ARPANSA - Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Date: 7 December 2006

ARPANSA Releases Draft Standard on Exposure to Electric and Magnetic Fields from Powerlines

The CEO of ARPANSA, Dr John Loy, today released a draft Standard on exposure to electric and magnetic fields at extremely low frequencies (ELF). The draft Standard is accompanied by a regulatory impact statement that assesses the costs and benefits of adoption of the Standard compared with other options. Dr Loy said that he invited public comment on the documents.

The draft Standard specifies limits for public and occupational exposure to ELF electric and magnetic fields in the frequency range 0 Hz to 3 kHz, to prevent adverse effects. The Standard applies to ELF fields from powerlines, electrical wiring and electrical appliances in the home, and electrical machinery in workplaces.

Dr Loy explained “The draft Standard sets exposure limits, provides a detailed rationale for the limits. The draft Standard is designed to protect against established health effects of ELF electric and magnetic fields. It examines studies dealing with the effects of ELF fields, including those that have reported an association between magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia.

Dr Loy said that the question of an association between ELF magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia was a difficult issue. While the epidemiological evidence on the risk of childhood leukaemia is not conclusive enough to allow the setting of exposure limits, the draft Standard includes a requirement for a precautionary approach to public exposure, provided that exposures can be minimised “without undue inconvenience and at reasonable expense”.

Further information on the risk of childhood leukaemia and its treatment in the Standard, and on simple precautionary approaches to reduce exposure, are available from the ARPANSA web site (www.arpansa.gov.au).

The option favoured as a result of the regulatory impact assessment is to publish the Standard without incorporating it into regulation and to use educational strategies in relation to childhood leukaemia.

Dr Loy said “People are encouraged to review the draft Standard and RIS and raise any issues and comment they may have about it with ARPANSA”. The draft Standard, regulatory impact statement and supporting documents can be viewed on ARPANSA’s web site, or single copies can be requested by phoning 03 9433 2339.

The draft Standard has been prepared by a Working Group of the Radiation Health Committee (RHC). The RHC is set up under the ARPANS Act to develop national radiation protection standards and guidelines.

Public submissions on the draft Standard should be addressed to:

Mr Alan Melbourne
Manager
Standards Development and Committee Support Section,
ARPANSA
619 Lower Plenty Road
Yallambie Vic 3085

or by email to secretariat@arpansa.gov.au before 28 February 2007.

Contacts:
Dr Colin Roy, 03 9433 2286 or 0409 395 868
Prof Andrew Wood, 03 9214 8867 or 0403 077 977

ENDS.

Top of Page