Nadia Dillenseger-Honoré

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Nadia Dillenseger-Honoré Thèse présentée pour l’obtention du grade de Docteur de l’Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg I UFR de Sciences Economiques et de Gestion Ecole Doctorale Augustin Cournot Discipline : Sciences, Technologies, Sociétés Spécialité : Sociologie des sciences et de l’innovation Le règlement des conflits dans une controverse socio-technique – Les risques sanitaires liés à la téléphonie mobile Nadia Dillenseger-Honoré Volume I Soutenue publiquement le 10 décembre 2004 Membres du jury M. Bernard Ancori, Professeur à l’Université de Strasbourg I (directeur de thèse) M. Baudouin Jurdant, Professeur à l’Université de Paris VII (co-directeur de thèse) M. Patrick Cohendet, Professeur à l’Université de Strasbourg I (rapporteur interne) M. Wiebe Bijker, Professeur à l’Université de Maastricht (rapporteur externe) M. Michel Callon, Professeur à l’Ecole des Mines de Paris (rapporteur externe) Mme Joëlle Le Marec, Maître de conférences habilitée à diriger des recherches à l’Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (examinatrice) Je tiens à remercier Baudouin Jurdant et Bernard Ancori pour avoir accepté de diriger ce travail, pour la confiance qu’ils m’ont accordée et leur soutien pendant ces années. Je souhaite également exprimer ma gratitude aux personnes qui ont accepté de faire partie du jury de soutenance. J’adresse de chaleureux remerciements aux personnes qui m’ont épaulée et ont eu la gentillesse de consacrer un peu de leur temps à l’élaboration de cette thèse. Je remercie ainsi plus particulièrement Catherine Allamel-Raffin, Jean-François Auger, Soraya Boudia, Jean-Luc Gangloff, Muriel Lefebvre, Elke Nissen, Françoise Olivier-Utard, Jean-Michel Utard, Sébastien Soubiran et Françoise Willman. Que Gaëlle Bentz, secrétaire de l’Institut, soit également remerciée pour son aide et sa gentillesse. Enfin, je souhaite exprimer tous mes remerciements à mes grands-mères, mon père, ma belle et grande famille pour leur présence de tous les instants. Le soutien moral de mes amis fidèles et d’Olivier a été plus qu’indispensable. Sommaire Sommaire Liste des abréviations 5 Introduction générale 11 Première partie : Le risque et la preuve : deux éléments clés de 19 la démocratie technique Chapitre I. Les approches contemporaines du risque 20 Chapitre II. La charge de la preuve en situation de précaution : entre vérité et 45 crédibilité Deuxième partie : La justification au sein des processus 100 d’expertise et de décision Chapitre III. Un cadrage de la controverse socio-technique sur les risques 101 sanitaires liés à la téléphonie mobile Chapitre IV. Groupes concernés, promoteurs et logiques argumentatives 152 Chapitre V. Dénonciations publiques et modes de règlement des conflits 188 Chapitre VI. La décision à l’échelle nationale et européenne 283 Conclusion générale 339 Index des encadrés 344 Index des figures 345 Index des tableaux 346 Sources 347 Bibliographie 364 Table des matières 378 4 Liste des abréviations Liste des abréviations ADEEO Association de défense de l’environnement et du cadre de vie de l’Epi d’Or ADEIC Association de défense, d’éducation et d’information du consommateur ADN Acide désoxyribonucléique ADSP Actualité et dossier en santé publique AESA Autorité européenne de sécurité alimentaire AFM Association française contre les myopathies AFNOR Association française de normalisation AFOC Association force ouvrière consommateurs AFOM Association française des opérateurs mobiles AFP Agence France presse AFSSA Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des aliments AFSSAPS Agence française de sécurité sanitaire des produits de santé AFSSE Agence française de sécurité sanitaire environnementale AFUTT Association française des utilisateurs du téléphone et des télécommunications ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable ALE Alliance libre européenne ALLDC Association Léo Lagrange pour la défense des consommateurs AMF Association des maires de France AMM Autorisation de mise sur le marché ANFR Agence nationale des fréquences ANSI American National Standard Institute APSAB Association for the Promotion of Scientific Accountable Behaviour ARCAT-SIDA Association de recherche, de communication et d’action pour l’accès aux traitements ARCS Austrian Research Center Seibersdorf ART Autorité de régulation des télécommunications ASES Association des sociologues de l’Enseignement supérieur ASSECO-CFDT Association études et consommation – Confédération française démocratique du travail ATTAC Association pour la taxation des transactions financières pour l’aide aux citoyens AVOM Association des victimes des opérateurs mobiles BEUC Bureau européen des unions de consommateurs BFS Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz BHE Barrière hémato-encéphalique BIT Bureau international du travail BLR Boucle locale radio BRCD