WRITTEN QUESTION E-1387/97 by Monica Baldi (UPE) to the Commission (22 April 1997)

Subject: Harmful effects of radiation in magnetic fields oscillating at a frequency of 50/60 Hz, in the vicinity of electrical substations

The noise pollution, of which citizens living close to the ENEL electrical substation in Poggio a Caiano, Italy, complain and the risk of contracting cancer associated with radiation in magnetic fields oscillating at a frequency of 50/60 Hz, in the vicinity electrical substations, are a public health hazard, as recent studies carried out by the Italian Istituto Superiore della Sanità (Health Institute) in 1995 make clear.

The European Union's interest in protecting the environment and health is confirmed by the proposal for a Council Directive concerning Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (COM(95) 88) ((OJ C 165, 1.7.1995, p. 9. )) as well as the Community action plan to combat cancer (Decision 646/96/EC) ((OJ L 95, 16.4.1996, p. 9. )) and Council Directive 97/11/EC ((OJ L 73, 14.3.1997, p. 5. )) amending Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

1. What does the Commission intend to do in order to ensure that the Community legislation cited above is respected by the Member States, with particular reference to the protection of health and the environment?

2. Can the Commission intervene on the basis of the Community legislation to prevent the health of the citizens of Possio a Caiano from being placed at risk?

3. What action does the Commission intend to take with regard to electrical substations which emit magnetic fields of radiation which are a danger to public health?

4. What does the Commission intend to do to protect the health of citizens, following the example of the recommendations issued by the health authorities and protection agencies of other countries, such as Sweden, and ensure that priority is attached to planning measures to reduce the levels of exposure to hazards, in dwellings, schools and at the workplace, which are well above the average levels for such environments?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (5 June 1997)

The study ((Istituto Superiore di Sanita: Rischio cancerogeno associato a campi magnetici a 50/60 Hz, 1995. )) mentioned by the Honourable Member is critically reviewing the hypothesis of a role of magnetic fields (MFs) in carcinogenesis based on epidemiological data. It is reviewing the plausibility of the association between carcinogenic risk and residential exposure to MFs in the vicinity of electrical power lines and substations. The review -like many others- concludes that no scientific explanation for such an association can be provided to date.

Apart from the so-called non-thermal effects, such as cancer induction and promotion or hereditary effects, which are the subject of research, thermal effects of electromagnetic radiation are well established and form part of recommendations and regulations issued by national and international authorities with regard to exposure limits and other rules of health protection.

1. Directive 97/11/CE lists the construction of overhead electrical power lines with a voltage of 220KV or more and a length of more than 15 km among the projects that will have to be subject to an environmental impact assessment. Member States have to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 14 March 1999 at the latest. Until the transposition of the new directive, Directive 85/337/EEC ((OJ L 175, 5.7.1985. )) applies. The Commission's powers are limited to checking the application of the Directive by the Member States. The Commmission cannot check the environmental impact of projects included in the Directive.

2. The particular case mentioned in the question is for the Member State authorities to consider.

3. and 4. Besides its role in ensuring the respect of Community legislation relating to the safety of such machinery, and proposing Community instruments for protection against thermal effects of non-ionizing radiation, such as the proposed directive on physical agents ((OJ C 230, 19.8.1994. Amended proposal. )), the Commission follows closely progress in knowledge on the effects of non-ionizing radiation.

The Commission evaluates the public health implications of the latest scientific evidence as regards exposure to electromagnetic fields (1Hz-300GHz) with a view to making proposals for recommendations on limiting the exposure of the public to such fields. Such proposals will be based on the recommendations issued by the International commission on non-ionizing radiation protection (ICNIRP). As regards the protection of workers, the Commission submitted in 1993 the aforementioned proposal for a directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks from physical agents, which contains limits and other provisions for the protection of workers against, amongst other physical agents, electromagnetic radiation.