Understanding RF Fields and Health from a WHO Perspective

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Explore the World Health Organization's perspective on RF fields and health, covering the assessment and management of health risks associated with radiofrequency exposure. Learn about the current EMF context, applications using radiofrequency fields, and the WHO International EMF Project aimed at sharing information on human health risks. This presentation was delivered at the 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment, and Climate Change in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

  • WHO
  • RF fields
  • health risk
  • EMF
  • radiofrequency
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  1. RF fields and Health: A WHO Perspective Dr E. van Deventer Team Leader, Radiation Programme Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health

  2. OUTLINE Introduction Assessing the health risk Managing the health risk Conclusions 2| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  3. World Health Organization Function: act as the UN directing and coordinating authority on international health work Objective: "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health" Definition: "HEALTH is a state of COMPLETE physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the ABSENCE of disease or infirmity" (Constitution, 1948) 3| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  4. The Present EMF Context Increasing EMF human exposure due to electricity demand, medical technologies and wireless devices Concern from the public 4| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  5. Applications using radiofrequency fields (100 kHz 300 GHz) Air traffic control radar at London Heathrow Airport CN-Tower-and-Rogers-Centre- Navigation/Radar Several examples of non-flip mobile phones. Two cell sites on a single mast Wi-Fi Commercial Broadcasting RFID at Work Play Telecommunications http://www.ratingsworld.co.uk/shopping/USProducts/ej/microwave-oven-ratings-reviews.aspx http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,1203909,00.html http://www.haggul.com/Category.asp?CID=384 Vehicular technologies Residential sources 5| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  6. 6| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  7. WHO International EMF Project Established in 1996 Coordinated by WHO HQ A multinational, multidisciplinary effort to create and disseminate information on human health risk from EMF 7| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  8. WHO Partners in Radiation International Organizations World Meteorological Organization National Authorities 2Q== Z Z IAEA NGOs https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_Thailand.svg/2000px-Flag_of_Thailand.svg.png Collaborating Centres http://www.personal.psu.edu/dlj4/ 8| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  9. Do EMFs pose a heath risk? Risk Assessment The Evidence Risk Perception The Public Concern Risk Management The Policies 9| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  10. OUTLINE Introduction Assessing the health risk 10| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  11. The Present Scientific Knowledge Large and increasingly sophisticated database Known mechanisms International exposure guidelines based on established health effects Scientific uncertainty 11| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  12. What do we know? 10 GHz 100 kHz 300 MHz Frequency 12| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  13. What do we know? Mechanisms of interaction 10 GHz 100 kHz 300 MHz Frequency Induced currents Induced currents and heating Surface heating Non-thermal effects?? 13| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  14. Research Balance of studies needed http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/booklet/emf2002.pdf 14| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  15. Laboratory Studies Cellular studies Genotoxicity Gene expression Animal studies Cancer Behaviour BBB Skin Human studies Sleep EEG Hormones EHS 15| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  16. Short-term effects (WHO fact sheet 193, October 2014) To date, research does not suggest any consistent evidence of adverse health effects from exposure to RF fields at levels below those that cause tissue heating. Research has not been able to provide support for a causal relationship between exposure to EMF and self-reported symptoms, or electromagnetic hypersensitivity . 16| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  17. dose near-field dose far-field dose From Martin R sli 17| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  18. Epidemiological studies Studies on mobile phones Several examples of non-flip mobile phones. Tumours in head and neck Glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, parotid gland Image:Parotid gland.png Numerous studies on the use of mobile phones Published: USA, Nordic countries, INTERPHONE, CEFALO Ongoing: MOBI-Kids, COSMOS, GERoNiMO, 18| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  19. Long-term effects (WHO fact sheet 193, October 2014) No increased risk of glioma, meningioma or acoustic neuroma with mobile phone use > 10 years Indications of increased risk of glioma for heavy users But biases and errors prevent a causal interpretation No available data for long-term use Studies on children ongoing 19| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  20. Epidemiological studies Base stations and wireless networks Wi-Fi Some studies have been performed Well-being and performance Cancer Personal exposure assessment GSM 3GWi-Fi GSM Kenneth R. Foster, Radiofrequency exposure from wireless LANs utilizing WI-FI technology. Health Phys. 92(3):280 289; 2007 20| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  21. Conclusions: Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects 21| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  22. Health Risk Assessment Problem Formulation Hazard Identification Review key research to identify any potential health problems that an agent can cause Exposure Assessment Exposure-Response Assessment Determine the amount, duration and pattern of exposure to the agent Estimate how much of the agent it would take to cause varying degrees of health effects that could lead to illnesses Risk Characterization Assess the risk for the agent to cause cancer or other illnesses in the general population RF fields classified as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B) 22| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  23. IARC Evaluation of Radiofrequency Fields Volume 102 (2013) RF fields classified as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B)based on limited evidence in humans, based on positive association between glioma and acoustic neuroma and exposure to RF-EMF from wireless phones (epidemiologic studies) limitedevidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of RF-EMF weak mechanistic evidence relevant to RF- EMF-induced cancer in humans Evidence for other exposures (e.g. base stations, Wi-Fi) and outcomes (other cancers) considered insufficient for any conclusion 23| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  24. Health Risk Assessment (cont'd) Problem Formulation Hazard Identification Review key research to identify any potential health problems that an agent can cause All studied outcomes Exposure Assessment Exposure-Response Assessment Radiofrequency Fields Determine the amount, duration and pattern of exposure to the agent Estimate how much of the agent it would take to cause varying degrees of health effects that could lead to illnesses Risk Characterization 2016 Assess the risk for the agent to cause cancer or other illnesses in the general population 24| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  25. OUTLINE Introduction Assessing the health risk Managing the health risk 25| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  26. Norms, Standards and Guidelines Emission standards have specifications that limit the EMF emissions from devices Exposure standards have specifications that limit EMF exposure to people 26| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  27. Relevant Authorities Non-governmental and international organizations Emission standards Exposure standards logo Measurements standards 27| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  28. Reference Levels 28| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  29. WHO Model Legislation To assist countries with a legislation to protect their population from EMF Provides a legal framework to provide protection from EMF Includes (i) Model Act, (ii) Model Regulation and (iii) an Explanatory Memorandum http://www.who.int/peh-emf/standards/emf_model/en/index.html 29| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  30. Risk Perception and Communication WHO Risk Handbook For programme managers who need basic information on EMF risk perception, communication and management Available in English Translated into Spanish, Italian, German, French, Russian, Bulgarian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian and Japanese http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/risk_hand/en/ 30| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  31. OUTLINE Introduction Assessing the health risk Managing the potential risk Conclusions 31| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  32. Challenges to governments. Rapidly evolving RF technologies Launched on the market before health evaluation Disparities in risk management measures and regulations around the world Concern from the public 32| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  33. Conclusions Need for clear roles and responsibilities in government on this topic Need for adoption and compliance of health-based standards Need for a public information program and dialogue with stakeholders Need for promoting research to reduce uncertainty We are a "global village" 33| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  34. The International EMF Project Radiation and Environmental Health Public Health and Environment World Health Organization 21 Avenue Appia CH-1211 Geneva 27 Switzerland email: emfproject@who.int website: www.who.int/emf 34| 11th ITU Symposium on ICT, Environment and Climate Change, 21 April 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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