A massive independent probe into radiation levels emitted by Bahrain's 600 telecoms masts has been ordered by the government.

It has been commissioned by the Cabinet in response to growing health fears amongst the public, as the number of masts has soared.

German company Rohde and Schwarz has been appointed to conduct the two-month investigation, at a cost of BD105,000, under an agreement signed yesterday.

A joint committee headed by Municipalities and Agriculture Minister Dr Juma Ahmed Al Ka'abi, with representatives from the Interior, Health and Defence ministries and the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA) has been planning the study for the past year.

The study will start on July 5 and weekly reports will be issued until August 15. The results of the investigation will be submitted to Cabinet at the end of August and it will be open to the media.

There has been increasing public concern over the spread of the masts, said Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife director general Dr Adel Al Zayani.

He said frequent checks were already being carried out, showing that emissions were well below world standards.-TradeArabia News Service