WRITTEN QUESTION E-2821/02

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 October 2002)

Subject: Radiation from cordless telephones

1. Has the Commission read the article Test Schnurlose Telefone. Ganz schön sendebewusst in the German consumer magazine Öko Test? It establishes that none of the cordless telephones tested meets the 100 µW/m2 limit value specified by the European Parliament (Directorate-General for Research). The telephones tested emit as much as 8 800 to 18 400 µW/m2.

2. Is the Commission aware that recent studies have established that such radiation is potentially harmful to the nervous and hormone system? Studies have also established that this can promote hereditary problems and cancer.

3. Does the Commission plan to do something about this dangerous situation?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(25 November 2002)

As indicated in the reply to written question E-2900/02 from Ms. Breyer(1) on 12 July 1999 the Council adopted Recommendation 1999/519/EEC to Member States limiting the exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields from 0 Herz (Hz) to 300 Gigaherz (Ghz)(2). The full adherence to the basic restrictions and reference levels included in the Recommendation ensures users a high level of protection against acute and long-term effects of non-ionising radiation for the whole spectrum. The recommended restrictions for cordless and cellular telephones use the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) as the measure to adhere. The power density, referred to by the Honourable Member

is used only as a measure for exposure to electromagnetic waves above 10 GHz. It is not considered an appropriate measure for the frequencies in which cordless and mobile phones operate (between 0,4 and 2 GHz).

The limits recommended include a safety factor of 50 to cover possible long-term effects in the whole frequency range and at protecting also against as yet undocumented non-thermal effects. The level for cordless and mobile phones was thus established at 2 Watt per kilogram (W/kg). When translated into power density this roughly means levels of 2-10 W/square meter (m2). The level of 100 micro (µ) W/m2 is orders of magnitude below these levels.

The Commission mandated the European Standardisation Organisations to draft Harmonised European standards ensuring that products don't expose the public to the limits beyond those recommended by the Council. These standards (EN 50360 and EN 50361) have been given legal effect within the framework of Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 1999 on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity(3) which obliges manufacturers to ensure that their products do not give rise to adverse effects on health when used for their intended purpose. These standards directly allow evaluation of compliance with the SAR limits. A report from the Parliament (STOA) has reported that on average mobile phones have SARs ranging from 0,4 to 1,4 W/kg. Cordless phones transmit at much lower power levels then mobile phones and have correspondingly low SAR levels.

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. As regards mobile phones, it is important to note that the Interphone project (supported by the Community under the 5th Framework Programme for Research 5FP) is a large-scale epidemiological project involving 13 countries. 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. Experiments in vitro on cells have sometimes shown biological effects related to cancer or other diseases. However, isolated cells in culture are strongly different from human total body. Moreover, these experiments are complex and controversial. This would tend to indicate that if effects exist, they are not strong. They should however be well documented by the scientific community, reason for which the Community and other organisations fund research on electromagnetic fields. Altogether eight projects related to electromagnetic fields are being funded under 5FP.

Finally, the opinion of the Commission Scientific Committee on Toxicology-Ecotoxicity and the Environment on health effects associated to the exposure to electromagnetic fields published on 30 October 2001 has confirmed for radio frequencies and microwaves the validity of the Council Recommendation limits. This opinion is in line with other national and international evaluation of the scientific literature in this area.

(1) OJ C 110 E, 8.5.2003, p. 121.

(2) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.

(3) OJ L 91, 7.4.1999.