Budget civil de recherche et de développement BVP Bureau de vérification de la publicité CDAFAL Conseil départemental des associations familiales laïques CEA Commissariat à l’énergie atomique 5 Liste des abréviations CEI Commission électrotechnique internationale CEM Champ électromagnétique CEN Comité européen de normalisation CENELEC Comité européen de normalisation pour l’électrotechnique CERAPS Centre d’études et de recherche administratives politiques et sociales CES Comité d’experts spécialisé CETHES Construire une éthique de l’enseignement scientifique CFDD Commission française du développement durable CGL Confédération générale de logement CHU Centre hospitalier universitaire CIARTEME Contre l’implantation des antennes relais de téléphonie mobile près des écoles CICA Comité d’initiative et de consultation d’arrondissement CIO Comité international olympique CIPRNI Commission internationale de protection contre les rayonnements non ionisants CIRAR Collectif pour une implantation raisonnée des antennes relais CIRC Centre international de recherche sur le cancer CLCV Consommation, logement et cadre de vie CLIC Comité local d’information et de concertation CNAFAL Conseil national des associations familiales laïques CNAFC Confédération nationale des associations familiales catholiques CNDP Commission nationale de débat public CNEVA Centre national d’études vétérinaires et animales CNIL Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés CNL Confédération nationale du logement CNRS Centre national de la recherche scientifique CNSS Comité national de sécurité sanitaire COFRAC Comité français d’accréditation COMOBIO Communications mobiles et biologie COMSIS Commission des sites et servitudes CRAPE Centre de recherches sur l’action politique en Europe CRC Communiste, république et citoyen CRIDE Collectif sur les risques, la décision et l’expertise CRII-GEN Comité de recherche et d’information indépendantes sur le génie génétique CRII-RAD Commission de recherche et d’information indépendantes sur la radioactivité CRISE Centre de recherche sur l’imaginaire social et l’éducation CRS Compagnie républicaine de sécurité CSC Commission de la sécurité des consommateurs CSF Confédération syndicale des familles CSIF-CEM Comité scientifique sur les champs électromagnétiques CTIA Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association CTRC Centre technique régional de la consommation DAM Débit d’absorption massique DAS Débit d’absorption spécifique DDASS Direction départementale des affaires sanitaires et sociales 6 Liste des abréviations DDE Direction départementale de l’équipement DECT Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications DG Direction générale DGAC Direction générale de l’aviation civile DGCCRF Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes DGS Direction générale de la santé DRAC Direction régionale des affaires culturelles DRASS Direction régionale des affaires sanitaires et sociales DRIRE Direction régionale de l’industrie, de la recherche et de l’environnement ECC European Communications Committee EEG Electroencéphalogramme EHC Environmental Health Criteria EHESS Ecole des hautes études en sciences sociales ELF Extremely Low Frequency EMF Electromagnetic Field ENSCP Ecole nationale supérieure de chimie et de physique ENST Ecole nationale supérieure des télécommunications EPHE Ecole pratique des hautes études ESB Encéphalopathie spongiforme bovine ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute FAQ Foire aux questions FCC Federal Communications Commission FCPE Fédération des conseils de parents d’élèves FDA Food and Drug Administration FFSA Fédération française des sociétés d’assurance FGF Forschungsgemeinschaft Funk e.V. FM Frequency Modulation FMI Fonds monétaire international FNAUT Fédération nationale des usagers de transports FSC Fondation science et conscience FTRD France Télécom recherche et développement GDR Groupement de recherche GIS Groupement d’intérêt scientifique GPEI Groupement parents d’élèves indépendants GPRS General Packet Radio Service GSM Global System for Mobile communications HLM Habitation à loyer modéré HT Haute tension IAC International Advisory Committee IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer ICNIRP International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection IDDRI Institut du développement durable et des institutions internationales IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IEGMP Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones IGUMED Interdisziplinäre Gesellschaft für Umweltmedizin e.V. IMM Institutet för Miljömedicin INC Institut national de la consommation 7 Liste des abréviations INDECOSA-CGT Association pour l’information et la défense des consommateurs salariés – Confédération générale du travail INERIS Institut national de l’environnement industriel et des risques INRA Institut
Recommended publications
  • EHC 238 Front Pages Final.Fm
