Electromagnetic Fields, Mobile Telephones and Health Dr. Matti Rajala European Commission Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection - Luxembourg
Council Recommendation 12th July (1999/519/EC) Covers O Hz to 300 G Hz Limits are based on established health effects + safety factor Applies to the general public (not workers) Applies, in particular, to relevant areas where members of the public spend significant periods of time
Exposure limits Series of maximum exposure levels (called basic restrictions and reference levels) Based on ICNIRP scientific advice, and endorsed by the Scientific Steering Committee of the Commission apply to all devices emitting electromagnetic fields
Basic restrictions (limits) The basic restriction levels include a high safety factor (precautionary approach ) Are specified in units of current induced density inside the human body by external fields (sometimes difficult to measure )
Member States Must report to the Commission on implementation progress after a period of three years following the adoption of the Recommendation Should promote: the dissemination of information and rules of practice in this field to obtain recommended levels of exposure relevant research in the context of their national research programs
Commission Works towards the establishing of European standards : To assess compliance with the exposure limits of the Recommendation For the purpose of the design and testing of equipment
Commission / CENELEC (mandate M/305) Standardization to : define requirements to protect from hazardous EMF effects Low Voltage (Directive 73/23/EEC) Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment (99/5/EC)
Commission To encourage research: International co-operation, e.g. WHO International EMF project 5th Framework Program (12 Mio Euro / 8 projects) FP6 focus on co-ordinating national research: EMF-NET (about 1.5 Mio) EIS EMF (JRC) on risk communication COST 281, Potential Health Implications from Mobile Communication Systems
CSTEE opinion November For radio frequencies 2001 The additional information which has become available on carcinogenic and other nonthermal effects of radio frequencies and microwave radiation frequencies in the last years does not justify a revision of exposure limits set by the Commission on the basis of the conclusions of the 1998 opinion of the Steering Scientific Committee..
CSTEE opinion September 2002 On Low Frequencies : The present ICNIRP value endorsed by the Recommendation provides a reasonable basis to derive a standard but also considers regarding ELF and Childhood Leukaemia that additional concerns may arise at the level of risk management because of the uncertainties stemming from the gap in the scientific literature
Implementation in national legislation Italy: ICNIRP, but in locations where people spend much time or sensitive locations stricter limits. Belgium: safety factor 2 for electric fields, eg at 900 MHz E = 20.6 V/m instead of ICNIRP safety value of 41.25 V/m. Switzerland: ICNIRP but at sensitive locations the emission allowed is 1% of ICNIRP guidelines. Sweden for low frequencies
Local practices Regional variation reported for protection regimes in Italy, Austria, Spain More restrictive exposure limits for installations in sensitive zones e.g. schools, hospitals in Poland, Slovenia, France, Switzerland
Commission strategy Council recommendation 1999/519/EC Amendments Keep exposure limits under review Scientific opinion Research
More info http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph_determinants/envir onment/emf/emf_en.htm (DG Consumer Protection and Health) http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/rtte/ (DG Enterprise) http://europa.eu.int/information_society/topics/health/e mf/index_en.htm (DG Information Society) http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/quality-oflife/ka4/ka4_electromagnetic_en.html (DG Research)