moa general public research autumn 2011

8/2/2019 MOA General Public Research Autumn 2011

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2/39

Objectives

Public awarenessand perceptions ofthe alleged health

risks associated withprolonged use ofmobile phones

Trackchangesover time

Monitor theeffect ofmedia

coverage

Testreactions toproposed

governmentand

industrialinitiatives

Trackattitudes tomobile

phone masts


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Methodology

Weighted to berepresentative ofGB adults aged

15+

Interviewsconducted 2nd8th Sep 2011

1,965face toface

interviews


4/39

Context


5/395

20%

25%52%

4%

EOI = -32

Economic Optimism Index

Improve

Dont know

September 2011

Get worse

January 2004 September 2011

Improve

Get worse

Do you think that the general economic condition of the country will improve, stay thesame or get worse over the next 12 months?

Stay

the same

Stay the same

Source: Reuters/Ipsos MORI Political MonitorBase: 1,008 British adults 18+,10th - 12th September 2011


6/396

59

30

29

21

18

16

13

13

11

9

Issues facing Britain: September 2011

Base: 967 British adults 18+, 2nd 8th September 2011

What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? What do you see asother important issues facing Britain today?

Unemployment

Economy

Crime/Law and order

Defence/Foreign Affairs/Terrorism

Top mentions %

Race relations/Immigration

Change since

August

-2

+4

0

-2

+1

+5

Source: Ipsos MORI Issues Index

+2

-2

-2

Morality/Individual behaviour

Inflation/Prices

Education/Schools

Poverty/Inequality +1

NHS


7/397

22

36

48

57

6871

76 75 75 7580 81 82

83 8587 87 87 88 87 88 90 90

Mobile phone usage has held at 9 in 10

% Usage of Mobile Phone

Base: All GB adults Sep 11: 1,963 (wtd)

Younger

Higher socialgrade

Higher income

Working


8/39

Concerns about

mobile phonehandsets and masts

f


9/399

13%

12%

12%

10%

9%

8%

5%

3%

3%

1%

24%

21%

19%

24%

7%

15%

14%

10%

7%

12%

11%

10%

8%

6%

6%

5%

3%

2%

5%

Air pollution

Traffic congestion

Greenhouse effect

Nuclear waste/disp.

Other pollution

GM modification/ GM foods

Crop spraying

Health risks of mobile phone handsets

Health risks of mobile phone masts

Cancer/skin cancer

Sep-11 Jul-11 Sep-10

Q What, if any, health related dangers concern you most nowadays?

Unprompted concern around the health risks frommobile phone masts and handsets remains low



10/39

26%

26%

24%

23%

15%

15%

13%

8%

7%

7%

19%

15%

15%

15%

11%

11%

4%

6%

5%

4%

32%

30%

32%

29%

22%

22%

11%

11%

10%

9%

Nuclear waste/disp.

Traffic congestion

Air pollution

Greenhouse effect

GM modification/ GM foods

Crop spraying

Other pollution

Health risks of mobile phone handsets

Health risks of mobile phone masts

Acid rain


Q And which of the following are you also seriously concerned about?

Prompted concern around handsets and masts hasdecreased in line with other concerns



11/39

2123

2725 26

2219

2422

26

21

31

21 20

14

20

15 12 13 13 14

9

11

1 25

2

73 2

5 58

3

11

3 4 35 4 3 4 3 4

13

5

Prompted Unprompted

%mentioning handsets/masts as a concern

Base: All GB adults Sep-11: 1,963 (wtd) Results for the August/September 2007 waves havebeen excluded due to inconsistent data collection methodology

Prompted concerns about masts and handsets havefallen significantly in the last year

IARC classification has had no appreciable impact


12/39

21 23

2725 26

22 19 24 22

26

21

31

21 20

14

20

1512 13 13

14

9

11

1 25

2

73 2

5 58

3

11

3 4 35 4 3 4 3 4

13

5

%mentioning handsets/masts as a concern

Base: All GB adults Sep-11: 1,963 (wtd) Results for the August/September 2007 waveshave been excluded due to inconsistent data collection methodology

