THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF NON-IONIZING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION - FINAL STUDY - LUXEMBOURG, MARCH 2001

This Study focuses upon an aspect of how living organisms and humans in particular can be adversely affected by highly coherent electromagnetic fields of technological origin, in a way that is not entertained or addressed by existing Safety Guidelines - namely through the possibility of non-thermal, frequency-specific influences of an informational nature. Supporting evidence is presented, and attention drawn to a disturbing consistency between some of these influences and the nature of certain adverse health effects found amongst some exposed people. On the basis of a detailed analysis of the present situation, a number of recommendations are made to promote a higher degree of electromagnetic biocompatibility between these fields and the living human organism than currently obtains.

Alasdair Philips, BSc(Eng), DAgE, MIAgE
Advisor to Foundation for Children with Leukaemia
Director, UK Powerwatch, (aphilips@gn.apc.org)
EMC Engineer and EMF-bioeffects researcher

United States
In the United States regulation of radiofrequency/microwave (RF/MW) emissions is the responsibility of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Local and state government has authority to regulate the siting of broadcast (radio and TV) transmitters based on the environmental effects of RF/MW emissions. However, the Telecommunications Act (TCA) of 1996 preempts this same state and local authority for the siting of personal wireless services facilities (PWSF), more commonly known as cellular and digital phone service. The language of that statute is found at 47 U.S.C. (c )(7).

At the FCC, it is the Office of Engineering and Technology that oversees compliance with the RF Health and Safety Guidelines. The current regulations are available in OET Bulletin 65 and Supplements OET 65-A, OET 65-B, and OET 65-C.

OET Bulletin No. 65 (August 1997)
"Evaluating Compliance With FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields"

This revised OET Bulletin 65 has been prepared to provide assistance in determining whether proposed or existing transmitting facilities, operations or devices comply with limits for human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) fields adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The bulletin offers guidelines and suggestions for evaluating compliance. However, it is not intended to establish mandatory procedures, and other methods and procedures may be acceptable if based on sound engineering practice. The explanation on the human RF/MW exposures limits is found on pages 75-76 of OET Bulletin 65.

Canada
In July, 1998, Health Canada's Radiation Protection Bureau approached the Royal society of Canada with a request to commission an expert panel to address the public concerns over the adequacy of Health Canada's Safety Code 6 with regard to potential health risks associated with radiofrequency field exposure from existing and emerging wireless telecommunications devices. The Society agreed to do so, and the Committee on Expert Panels undertook the task of screening and selecting for panel service.

The report entitled A Review of the Potential Health Risks of Radiofrequency Fields from Wireless Telecommunications Devices represent a consensus of the views of all of the panelists whose names appear on the title page.

International
"Report from Russia - Electromagnetic Fields and Human Health" By Vladimir H. Binhi February 2003

This letter and report on RF activities in Russia are written by Dr. Vladimir N. Binhi, theoretical physicist and head of the Radiobiology Laboratory at the General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. Dr. Binhi is a member of the Russian National Committee on Protection from Non-Ionizing Radiation and author of Magnetobiology: Underlying Physical Problems (Academic Press, 2002).

United Kingdom
In April 1999 the then Minister for Public Health, Tessa Jowell, at the Department of Health (DH) announced that she had requested the Chairman of the National Radiation Protection Board (NRPB), Sir Walter Bodmer, to set up an Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP). This request was backed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Ministers.

The appointment of the Chairman to IEGMP, Sir William Stewart, FRS, FRSE, was announced in June, 1999. Nine members were subsequently announced in August, and two more in October. The terms of reference of the Expert Group were: "To consider present concerns about the possible health effects from the use of mobile phones, base stations, and transmitters; to conduct a rigorous assessment of existing research; to give advice based on the present state of knowledge; to make recommendations on further work that should be carried out to improve the basis for sound advice."

The report of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones entitled Mobile Phones and Health was published on May 11, 2000.

Information on the work of the Expert Group was circulated to the UK Members of Parliament (659) and UK Members of the House of Lords, to Members of the Scottish Parliament (129), the National Assembly for Wales (60) and the Northern Ireland Assembly (108).