    This report contains the collective views of an international group of experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the International Commission of Non- Ionizing Radiation Protection, the International Labour Organization, or the World Health Organization. Environmental Health Criteria 238 EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY FIELDS Published under the joint sponsorship of the International Labour Organization, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, and the World Health Organization. WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Extremely low frequency fields. (Environmental health criteria ; 238) 1.Electromagnetic fields. 2.Radiation effects. 3.Risk assessment. 4.Envi- ronmental exposure. I.World Health Organization. II.Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals. III.Series. ISBN 978 92 4 157238 5 (NLM classification: QT 34) ISSN 0250-863X © World Health Organization 2007 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e- mail: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: [email protected]). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Prospects for Nuclear Energy in Asia Hooman Peimani
    2012 Summit Papers Prospects for Nuclear Energy in Asia Hooman Peimani All 2012 Summit Papers are available for download from www.nbr.org. HOOMAN PEIMANI is Head of the Energy Security Division and Principal Fellow at the Energy Studies Institute at the National University of Singapore. He can be reached at <[email protected]>. Pacific Energy Summit • 2012 Summit Papers • Peimani EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This paper outlines the reasons for Asia’s interest in nuclear power and argues that despite the 2011 disaster at Fukushima, the region will continue to be the main arena for expanding the use of nuclear power. Main Argument Asia has established itself as the world’s largest energy consumer, accounting for 45.2% of the global energy consumption in 2010. Today, fossil energy accounts for the bulk of regional energy requirements, but many factors have demanded diversification of the region’s energy mix to include non-fossil energy—particularly nuclear power, which can provide clean energy on a large scale and in a reliable manner. While concerns about the safety of nuclear reactors are legitimate, they are not a strong argument for dismissing nuclear energy. Consequently, safety concerns have not resulted in serious plans in Asia to reverse or downsize nuclear energy programs in its countries with active programs or serious existing plans. Policy Implications The Asia-Pacific region has been growing at a significant rate, which ensures a high and increasing demand for goods and services. In turn, such economic momentum has unsurprisingly ensured a large and growing demand for energy in the region.
    [Show full text]
  • Health Risk Assessment of Electromagnetic Fields
    ! ! ! Attachment!1! Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine, 25: 197–200, 2006 Copyright © Informa Healthcare ISSN 1536-8378 print DOI: 10.1080/15368370601034003 Benevento Resolution 2006 The International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety (ICEMS) held an international conference entitled. The Precautionary EMF Approach: Rationale, Legislation and Implementation, hosted by the City of Benevento, Italy, on February 22–24, 2006. The meeting was dedicated to W. Ross Adey, M.D. (1922–2004). The scientists at the conference endorsed and extended the 2002 Catania Resolution and resolved that: 1. More evidence has accumulated suggesting that there are adverse health effects from occupational and public exposures to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields, or EMF1, at current exposure levels. What is needed, but not yet realized, is a comprehensive, independent, and transparent examination of the evidence pointing to this emerging, potential public health issue. 2. Resources for such an assessment are grossly inadequate despite the explosive growth of technologies for wireless communications as well as the huge For personal use only. ongoing investment in power transmission. 3. There is evidence that present sources of funding bias the analysis and interpretation of research findings towards rejection of evidence of possible public health risks. 4. Arguments that weak (low intensity) EMF cannot affect biological systems do not represent the current spectrum of scientific opinion. 5. Based on our review of the science, biological effects can occur from exposures to both extremely low frequency fields (ELF EMF) and radiation Electromagn Biol Med Downloaded from informahealthcare.com by Gazi Univ. on 04/25/13 frequency fields (RF EMF). Epidemiological and in vivo as well as in vitro experimental evidence demonstrates that exposure to some ELF EMF can increase cancer risk in children and induce other health problems in both children and adults.