IARC classification has had no appreciable impacton levels of concern

%

Stewart Reportpublished

DoH leafletspublished

EEA press release;

MTHR summaryreport published

BBC Panorama onWiFi and health

NRPB reportpublished

NRPB publishedAGNIR report

Code of BestPractice published

MTHR

established

FEI/operators launch 10 Commitments;Govt published revised planning guidance

for England

October 1999

Stewart Enquirybegan

1996-98Anti-mast

campaigns start inUK

UK Govt revisedhealth leaflets; RRT

conferenceIARC Interphone;

COSMOS starts

IARC classifies

radiofrequencyelectromagnetic

fields as possiblycarcinogenic


13/39

Mobile phones

The proportion who do not believe mobile phones are


14/39

14

3943 44

4751 51

4844

52 52

45

58

51 51

5760 60

57 57

51 53

24 23 25 2118 17 17

2319 17

23

16 1819

14 14 1316 16 17 14

Aug-01

Aug-02

Sep-03

Aug-04

Aug-05

Apr-07

Sep-07

Aug-08

Aug-09

Sep-10

Sep-11

Disagree Agree

The proportion who do not believe mobile phones aresafe has decreased significantly to 1 in 7

Q I do not believe that mobile phones are safe to use

%

Base: All GB adults Sep-11: 1,963 (wtd)

Male

Younger

Higher socialgrade

Higher income

The proportion believing that mobile phones do not


15/39

15

Q From the following list of statements, please select the one which most closelymatches your viewpoint.

The proportion believing that mobile phones do notpose a health risk has fallen slightly to 2 in 5

Base: All GB adults asked Version 2 questions Sep-11: 971 (wtd)

8%

8%

27%

29%

32%

36%

7%

8%

5%

5%

20%

13%

Sep-11

Sep-10

I believe conclusive evidence alreadyexists showing that mobile phones do posea health risk

I believe there is sufficient evidence now toshow that using a mobile phone probablyposes a health risk

I believe there is sufficient evidence now toshow that using a mobile phone probablydoes not pose a health risk

I believe conclusive evidence alreadyexists showing that mobile phones do notpose a health risk

None of these

Dont know

34%do

40%do not

37%do

44%do not

Over half agree the benefits of using a mobile are


16/39

16Base: All GB adult mobile phone users Sep-11: 1,767 (wtd)

57 55 58

51 52 5357 61

62 60 63 60 59

5356

22 22 19 23 23 23 20 16 15 17 14 17 16 18 17

Apr-03 Mar-04 Mar-05 Aug-06 Aug-08 Aug-09 Sep-10 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

Over half agree the benefits of using a mobile aregreater than the risks; disagreement levels are static

Q The benefits of using a mobile phone are greater than any potential health risks

%

Male

The proportion agreeing that health concerns do not


17/39

17

64 66 66 63 62 6366 65 67 67 67

6965 65

61

21 20 1721 22 23 20 21 18 17 17 18 17 17 19

Apr-03 Mar-04 Mar-05 Aug-06 Aug-08 Aug-09 Sep-10 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

The proportion agreeing that health concerns do notaffect their mobile phone usage has dropped to 3 in 5

Q Health concerns about mobile phones do not affect how much I use my phone

%

Base: All GB adult mobile phone users Sep-11: 1,767 (wtd)

Male

Younger

A d fifth th b t h lth i


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18

Q I worry about the health issues related to mobile phones

Around a fifth say they worry about health issuesrelated to mobile phones

19%

19%

22%

25%

20%

23%

52%

54%

52%

3%

6%

2%

Sep-11

Jul-11

Sep-10

Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree No opinion

Base: All GB adults answering version 2 Sep-11: 971 (wtd)

Results indicate that brain tumours and cancer are


19/39

19

Q Why do you worry about mobile phones? (top 4 mentions)

Results indicate that brain tumours and cancer areincreasingly cited as reasons to worry about mobilephones

Base: All GB adults who worry about mobile phones Sep-11: 180 (wtd)

