Possible Effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health
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Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks SCENIHR Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health The SCENIHR adopted this opinion at the 16th plenary of 21 March 2007 after public consultation Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health About the Scientific Committees Three independent non-food Scientific Committees provide the Commission with the scientific advice it needs when preparing policy and proposals relating to consumer safety, public health and the environment. The Committees also draw the Commission's attention to the new or emerging problems which may pose an actual or potential threat. They are: the Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (SCCP), the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) and are made up of external experts. In addition, the Commission relies upon the work of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA), the European Centre for Disease prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). SCENIHR Questions concerning emerging or newly-identified risks and on broad, complex or multi- disciplinary issues requiring a comprehensive assessment of risks to consumer safety or public health and related issues not covered by other Community risk- assessment bodies. In particular, the Committee addresses questions related to potential risks associated with interaction of risk factors, synergic effects, cumulative effects, antimicrobial resistance, new technologies such as nanotechnologies, medical devices, tissue engineering, blood products, fertility reduction, cancer of endocrine organs, physical hazards such as noise and electromagnetic fields and methodologies for assessing new risks. Scientific Committee members Anders Ahlbom, James Bridges, Wim De Jong, Jana Hajslová, Philippe Hartemann, Thomas Jung, Mats-Olof Mattsson, Jean-Marie Pagès, Konrad Rydzynski, Dorothea Stahl, Mogens Thomsen, David Williams Contact: European Commission Health & Consumer Protection DG Directorate C: Public Health and Risk Assessment Unit C7 - Risk Assessment Office: B232 B-1049 Brussels [email protected] © European Commission 2007 The opinions of the Scientific Committees present the views of the independent scientists who are members of the committees. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. The opinions are published by the European Commission in their original language only. http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/risk_en.htm 2 Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Members of the working group are acknowledged for their valuable contribution to this opinion. The members of the working group are: SCENIHR members: Prof. Anders Ahlbom (Chair and Rapporteur) Prof. James Bridges Prof. Mats-Olof Mattsson External experts: Dr. René de Seze, INERIS (National Institute for Environment and Industrial Risk), France Lena Hillert, MD, PhD, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational Medicine, Karolinska Institute and Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Stockholm Centre for Public Health, Sweden Prof. Jukka Juutilainen, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kuopio, Finland Dr. Georg Neubauer1, Business Unit Mobile Communications Safety, Austrian Research Centers GmbH - ARC, Austria Dr. Joachim Schüz, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, The Danish Cancer Society, Denmark PD Dr. Myrtill Simko, Institut für Zellbiologie und Biosystemtechnik, Universität Rostock, Germany 1 Declared Interest (see minutes of the SCENIHR plenary meeting of 28-29 September 2005: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_mi_007.pdf). 3 Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health ABSTRACT The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) has updated the previous opinion on ”Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF), Radio Frequency Fields (RF) and Microwave Radiation on human health” by the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE) from 2001, with respect to whether or not exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) is a cause of disease or other health effects. The opinion is primarily based on scientific articles, published in English language peer-reviewed scientific journals. Only studies that are considered relevant for the task are cited and commented upon in the opinion. The opinion is divided into frequency (f) bands, namely: radio frequency (RF) (100 kHz < f ≤ 300 GHz), intermediate frequency (IF) (300 Hz < f ≤ 100 kHz), extremely low frequency (ELF) (0< f ≤ 300 Hz), and static (0 Hz) (only static magnetic fields are considered in this opinion). There is a separate section for environmental effects. Radio Frequency Fields (RF fields) Since the adoption of the 2001 opinion extensive research has been conducted regarding possible health effects of exposure to low intensity RF fields, including epidemiologic, in vivo, and in vitro research. In conclusion, no health effect has been consistently demonstrated at exposure levels below the limits of ICNIRP (International Committee on Non Ionising Radiation Protection) established in 1998. However, the data base for evaluation remains limited especially for long-term low-level exposure. Intermediate Frequency Fields (IF fields) Experimental and epidemiological data from the IF range are very sparse. Therefore, assessment of acute health risks in the IF range is currently based on known hazards at lower frequencies and higher frequencies. Proper evaluation and assessment of possible health effects from long-term exposure to IF fields are important because human exposure to such fields is increasing due to new and emerging technologies. Extremely low frequency fields (ELF fields) The previous conclusion that ELF magnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic, chiefly based on occurrence of childhood leukaemia, is still valid. For breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, recent research has indicated that an association is unlikely. For neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumours, the link to ELF fields remains uncertain. No consistent relationship between ELF fields and self-reported symptoms (sometimes referred to as electrical hypersensitivity) has been demonstrated. Static Fields Adequate data for proper risk assessment of static magnetic fields are very sparse. Developments of technologies involving static magnetic fields, e.g. with MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) equipment require risk assessments to be made in relation to occupational exposure. Environmental Effects There are insufficient data to identify whether a single exposure standard is appropriate to protect all environmental species from EMF. Similarly the data are inadequate to judge whether the environmental standards should be the same or significantly different from those appropriate to protect human health. Keywords: EMF, electromagnetic fields, radiofrequency fields, intermediate frequency fields, extremely low frequency fields, static fields, health effects, human health, environmental effects, SCENIHR, Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks Opinion to be cited as: SCENIHR (Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks). Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health. 21 March 2007 4 Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ........................................................................................... 3 ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................... 6 1. BACKGROUND ........................................................................................... 8 2. TERMS OF REFERENCE .............................................................................. 10 3. SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE ............................................................................ 11 3.1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 11 3.2. Methods............................................................................................... 12 3.3. Radio Frequency Fields (RF fields) ........................................................... 13 3.3.1. Sources and distribution of exposure in the population......................... 13 3.3.2. Cancer .......................................................................................... 15 3.3.2.1. Epidemiology........................................................................... 15 3.3.2.2. In vivo ................................................................................... 20 3.3.2.3. In vitro................................................................................... 21 3.3.3. Symptoms..................................................................................... 23 3.3.4. Nervous system effects ................................................................... 25 3.3.5. Miscellaneous human ...................................................................... 27 3.3.6. Reproduction and development......................................................... 27 3.3.7. Sensitivity of children.....................................................................