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Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)This is an update to the previous opinion in 2009 on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health, in light of recently available information. The opinion was developed by a working group comprised experts from many European countries. The primary sources of information used by the committee were English language reports published in peer reviewed international scientific journals. This updated assessment reached the same conclusion as the previous opinion: based on current research there is no evidence of adverse health effects from EMF exposure below the levels recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection.
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Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)Reports published by various health authorities around the world continue to support the conclusion that there is no established evidence of adverse health effects from exposure to EMF, consistent with a recent report by the Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSM), reviewed in June’s literature report.
Overall, SCENIHR found that the epidemiological studies on radiofrequency (RF) EMF exposure do not indicate an increased risk of cancers of the head and neck region, including brain tumours. New studies do not confirm the link that EMF exposure increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The possible association between extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) and childhood leukaemia continues to be investigated, with no mechanisms identified and no support from experimental studies. Furthermore, recent research concerning electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) adds weight to the conclusion that the self-reported EHS symptoms are not caused by EMF exposure. For ARPANSA’s advice regarding EHS see this fact sheet http://www.arpansa.gov.au/RadiationProtection/Factsheets/is_ehs.cfm.
