WRITTEN QUESTION E-2901/02

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(16 October 2002)

Subject: Studies of damage to health caused by pulsed frequencies

Fears amongst the general public regarding health hazards arising from exposure to electromagnetic fields have again increased of late, partly because of public statements of opinion by recognised scientific experts or institutions. They have pointed out, inter alia, that damage to health particularly results from pulsed radiation.

I know that the Commission provides funding for research into the impact of electromagnetic fields on human health.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. To whom has it awarded research contracts?

2. What specific issues are being investigated as a result?

3. What progress has been made with the projects concerned?

4. Is there also a project concerned with the further development of mobile telephony systems which use non-pulsed radiation (e.g. the German C+network)?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(13 December 2002)

The Commission is supporting under the 5th Framework Programme, (5FP) (Quality of Life, Key Action 4: Environment and Health), a mix of studies in different research areas in order to evaluate potential adverse health effect of electromagnetic fields (EMF), including mobile communication technologies. This programme includes different types of studies in order to investigate distinct aspects of the problem. The total cost of the projects involved is more than EUR 32 million, with a Community contribution of over EUR 12 million. Included are four projects dealing with the possible carcinogenic effects of EMF, one project on terahertz radiation related to medical imaging applications, and further projects on possible effects on nervous tissue and on possible cognitive effects. None of these projects addresses mobile telephony systems using non-pulsed radiation (cf. Sub-question 4). In response to sub-questions 1 and 2, a list of projects and coordinators is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. More detailed information on these projects can be found from http://dbs.cordis.lu/search/en/simple/EN_PROJ_simple.html. In addition, the Commission supports the coordination of national research related to health effects from mobile phones under the COST 281 Action (Potential Health Implications from Mobile Communications Systems).

So far, only one of the eight projects supported under Quality of Life Programme has been completed: development of advice to the Commission on risk to health of the general public from the use of security and similar devices employing pulsed electromagnetic fields (Advice Pulsed Fields). According to this study, electromagnetic interference (EMI) with implanted medical devices does not pose a public health threat, but nevertheless needs to be further addressed by medical device and security system industries together.

As regards mobile phones, it is important to notice that the Interphone project is a large-scale epidemiological project involving 13 countries inside and outside Europe. The objective of the study is to determine whether mobile telephone use increases the risk of cancer and, specifically, whether the radio frequency (RF) radiation emitted by mobile telephones is carcinogenic. When the project results become available in 2004-2005, consolidated conclusions can be drawn.

It is true that experiments in vitro on cells have sometimes shown biological effects. Nevertheless, even though the biological effects of EMF exposure have been under study for the past 30-40 years, no consensus has been reached with respect to either findings or their interpretation whether or not EMF constitute a risk to the health of people. As long as the induction of adverse effects in living cells by EMF at the molecular, sub-cellular and cellular level is not proven, it is questionable whether a causal link between EMF exposure and any disease exists as suggested by various epidemiological studies.

The Commission is following closely any new scientific results in the domain to react if necessary to any new scientific evidence not taken to date into consideration. So far it has not been established that exposure to electromagnetic fields for cordless and mobile telephones is potentially harmful to the nervous and hormone system. Once finalised (2003-2005), the projects supported by the Community should provide an important input to our knowledge gap and also contribute to the related activities of the World Health Organisation (WHO).