Dr. A. Burgess, University of Kent , UK is a well-known researcher. He is interested in risk, and his focus has been on the issue of health anxieties surrounding radiation-producing technologies, especially mobile phones. He published several papers on investigations into the ongoing issue of restricting the usage of cellular phones at gas stations because of their alleged capacity to ignite fuel vapour. The restrictions are fairly old and vary from country to country. In the UK , the initial ban was not based on any scientific research. It was a precautionary response from those charged with responsibility for safety at filling stations in the UK . 

As the popularity of cell phones grew, major cell phone manufacturers printed warnings in their owners' manuals not to use them at gas stations because of the risk of fire. Again, there was no proof that a cell phone could spark an explosion. The printing of warnings effectively compounded the rumour or "urban legend” that a cell phone could trigger a gasoline fire. 

British Petroleum's fire safety officer Richard Coates believes that the warnings by cell phone manufacturers is the largest contributing factor to the idea that the cell phone might spark an explosion. The warning signs against cell phone use that exist at service stations were largely a response to cell phone manufacturers' own warnings.

It is not surprising that some in the oil industry reacted with similar caution when those who actually manufacture these devices apparently concluded there might be a problem. By the end of 1990's it became obvious that it was not beneficial for manufacturers to play a role in further stigmatizing cell phones as potentially dangerous. The cell phone industry came up with a new internationally harmonized text, instructing users to obey whatever signage exists and turn off the device if instructed to do so.

Dr. A. Burgess studied all formal reports on gas station fires in great detail. He established the fact that there has not been a single confirmed incident where a cell phone has ignited gasoline vapors. There is now official acknowledgement of a lack of any evidence that a spark caused by a cell phone would ignite gasoline vapours.

Use of cellular phones at gas stations will not ignite a fire or cause an explosion.

The principle issue is therefore one of potential customer distraction when refueling and speaking on a cell phone at the same time. Cellular phones can be distracting when filling a vehicle with highly flammable gasoline. That is why some gas stations still have signs asking customers not to use these devices when refueling. 

A substantiated gas station hazard relevant to the general public is fires caused by body static (Electrostatic Discharge). Numerous instances of this little known problem have resulted in static-initiated fires, and are the real culprit behind the incidents that have been blamed on cell phones.

Source: Vera Pacher, Radio Frequency Safety Engineer Safety Digest /April 2007