WRITTEN QUESTION E-2495/01 by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Electromagnetic fields.
Date: 2001-09-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European standard, World Health Organisation, blood disease, child, electromagnetic interference, medical research, public health

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/101

Finally, the Commission contributes to an Union common position and considers asking the Council’s
authorisation to negotiate on behalf of the Community a future United Nations (UN) Convention against
corruption. The ad hoc committee mandated by the General Assembly to negotiate this convention will
consider the issue of transfer of funds of illicit origin derived from acts of corruption,
including the
laundering of funds, and returning such funds.

(1) OJ C 124, 3.5.2000.
(2) OJ L 166, 28.6.1991.
(3) OJ C 36, 2.2.2001.

(2002/C 115 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2495/01

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 September 2001)

Subject: Electromagnetic fields

Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC (1) of 12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general
public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz), to provide a high level of health protection proposed
that reference levels be respected by which that objective would be achieved. For a frequency of 50 Hz,
used in the transport and distribution of electricity, magnetic flux density should never exceed 100 µT
(100 microteslas).

Many scientists regard this value as far too high, believing that the precautionary principle would require a
maximum level of 0,2 µT. The IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) recently wound up its
consideration of the problem, on the basis of group analyses of original data from a number of properly
carried out studies, by concluding that there was a statistically significant and coinciding link between
childhood leukaemia and exposure to household ELF magnetic fields higher than 0,4 µT.

In fact the risk to a child constantly exposed to a field of 0,4 µT would be double. This new finding,
coming from a body of uncontested scientific authority, completely invalidates the Council’s recom-
mendation as regards public exposure to a type of pollution which is widely present in our everyday
environment. A speedy review is therefore necessary. What steps does the Commission intend to take to
that effect?

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999, p. 59.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2001)

The Honourable Member is referring to the document published by the World Health Organisation (WHO)
in June 2001 highlighting an increased leukaemia risk to children exposed to low-voltage fields generated
by high-voltage powerlines.

in order to anticipate this issue, the Commission consulted its Scientific Committee
In early 2001,
on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment in order to request a new opinion, to be delivered in
October 2001, on the health risks associated with exposure to electromagnetic radiation. The Committee is
currently studying the specific problem of the risks associated with exposure of children to the low
frequencies in question. The Commission will examine the Committee’s opinion and will react to any new
scientific evidence not presently taken into account by Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC of 12 July
1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) (1).

(1) OJ L 199, 30.7.1999.