    [Show full text]
  • World Health Organization, Extremely Low Frequency Fields, 2007
    This report contains the collective views of an international group of experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the International Commission of Non- Ionizing Radiation Protection, the International Labour Organization, or the World Health Organization. Environmental Health Criteria 238 EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY FIELDS Published under the joint sponsorship of the International Labour Organization, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, and the World Health Organization. WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Extremely low frequency fields. (Environmental health criteria ; 238) 1.Electromagnetic fields. 2.Radiation effects. 3.Risk assessment. 4.Envi- ronmental exposure. I.World Health Organization. II.Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals. III.Series. ISBN 978 92 4 157238 5 (NLM classification: QT 34) ISSN 0250-863X © World Health Organization 2007 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from WHO Press, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel.: +41 22 791 3264; fax: +41 22 791 4857; e- mail: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications – whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution – should be addressed to WHO Press, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; e-mail: [email protected]). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Conflicts of Interest and Misleading Statements in Official Reports About
    magnetochemistry Article Conflicts of Interest and Misleading Statements in Official Reports about the Health Consequences of Radiofrequency Radiation and Some New Measurements of Exposure Levels Susan Pockett School of Psychology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand; [email protected] Received: 29 March 2019; Accepted: 25 April 2019; Published: 5 May 2019 Abstract: Official reports to governments throughout the Western world attempt to allay public concern about the increasing inescapability of the microwaves (also known as radiofrequency radiation or RF) emitted by “smart” technologies, by repeating the dogma that the only proven biological effect of RF is acute tissue heating, and assuring us that the levels of radiation to which the public are exposed are significantly less than those needed to cause acute tissue heating. The present paper first shows the origin of this “thermal-only” dogma in the military paranoia of the 1950s. It then reveals how financial conflict of interest and intentionally misleading statements have been powerful factors in preserving that dogma in the face of now overwhelming evidence that it is false, using one 2018 report to ministers of the New Zealand government as an example. Lastly, some new pilot measurements of ambient RF power densities in Auckland city are reported and compared with levels reported in other cities, various international exposure limits, and levels shown scientifically to cause biological harm. It is concluded that politicians in the Western world should stop accepting soothing reports from individuals with blatant conflicts of interest and start taking the health and safety of their communities seriously. Keywords: radiofrequency radiation; RF; microwave; cellphone; smart technology; public health; cancer; diabetes; depression; dementia 1.
    [Show full text]
  • IHMRI Annual Report 2014-2015
    ANNUAL REPORT 2014–2015 CONTENTS OVERVIEW 1 Message from the IHMRI Chair 3 About IHMRI 4 RESEARCH PROGRAM 5 Research Program Highlights 6 Chronic Conditions and Lifestyle 7 Diagnostics and Therapeutics 13 Mental Health and the Ageing Brain 20 Illawarra Insights 24 IHMRI-AFFILIATED RESEARCHERS AND NETWORK 27 IHMRI-Affiliated Researchers 28 Collaborators 29 IHMRI Network 30 GRANT SUCCESS 31 Australian Competitive Grants 32 Other Grant Programs 35 IHMRI Grants 36 MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS 39 Achievements 40 GOVERNANCE INFORMATION 49 Board and Committees 50 Stakeholder Support 51 FINANCIAL INFORMATION 52 PUBLICATIONS 53 CONTACT DETAILS Communications Coordinator Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute Building 32, University of Wollongong campus, Front Cover: IHMRI Chair, New South Wales, Australia, 2522 Professor Alan Pettigrew with Dr Aleta Pupovac who this year T: +61 2 4221 4333 completed a PhD in immunology. F: +61 2 4221 8130 E: [email protected] CONTACT DETAILS Communications Coordinator Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute Building 32, University of Wollongong campus, New South Wales, Australia, 2522 OVERVIEW T: +61 2 4221 4333 F: +61 2 4221 8130 Above: IHMRI Post Doc Dr Hua (Peter) Zhao (back) with E: [email protected] PhD candidate, Benjamin Buckley. 1 OUR VISION Excellence, innovation and growth in health and medical research, supporting better health care and leading to a healthier Illawarra community. OUR PURPOSE To build a nationally and internationally-recognised centre of health and medical research targeting regionally- relevant health improvements through novel treatments, better clinical practice and preventative health. OUR GOALS • achieve excellence, innovation and translation in targeted health and medical research • enhance the resourcing of health and medical research in the region • shape an environment that builds research capacity and fosters collaboration • inform and engage our local community, the broader public and international audiences • continually develop our organisation and our people for a sustainable future.
