In a major public announcement
today, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health warned
the public to reduce their exposure to cell phone radiation.
The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational
Health, ANSES, announced today the results of a two-year review by an expert
Working Group of the scientific research on the risks related to exposure to
radiofrequency (RF) radiation. (1)
“This update has not brought to
light any proven health effect and does not result in any proposed new maximum
exposure limits for the population. However, limited levels of evidence do
point to different biological effects in humans or animals. In addition, some
publications suggest a possible increased risk of brain tumour, over the long
term, for heavy users of mobile phones. Given this information, and against a
background of rapid development of technologies and practices, ANSES recommends
limiting the population’s exposure to radiofrequencies – in particular from
mobile phones – especially for children and intensive users, and controlling
the overall exposure that results from relay antennas.”
“The findings of this expert
appraisal are therefore consistent with the classification of radiofrequencies
proposed by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as
"possibly carcinogenic" for heavy users of mobile phones.In addition, the expert
appraisal nevertheless shows, with limited levels of evidence, different biological effects in humans or
animals, some of which had already been reported in 2009: these can affect sleep, male fertility
or cognitive performance.” (pg. 2)
Due to the health concerns raised
by the expert Working Group, ANSES made the following recommendations:
"Therefore,
to limit exposure to radiofrequencies, especially in the most vulnerable
population groups, the Agency recommends:
- for
intensive adult mobile phone users (in talk mode): use of hands-free kits and
more generally, for all users, favouring the purchase of phones with the lowest
SAR values;
- reducing
the exposure of children by encouraging only moderate use of mobile phones;
- continuing
to improve characterisation of population exposure in outdoor and indoor
environments through the use of measurement campaigns;
- that the
development of new mobile phone network infrastructures be subject to prior
studies concerning the characterisation of exposures, and an in-depth study be
conducted of the consequences of possibly multiplying the number of relay
antennas in order to reduce levels of environmental exposure;
- documenting
the conditions pertaining at those existing installations causing the highest
exposure of the public and investigating in what measure these exposures can be
reduced by technical means.
- that all
common devices emitting electromagnetic fields intended for use near the body
(DECT telephones, tablet computers, baby monitors, etc.) display the maximum
level of exposure generated (SAR, for example), as is already the case for
mobile phones." (pg. 3)
The Agency further recommends that
children’s exposure should be reduced “by encouraging only moderate use of
mobile phones, ideally with hands-free kits and mobile terminals with the
lowest SAR values.”
The Agency expressed concern about
the potential impact of widespread adoption of 4G, the latest cell phone
technology, as this will result in increased overall exposure of the population
to microwave radiation.
The Agency recommends that current
regulations for cell phones concerning exposure of the population to RF radiation be extended to other devices (e.g cordless phones, tablet computers,
baby monitors, etc.), and that these devices display the maximum level of RF radiation
generated as is the case with cell phones (e.g., the SAR).
The Agency adopted the
recommendations of the Working Group to monitor public exposures to RF radiation
and to facilitate research on the long-term health effects of RF exposure,
especially from cell phones.
The issue of hypersensitivity
to electromagnetic radiation will be addressed by another expert appraisal that
will begin later this year.
Because the Working Group’s
review included research published through the end of 2012, it excluded several
major studies published this year in peer-reviewed journals. The Group may have
adopted stronger recommendations had they reviewed the following studies:
- In a new case-control study from Sweden, Lennart Hardell and colleagues reported additional evidence for increased brain tumor risk associated with long-term cell phone use—a three-fold risk for glioma was found among those who used cell phones or cordless phones for 25 or more years. (2)
- A 2-½ fold increased risk for acoustic neuroma was reported for women in a cohort study in the UK among those who used cell phones for 10 or more years. (3)
- Children in a cohort study in South Korea who used cell phones and were exposed to lead were at greater risk of developing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder than lead-exposed children who did not use cell phones. (4)
- In a study conducted in China, 30 minutes' exposure to 4G (LTE) cell phone radiation was sufficient to affect brain activity on both sides of adults' brains. (5)
References
(1) Press Kit. Update of the
"Radiofrequencies and Health" expert appraisal. Oct 15, 2013. http://bit.ly/19MexVc.
(2) “Brain Cancer Risk Increases
with the Amount of Wireless Phone Use: Study.” Sep 25, 2013. http://www.prlog.org/12216483
(3) “Cell Phone Use, Acoustic Neuroma and Cancer of the
Pituitary Gland.” May 10, 2013. http://www.prlog.org/12135511
(4) “Children's Cell Phone Use May Increase Their Risk of
ADHD.” Apr 2, 2013. http://www.prlog.org/12110138
(5) “LTE Cell Phone Radiation Affects Brain Activity in
Cell Phone Users.” Sep 23, 2013. http://www.prlog.org/12215083
Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Family and Community Health
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
Electromagnetic Radiation Safety
Website: http://www.saferemr.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaferE
News Releases: http://pressroom.prlog.org/
Twitter: @berkeleyprc
Director, Center for Family and Community Health
School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
Electromagnetic Radiation Safety
Website: http://www.saferemr.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaferE
News Releases: http://pressroom.prlog.org/
Twitter: @berkeleyprc
