Mobile phones were once considered to be potentially lethal. They had the power to blow up petrol stations, bring down aircraft and get you a particularly deadly look from a fellow commuter on a train.

Now they are so prevalent, some have begun to question the long-accepted dangers of their use.

A study called Cell Phones, Risks and Rumours debunked some urban myths that surrounded mobile phones. The research by Adam Burgess, of the University of Kent, found that a lit cigarette, let alone the low voltage of a mobile phone, would not ignite petrol at a filling station.

The study found that a ban at petrol stations was not based on any scientific research, “but a relatively instinctive precautionary response from those charged with responsibility for safety”.

Yet petrol stations still display warnings about mobiles, which nervous petrol station attendants are quick to make users aware of.

As all airline companies stood together in banning mobile use on planes, the myth remained strong. Now a number of airlines, including bmi, are testing an in-flight service that allows passengers to text, but not make calls, from their mobiles.

The new system was deemed safe because the miniature phone mast on board is close to a passenger's device; handsets will emit only a low signal, so the potential to interfere with the aircraft avionics is kept to a minimum.

It should not be too long, then, before the phrase “I'm on the plane” starts to annoy you.

Explore Health

• Expert Advice

• Health Features

• Mental Health

• Alternative Medicine

• Child Health

• Health Club