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RMIT towers in the clear
Kate Jones, medical reporterHerald Sun
26may06THE cause of brain tumours in RMIT staff at the university's Bourke St building remains a mystery.
Health and safety test results released yesterday failed to explain how seven staff working on the top two floors of the building developed brain tumours.
Tests showed radio frequency outputs from two mobile phone towers on top of building 108 were below national standards.Occupational health and safety experts, including specialists from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, have examined the Bourke St building for the past two weeks.
They inspected levels 16 and 17 and the roof of the building, but found no abnormalities.
Sustainable Risk Management Australia managing director Chris Jacka said all the results were well below national guidelines.
"Measurements in building 108 are consistent with those typically found in buildings in Melbourne."
But Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency consultative committee member Don Maisch said exposure to other elements such as electromagnetic field levels could have led to the brain tumours.
"They haven't looked at this issue and they should have," Mr Maisch said.
"Prolonged exposure to electromagnetic fields can affect some people adversely."
RMIT has handed the findings of its tests to occupational physician Dr John Gall from Southern Medical Services.
Dr Gall will investigate the findings for any link to the RMIT staff diagnosed with brain tumours.
RMIT vice-president of resources and chief operating officer Steve Somogyi said health and safety tests would continue on the lower floors of the building.
"Staff and students have been understandably worried about the incidence of brain tumours among staff in Building 108," Mr Somogyi said.
"I hope these results will help ease those concerns."
But National Tertiary Education Union state secretary Matthew McGowan said RMIT staff and students were still anxious and the university had agreed to the union's demands to review the results.
"We won't be drawing any conclusions about the safety of the site until the review process has started," Mr McGowan said.
One hundred and fifty worried students and staff have contacted RMIT's helplines. For more information, phone the university's helpline on 1300 361 008.
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