An investigation into the Carnarvon Road cancer cluster is being launched by Redbridge and Waltham Forest Health Authority.
After discovering the cancer hotspot existed by reading about it in the Guardian, health chiefs contacted Redbridge Council.
Now the public health cancer specialist is liaising with the council to try to find out why five next door neighbours, all living within 200 metres of 16 mobile phone masts, have contracted cancer.
A spokesman for the health authority said: "We are very concerned about the high level of cancer episodes in Carnarvon Road and are working with Redbridge Council on the research it has commissioned from the National Radiological Protection Board.
"Once we have the results from this research we can determine how best to proceed and if necessary commission further investigations."
The health authority can order a clinical study into the high cancer rate around Carnarvon Road to discover if the microwave emissions from mobile masts are a contributing factor.
The spokesman added: "It would mean looking at each case of cancer individually to find out the causes.
There are specialist organisations that can do that. But the first step is to get the results back from the board."
November 15, 2001 15:30
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