    [Show full text]
  • Characterization of Radiation Dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Due to Natural Radionuclides in Soils from Some Cities in Southwestern Nigeria
    Research Article J Forensic Sci & Criminal Inves Volume - 10 Issue 4 - September 2018 Copyright © All rights are reserved by Ibikunle Sunday Babatunde DOI: 10.19080/JFSCI.2018.10.555793 Characterization of Radiation dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Due to Natural Radionuclides in soils from Some Cities in Southwestern Nigeria Ibikunle SB*, Arogunjo AM and Ajayi OS Departmet of physics, federal university of technology, Nigeria Submission: August 15, 2018; Published: September 10, 2018 *Corresponding author: Ibikunle Sunday Babatunde, Department of Physics, The Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria, Tel: Email: Abstract Southwestern Nigeria. The samples were analysed for radioactivity using the co-axial type Hyper-Pure Germanium (HPGe) detector (CANBERRA, U.S.).Activity The mean concentrations activity concentrations of natural radionuclides of 40K, 226Ra, 232andTh artificial and 137Cs radio were caesium 477.69 Bq have kg-1 been, 52.05 determined Bq kg-1, 85.84 in soil Bq samples kg-1 and from 1.60 thirty-six Bq kg-1, respectively. locations in The radium equivalent concentration and the external and internal hazard indices were estimated to range from 28.47 to 701.53 Bq kg-1, 0.08 to 1.89, and 0.10 to 2.33, with mean values of 210.57 Bq kg-1, 0.57, and 0.71, respectively. The mean absorbed dose and the mean annual outdoor effective dose equivalent in soil samples were 95.40 nGy h-1 and 0.117 mSv y-1 respectively. The mean annual effective dose equivalent for the study area is higher than the world average (0.07 mSv y-1) and international permissible standards of 0.1 mSv y-1 recommended by World Health Organization (WHO).
    [Show full text]
  • 3Rd International EMF Seminar in China 13-17 October 2003 Guilin, China
    3rd International EMF Seminar in China 13-17 October 2003 Guilin, China Meeting Summary The 3rd International EMF Seminar in China: Electromagnetic Fields and Biological Effects, which was postponed due to the SARS epidemic from 18-22 April to 13-17 October 2003, was held in Guilin, China. The meeting was sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, and hosted by the Bioelectromagnetic Laboratory, Zhejiang University, and the National Institute for Environmental Health and Related Product Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 136 participants came to the seminar from China, Hong Kong China, Taiwan China, Japan, Korea, USA, Australia, Russia, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Belgium, Finland, Austria, Bulgaria, Brazil, Malaysia, and Singapore. Among the participants, 79 were domestic and 57 were foreign attendees. The organizing committee was happy to see representatives from the Chinese government departments, e.g. State Council, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information Industry, State Environmental Protection Administration, State Administration of Radio, Film & TV, and Standardization Administration of China, etc. Meanwhile, three international organizations sent official representatives to the meeting, including Dr. Michael Repacholi, Coordinator of the International EMF Project from WHO, Dr. Shengli Niu from the International Labour Oraganization, and Dr. Bernard Veyret from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The conference accepted 111 abstracts/papers, and 98 of them were reported in different sessions. The seminar provided a central forum covering all aspects of electromagnetic fields (EMF), including direct current (DC), extremely low frequency (ELF), and radio frequency (RF) fields.
    [Show full text]
  • WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH Report of the WMO-WHO Meeting of Experts on Standardization of UV Indi
    qAvJ 1'2.1- T.D <J ZI I WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH '- No. 127 Report of the WMO-WHO Meeting of Experts on Standardization of UV Indices and their Dissemination to the Public (les Diablerets, Switzerlaod, 21-24 July 1997) "r•T\Y • t'01/-'' ', I. ~V ~~) ' "'""-!!o ..,..:.,.,·· ___ r.. ._,_~I'Ti lh \J./ ,.;; f} er . 'f ~-/: <--· ... : ·"' :· J ?. ~ ..: j, - •• • WMO/TD-No. 921 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OPENING OF THE MEETING ............................................................... 1 2. MEETING ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................ 1 3. MEASUREMENTS, MODELLING AND QUALITY CONTROL ............... 2 4. UV INDEX PROGRAMMES ................................................................... 5 5. EFFECTIVENESS OF INDICES AND DISSEMINATION TO THE PUBLIC .................................................................................... 7 6. CLOSURE OF THE MEETING ............................................................. 11 ANNEX A: Agenda ................................................................................... 13 ANNEX 8: Meeting Programme ............................................................... 15 ANNEX C: List of Participants .................................................................. 19 ANNEX D: Presentations to the session on Measurements, Modelling and Quality Control .................................................................. 27 ANNEXE: Presentations to the session of UV Index Programmes .......... 93 ANNEX F: Presentations to the
    [Show full text]
  • Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health
    Recent years have witnessed an unprecedented Electromagnetic fields increase in the number and diversity of sources of electromagnetic fields (EMF) used for individual, and public health industrial and commercial purposes. Television, radio, computers, mobile cellular phones, micro- wave ovens, radar, and equipment used in industry, medicine, and commerce are just some of these sources. They have made our life richer and easier. Modern society is inconceivable without computers, television, and radio. Mobile phones have greatly enhanced communication between individuals and have facilitated the dispatch of emergency medical and police aid to persons in both urban and rural environments. Radar makes air travel much safer. At the same time, there is concern about possible health risks associated with the use of these and other technologies that utilize EMF. Human-made EMF associated with these uses belong to that part of the electromagnetic spec- trum called non-ionizing radiation (NIR) because its photon energies are too weak to break atomic bonds. They include ultraviolet (UV) radiation, vis- ible light, infrared radiation, radiofrequency (RF) and microwave fields, extremely low frequency fields (ELF), and static electric and magnetic fields. Some scientific studies have implicated RF waves associated with modern technologies in in- creased risks of cancer, particularly in children. Evi- dence has been adduced suggesting that environ- mental exposures to these fields may cause memory loss, reduced fertility, and adverse changes in the behavior and development of children. To date, epidemiologic studies attempting to confirm such an association have yielded inconsistent results, partly because of differences in design, execution, and method of interpretation. Potential RF associa- tions with disease must be investigated until they are either established or disproved.
