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A
new report raising concerns about the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on human health calls for tougher
safety standards to regulate radiation from mobile phones, power lines and many other sources of exposure in
daily life.
The report, 'Bioinitiative: A Rationale for a
Biologically-Based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields' was compiled by the
BioInitiative Working Group, an international group of scientists, researchers and public health policy
professionals.
The EEA (European Environmental Agency) has contributed to this new
report with a chapter drawn from the EEA study 'Late lessons from early warnings: the precautionary principle
1896–2000' published in 2001. See -
http://reports.eea.europa.eu/environmental_issue_report_2001_22/en
[the chapter on Radiation relates to ionising radiation rather than wireless or non-ionising radiation.
The EEA study reviews the histories of a selection of public and
environmental hazards, such as asbestos, benzene and PCBs, from the first scientifically based early warnings
about potential harm, to subsequent precautionary and preventive measures. Cases on tobacco smoking and
lead in petrol are forthcoming.
Although the EEA does not have specific expertise in EMF, the case
studies of public hazards analysed in the "Late Lessons ..." publication show that harmful exposures
can be widespread before there is both 'convincing' evidence of harm from long-term exposures, and biological
understanding of how that harm is caused.
'There are many examples of the failure to use the precautionary
principle in the past, which have resulted in serious and often irreversible damage to health and environments.
Appropriate, precautionary and proportionate actions taken now to avoid plausible and potentially serious
threats to health from EMF are likely to be seen as prudent and wise from future perspectives. We must remember
that precaution is one of the principles of EU environmental policy,' says Professor Jacqueline McGlade,
Executive Director of the EEA.
Current evidence, although limited, is strong enough to question the scientific basis for the present EMF
exposure limits, according to the BioInitiative Working Group. |
