WRITTEN QUESTION E-0002/00

by Nicole Thomas-Mauro (UEN) to the Commission

(19 January 2000)

Subject: Portable telephones

Some scientific research points to risks for users of portable telephones; an experiment conducted on rats at Lund University, for instance, has produced worrying findings. France has launched the Comobio programme to clarify the possible effects of portable telephones.

There is a European recommendation laying down exposure limits. On what research is it based?

In addition, is the Commission contemplating carrying out more in-depth research into risk assessment and long-term effects? Does the Commission have proof that thermal effects, the effects of magnetic fields and induced current flow have few human health implications?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 February 2000)

The European recommendation(1) limiting public exposure to electromagnetic fields of 0 Hertz (Hz) to 300 Gigahertz (GHz) is based on scientific advice and the best scientific information available, not forgetting that only proven effects on health could be taken into account. Advice on these protective measures has been given by the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and endorsed by the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee.

The Commission currently provides financial support for numerous research projects. Under the Third and Fourth Framework Programmes, the Commission supported the COST actions (COST 244 in 1992, followed by COST 244a in 1998) on the biomedical effects of electromagnetic radiation. The Biomed 2 programme financed two studies on the links between electromagnetic radiation and cancer. The measurements and testing programme also financed a project to measure the electromagnetic radiation emitted by portable telephones. In total the Commission has allocated some2 million for these studies.

None of these studies (looking into thermal effects and possible metabolic disturbances at cellular level caused by various types of electromagnetic field) has revealed the existence of negative effects on health, but further results will be necessary in order to provide a complete response to public concerns.

Within the Fifth Framework Programme for research and technological development (1998-2002), electromagnetic radiation is specifically included in the working programme for Key Action 4 (Environment and Health) of Theme 1, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources. During the 1999 call for proposals this Key Action received 21 proposals for research on this subject. Following evaluation, five proposals were selected for a total allocation of9 million. A table of these proposals will be forwarded directly to the Honourable Member and to the Parliament Secretariat.

Among these projects is a wide-ranging epidemiological study (Interphone) coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which should go some way towards providing reliable responses to the question of whether the electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile telephones can be carcinogenic.

In any case, the five projects selected will go some way towards resolving the outstanding questions on the supposed effects of using global system for mobile communications (GSM) phones, and determining whether long-term exposure at low levels has negative effects on health.

(1) 1999/519/EC: Council Recommendation of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz), OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.