WRITTEN QUESTION E-0192/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2000)

Subject: Cellular phones and health risks

Over the past few months an increasingly large number of studies have produced extremely alarming findings regarding the health risks caused by radiation emissions from cellular phones. Most recently, research carried out by Swedish scientists found that even some cancerous growths and disorders in the reproductive organs can often be attributed to the regular use of cellular phones and to the electromagnetic waves which they emit.

Mobile telephony has only recently come into widespread use and even today this market cannot be considered to be fully developed, given that further quantitative and qualitative advances are still to be expected such as UMTS technology, which in the near future is likely to combine mobile phone services with the vast range of services available on the Internet network.

Therefore, before this situation develops any further, and to avoid a repeat of the tragic events linked to the industrial and civil use of asbestos, would the Commission state its views on this matter and provide details of the political initiatives it intends to take or has already taken with a view to protecting public health in the Community?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(14 March 2000)

The Commission, in its proposal for a Recommendation on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 HZ to 300 GHz), adopted by the Council on 12 July 1999, wants to contribute as much as possible to ensuring a high level of protection for European citizens in a sensitive area which has not previously been subject to Community law. The Commission is preparing a standardisation mandate in order to take into account basic restrictions and reference levels of the Council Recommendation in relevant standards for mobile phones.

The Commission is following up this dossier very closely and is currently funding numerous research projects. During the third and fourth framework programmes the Commission financed and coordinated 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 Measures and Tests Programme also funded a project on the measurement of electromagnetic radiation from portable telephones.

None of these studies (concerning thermal effects and possible interferences with cell metabolism caused by different types of electromagnetic fields) revealed any adverse health effects, but additional results are necessary to respond fully to public concern.

In the context of the Fifth Research and Technological Development Framework Programme (1998-2002), electromagnetic radiation has been specifically included in the work programme of Key Action 4 (environment and health) under Theme 1, quality of life and management of resources for living beings. The projects include a wide-scale epidemiological study (Interphone), coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which should cast light on the question as to whether electromagnetic radiation from mobile telephones can cause cancer.

At any rate the Commission is monitoring this dossier very closely and will not hesitate to make a legislative proposal if its ongoing research programmes reveal new health risks linked to long-term exposure to low levels of electromagnetic radiation.