34%

31%

23%

20%

28%

28%

24%

10%

29%

24%

31%

22%

Brain tumour

Cancer

Radio waves

Headaches


A quarter view mobile phones as intrusive but almost 3


20/39

20 Base: All GB adults Sep 2011: 1,963 (wtd)

Q What, if anything, do you dislike about mobile phones?(mentions 5% or above Sep-11)

A quarter view mobile phones as intrusive, but almost 3

in 10 dislike nothing about them

24%

16%

16%

12%

10%

9%

9%

7%

5%

28%

21%

16%

13%

10%

8%

11%

10%

5%

4%

25%

They're intrusive

Ringing in public

People using them whilst driving

People use them unnecessarily

People are too dependent

Cost of calls

Alleged health risks

Cost of the phone

Children using them

Nothing

Sep-11 Sep-10

Over four fifths deem mobile phones a necessity for


21/39

21

7479 78 80

8480 83 78

83 85 85 81 83

1611 13 11 8

12 10 9 9 7 7 8 6

Aug-02 Sep-03 Aug-04 Aug-05 Aug-07 Aug-09 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

Over four fifths deem mobile phones a necessity formodern life

Q Mobile phones seem to be a necessity for modern life

%


Just under half agree that the advantages of a child


22/39

22

51

4649

55 53

48 44 46

26 27 2420 19 20 19 20

Aug-05 Aug-06 Aug-07 Aug-08 Aug-09 Sep-10 Jun-11 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

Just under half agree that the advantages of a childhaving a mobile phone outweigh the disadvantages

Q The advantages of a child having a mobile phone outweigh the disadvantages

%


15-24, 35-54year olds

Children inhousehold

The proportion that do not allow their children to have


23/39

23

45

53

4832

11 1322

16 17 14

29 30

Aug-07 Aug-08 Aug-09 Sep-10 Jun-11 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

The proportion that do not allow their children to havemobile phones for health reasons is now only 1 in 8

Q I do not allow my child/ren to have a mobile phone because I think mobiles mightcause ill health

%



24/39

Masts

Agreement that mobile phone masts are essential


25/39

25

6370 71 73 72 72 72 70 70

7 7 74

65

6 7 6

Apr-07 Mar-08 Apr-09 May-10 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

g pfor mobile phone networks remains stable

%

Q I believe mobile phone masts are essential for mobile phone networks to work


Male

Higher

income

Around a third feel well informed about mobile phones,


26/39

26

39

36

38 3941

34

3539 38

3637

37

39

32

Aug-07 Aug-08 Apr-09 Aug-09 May-10 Sep-10 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

masts and health; a similar proportion do not

%

Q I feel well informed about mobile phones, masts and health


Two fifths would prefer not to hear about mobile phonesd h lth th i fli ti i f ti


27/39

27

33

4044

28

Aug-05 Mar-07 Mar-08 Apr-09 May-10 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

and health as there is conflicting information

%

Q There is so much conflicting information about alleged health issues related tomobile phones and masts that Id rather not hear it


Equal proportions believe that mobile phone masts do


28/39

28

Q From the following list of statements, please select the one which most closelymatches your viewpoint.

and do not pose a health risk; a fifth dont know

Base: All GB adults asked Version 1 questions Sep-11: 992 (wtd)

7%

8%

30%

34%

30%

30%

7%

6%

5%

6%

21%

16%

Sep-11

Sep-10

I believe conclusive evidence already exists showingthat mobile phone masts do pose a health risk

I believe there is sufficient evidence now to show thatmobile phone masts probably pose a health risk

I believe there is sufficient evidence now to show thatmobile phone masts probably do not pose a healthrisk

I believe conclusive evidence already exists showingthat mobile phone masts do not pose a health risk

None of these

Don't know

37%do

36%do not

42%do

36%do not

Levels of concern related to mobile phone masts


29/39

29

Q I worry about the health issues related to mobile phone masts

p

remains slightly higher than for handsets

Base: All GB adults answering version 1 Sep-11: 992 (wtd)

22%

20%

27%

25%

25%

23%

50%

46%

48%

2%

8%

1%

Sep-11

Jul-11

Sep-10

Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree No opinion

Cancer and radio waves are the top concerns for those


30/39

30

Q Why do you worry about mobile phone masts? (top 4 mentions)

