name. Although Imperial College and other institutions may publish reports on the results of data / sample analysis, you will never be named in any of these reports.
Will any information go back to Police Occupational Health?: No individual information will be passed back to Police Occupational Health. Neither the Police nor the Home Office will have access to your samples and will not be able to do their own testing or analysis on it.