Latin American Experts Committee on High Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and Human Health Scientific Review Non-Ionizing Electromagnetic Radiation in the Radiofrequency Spectrum and its Effects on Human Health With a Review on the Standards and Policies of Radiofrequency Radiation Protection in Latin America Organized by: The Edumed Institute for Education in Medicine and Health Independent Research Group on the Impacts of Mobile Technologies on Health June 2010 1 Table of Contents Preface.......................................................................................................................5 Executive Summary.................................................................................................10 Biological and Health Effects...........................................................................10 Experimental Studies..............................................................................10 Epidemiological Studies..........................................................................12 Indirect Effects........................................................................................13 Social Issues and Public Communication.......................................................13 Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Standards and Policies............................15 Chapter I - Radiofrequency Fields (RF) and their Biological Effects.......................17 Introduction .....................................................................................................17 Natural and Artificial Sources.................................................................18 Rationale for this Review........................................................................19 Limitation of Scope.................................................................................20 Biological Effects of Non-Ionizing Radiation...................................................20 In Vitro Studies .......................................................................................22 Oncogenesis Studies at Molecular and Cellular Level..................24 Conclusions of In Vitro Studies......................................................27 Research in Latin America.............................................................28 Conclusions............................................................................................28 Experimental Animal Studies..........................................................................29 The Blood-Brain Barrier..........................................................................31 Cancer Induction and Promotion............................................................32 Long Term Survival.................................................................................33 Latin American Research.......................................................................34 Conclusions............................................................................................34 Human Health Studies....................................................................................35 Experimental Studies in Humans...........................................................35 Nervous System and Behavior.......................................................36 Cognition, Memory and Attention...................................................37 Electrophysiology and Sleep..........................................................39 Vision, hearing and vestibular systems..........................................41 Endocrine System..........................................................................42 Cardiovascular System..................................................................43 Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Syndrome..................................43 Comments on Human Experimentation Results............................45 Epidemiological Studies..........................................................................47 Methodological issues in RF epidemiology....................................48 Information Sources for the Review...............................................49 Cancer Incidence and Mortality......................................................50 Community Exposure Studies........................................................50 Studies with Users of Cell Phones.................................................52 A review of the INTERPHONE studies..........................................55 2 Systematic reviews based on meta-analysis.................................59 Epidemiological Data on Exposure of Children.............................60 Occupational Studies.....................................................................61 Total mortality ................................................................................61 Analysis of time trends...................................................................63 Conclusions from Cancer Epidemiological Studies.......................64 Other Symptoms and Diseases..............................................................66 The Nocebo Effect..........................................................................69 Epidemiological Studies in Latin America...............................................69 Main Conclusions and Statement of the Latin American Committee about Epidemiological Studies..........................................................................70 Methodological Issues of Epidemiological Studies ................................72 Indirect Effects: Interference With Medical Devices........................................84 Review of Research in Latin America.....................................................94 Conclusions and Recommendations .....................................................95 Chapter 2 - Social Issues and Public Communication............................................98 Introduction......................................................................................................98 Risk Perception, Risk Acceptance and Risk/Benefit Issues.........................100 Social Resistance Against Technology.........................................................103 Understanding the Benefits of Mobile Wireless Communication: the Social Impact ...........................................................................................................104 The Issue of Public Understanding of Science.....................................111 Disclosure of Scientific Uncertainty...............................................................111 The Precautionary Principle and Cautionary Policies...................................113 Communication with the Public.....................................................................115 Special Segments of the Public....................................................................117 The Role of Governments and International Agencies.................................118 Ethical and Professional Responsibility of the Mass Media..........................119 Conclusions of Social Issues........................................................................120 Chapter 3 - Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Standards and Policies................123 Introduction....................................................................................................123 International Guidelines.................................................................................124 International Commission for Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)..124 Basic Restrictions ........................................................................124 Reference levels for field measurement .....................................125 Simultaneous exposure to multiple frequency fields ...................126 Basic restrictions for telecommunication services.......................126 Reference levels for telecommunication services........................127 IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz .......................129 Basic restrictions for telecommunication services.......................130 Reference levels for telecommunication services........................131 ITU-T Recommendation K.52 “Guidance on complying with limits for human exposure to electromagnetic fields”. ....................................................131 Compliance of mobile handsets ..................................................132 3 Compliance of radio stations........................................................132 USA FCC guidelines.............................................................................132 General considerations................................................................132 Regulation and Standards in Latin America..................................................133 ARGENTINA ........................................................................................137 BOLIVIA ...............................................................................................138 BRASIL.................................................................................................139 CHILE ..................................................................................................140 COLOMBIA...........................................................................................141 ECUADOR............................................................................................142 PANAMA ..............................................................................................143 PARAGUAY..........................................................................................144