Base: All GB adults who worry about mobile phone masts Sep-11: 219 (wtd)

who worry about mobile phone mast health issues

35%

30%

24%

18%

39%

30%

21%

16%

29%

28%

24%

17%

Cancer

Radio waves

Brain tumour

Headaches


Equal proportions would object and be indifferent toa new mast A fifth would want to know more


31/39

31

Q What would be your reaction if mobile phone operators placed a mast in yourneighbourhood?

a new mast. A fifth would want to know more


29%

28%

22%

11%

7%

3%

2%

I would object to this

No reaction/indifference

I would want more information

I wouldn't object if the mast blended in

I'd be suspicious

I would welcome it for better coverage in

the area

I would want to move

These figures have remained very stable over time


32/39

32

29

22

73

2

28

11

Aug-07 Aug-08 Apr-09 Aug-09 May-10 Sep-10 Sep-11

Object More info Suspicious

Welcome Would move No reaction

Wouldn't object if blends in

g y

%

Q What would be your reaction if mobile phone operators placed a mast in yourneighbourhood?

Base: All GB adults (1,963 (wtd) Sep 2011, 1,983 Sep 2010; 2,024 May 2010; 2,018 August2009; 2,042 April 2009; 1,994 August 2008; 1,994 August 2007)

NB: new code I wouldnt object if the mast blended in added in September 2011

A quarter are concerned about the design and visualimpact of masts

33


33/39

33

6

18

27

28

16

4

Strongly agree

Tend to agree

Neither agree nor disagree

Tend to disagree

Strongly disagree

Don't know

24%Agree

43%Disagree

%

impact of masts

Q I am concerned about the design and visual impact of phone masts


Dissatisfaction with the planning system has dropped


34/39

34

27

36 3638

3335 34

31

36 3539 39 38

42 4139 38

33

2724 24

2624 24

30

25 2421

1820

1518

21

16

Aug-01 Aug-02 Sep-03 Aug-04 Aug-05 Aug-07 Apr-08 May-10 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

Q I am satisfied that the planning system effectively controls the siting of masts in myneighbourhood

%


Males

Those thinking that the Government should do more toeducate about mobile phones has dropped to three fifths


35/39

35

69 69 66 6659

13 11 13 13 14

Mar-08 Aug-08 Aug-09 Sep-10 Sep-11

Agree Disagree

educate about mobile phones has dropped to three fifths

Q The Government should do more to educate the public on mobile phones, masts andhealth

%



36/39

Summary

Summary (1)


37/39

37

Both prompted and unprompted concerns about mobile phone handsets and mastsremain at low levels despite recent press coverage

Two in five believe that evidence exists showing that mobile phones do not pose ahealth risk, a third think the contrary

Over half say the benefits of using a mobile are greater than the risks and three infive do not let health concerns affect their mobile usage

However, a fifth worry about health issues related to mobile phones, with braintumours and cancer being the biggest fears

Over four in five see mobiles as a necessity for modern life, although a quarter findthem intrusive

The proportion who say they dont allow their children to have a mobile phone due

to health concerns continues to decline and now sits at one in eight

A third feel well informed about mobile phones, masts and health. The same

proportion disagree and two in five would rather not hear about health issues relatedto mobile phones and masts due to conflicting information

Summary (2)


38/39

38

Opinion of potential risks associated with mobile phone masts is mixed, with equalproportions believing there is and is not enough evidence to show they pose a risk

Just over a fifth worry about health issues related to masts, the main concerns beingcancer and radio waves

The proportion of people who would object to a new mast in their neighbourhoodand those who would be indifferent are consistent over time at just under three inten for both groups

A quarter are concerned about the design and visual impact of mobile phone masts

More people agree that the planning system effectively controls mast siting thandisagree, but three in five still think that the government should do more to educateon phones, masts and health

A fifth say the Government has done enough to allay fears about mast siting. Asimilar proportion say that mobile operators have done enough


39/39

Thank you

moa general public research autumn 2011

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