Editor—The claim in the letter by Esprit et al, that mobile phones are a risk when used in a storm, is misleading.1 Although some people speculate that mobile phones pose a risk when used outdoors because lightning is attracted to metal, mobile phone handsets generally contain insignificant amounts of metal.
Following worldwide media interest in the letter, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) responded, saying lightning is not attracted to people carrying mobile phones: “People are struck because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time. The wrong place is anywhere outside. The wrong time is anytime a thunderstorm is nearby.”2 The medical profession is well aware of the misinformation on this topic as pointed out by Cooper.3
The types of injury observed in the letter are also well known4 and Cooper also points out that no lightning danger is inherent to mobile phones.5 Although many reports of lightning injuries affect people who are using mobile phones, these reports represent the ubiquity of mobile phone usage and of their users' inattentiveness to weather conditions and have nothing to do with the phones themselves.5
Furthermore, the claim that the Australian Lightning Protection Standard recommends mobile phones should not be used during storms is incorrect. The standard (AS/NZS 1768-2003, not AS/170 as cited) does not make any such recommendation. It advises people to use mobile phones instead of conventional corded telephones during storms because conventional phones pose a well documented risk.
The real risk presented by this letter is people may not have their mobile phone with them to call emergency services if someone is struck by lightning nearby.
Competing interests: AMTA is the peak body representing mobile phone carriers and handset manufacturers in Australia and is funded by member fees.
References
- 1.Esprit S, Kothari P, Dhillon R. Injury from lightning strike while using mobile phone. BMJ 2006;332: 1513. (24 June.) [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- 2.US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Debunking lightning's connection to cell phones. www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2645.htm (accessed 29 Jun 2006).
- 3.Cooper MA. Lightning injury facts myths, miracles, and mirages, adapted from seminars in Neurology 1995;15. www.uic.edu/labs/lightninginjury/ltnfacts.htm (accessed 28 Jun 2006). [DOI] [PubMed]
- 4.Cooper MA. Disability not death is the main problem. Natl Weather Digest, 2001;25:43-7. www.uic.edu/labs/lightninginjury/Disability.pdf (accessed 28 Jun 2006).
- 5.Lightning Injuries eMedicine Clinical Knowledge Base. last updated 26 October 2005. www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic299.htm (accessed 28 Jun 2006).