    [Show full text]
  • Briefing for the States of Jersey Sub-Panel on Mobile Phone Masts Dr Michael Repacholi Former Coordinator, Radiation and Environ
    Briefing for the States of Jersey Sub-Panel on Mobile Phone Masts Dr Michael Repacholi Former Coordinator, Radiation and Environmental Health, World Health Organization From February 2007, Visiting Professor, University of Rome, Italy Qualifications A brief summary of my qualifications and professional status is given as Appendix 1. My main experience on mobile telephony and health comes from the 11 years I spent managing the International Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. During this period I was Coordinator of the Radiation and Environmental Unit that was responsible for the entire radiation health and safety programme within WHO. I was also the only foreign specialist on the much quoted UK Stewart Committee investigating mobile phones and health. I retired from WHO on 30 June 2006, and so I do not represent or speak on their behalf, but have a very good knowledge of WHO’s operating procedures, activities and publications. Introduction The Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel established a Sub-Panel to consider public concerns relating to perceived health effects resulting from the increase in applications for mobile phone mast installations, following the recent expansion of the mobile telephony market. In undertaking this review the Sub-Panel will have regard to Advice provided by the Health Protection Department; International standards and best practice in respect of health precautions; Health concerns raised by the Public; and Reporting its findings and recommendations to the States. My briefing to the Sub-Panel is in response to a general call for evidence prior to the hearing dates.
    [Show full text]
  • THE INTERNATIONAL EMF PROJECT Minutes of the 10Th Meeting of the International Advisory Committee 13-14 June 2005 Geneva, Switzerland
    THE INTERNATIONAL EMF PROJECT Minutes of the 10th Meeting of the International Advisory Committee 13-14 June 2005 Geneva, Switzerland Note that all presentations made at the IAC meeting are available at: http://www.who.int/pehemf/meetings/archive/iac_geneva_june2005/en/index.html Dr Michael Repacholi, WHO Co-ordinator, Radiation and Environmental Health Unit, welcomed the participants to the 10th Anniversary Meeting of the International Advisory Committee (IAC) of the WHO International Electromagnetic Fields Project. Dr Bernard Veyret (France) was elected chairman and Dr. Qinghua He (China) was elected vice chairman. Dr Michael Repacholi then presented the Project's organization and update of activities. This year, there were nearly 80 attendees at the IAC. New countries and entities included Bahrain, Greece, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority and Portugal and new representatives of several member countries have joined the EMF Project since last year. Report on WHO Static Fields Health Risk Assessment Dr Eric van Rongen presented a report on the WHO Health Risk Assessment of static fields. The EHC was to include both Static and Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Fields, but a review of the literature revealed an extensive database for static fields themselves and it was decided to develop separate EHCs for ELF and Static Fields. A task group meeting for Static Fields EHC was held in WHO, Geneva on 6-10 December 2004. Follow-up work including scientific editing, reference checking and language editing has been finalized. Translation of the summary and recommendations in various languages is in progress. Report on Progress report on WHO ELF Fields Health Risk Assessment Dr Emilie van Deventer presented a progress report on the WHO ELF Fields Health Risk Assessment, outlining the background to WHO EHC, existing and proposed EHCs on EMF, the EHC process, progress with the daft of EHC and current timetable.
    [Show full text]