Scientists: Adopt New Exposure Guidelines for Electromagnetic Radiation

A new report by international scientists calls for greatly reduced exposure limits for electromagnetic radiation from power line and telecommunications technologies -- including cell phones and wireless technologies.

The report was published by the scientific journal Reviews on Environmental Health.

The statement, called The Seletun Scientific Statement, was written based on "a large and growing body of science showing biological effects." Scientists say governments should take decisive action now to protect biological function as well as the health of future generations.

Recommendations

In a consensus agreement, including “10 Key Recommendations to Protect Public Health.” the  Seletun Scientific Panel claims the global population is at risk, that the current accepted measure of radiation risk -- the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) -- is inadequate, and that there is abundant evidence biological effects are occurring at exposures ‘many orders of magnitude’ below existing public

safety standards.

According to the panel:

1. The global population is at risk.
2. Sensitive populations are currently vulnerable.
3. Government actions are warranted now based on evidence of serious disruption to biological systems.
4. The burden of proof for the safety of radiation-emitting technologies should fall on producers and providers not consumers.
5. EMF exposures should be reduced in advance of complete understanding of mechanisms of action.
6. The current accepted measure of radiation risk -- the SAR -- is inadequate, and misguides on safety and risk.
7. An international disease registry is needed to track time trends of illnesses to correlate illnesses with exposures.
8. Pre-market health testing and safety demonstration is needed for all radiation-emitting technologies.
9. Parity is needed for occupational exposure standards
10. ‘Functional Impairment’ designation is needed for persons with electrohypersensitivity.

 

Congressional inaction

In the United States, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) announced on June 30, 2010, that he would introduce a bill calling for a U.S. cell phone research program, warning labels on cell phones and an update of antiquated radiation exposure standards. Six months later, no bill has yet been introduced in Congress.

Earlier, in September 2009, Senate hearings were held on the health effects of cell phones, presided over by Senators Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa). To the dismay of scientists, no action has yet been taken since the hearing sixteen months ago.

At the hearing, Sen. Harkin said, “I found this really very interesting and very challenging and I can assure you we are going to do some follow-up on this.” Nothing has happened since.

“Current US and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) standards for radiofrequency and microwave radiation from wireless technologies are entirely inadequate," said Olle Johansson, PhD, who chaired the Seletun Scientific Panel. "They never were intended to address the kind of exposures from wireless devices that now affect over four billion people.”

 “Each time there is a briefing or hearing in a government body around the world, lip service is paid to the concerns of scientists, professors, physicians and citizens," public health advocate, Camilla Rees of ElectromagneticHealth.org, says. "Through their inaction, global governments have supported the interests of the telecommunications industry. We hope the Seletun Scientific Statement will finally get the attention this very serious public health issue deserves.”