WRITTEN QUESTION E-1945/02 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Health implications of mobile-phone use.
Date: 2002-07-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: consumer protection, electromagnetic interference, health policy, health risk, mobile phone, product safety, toxicology

C 309 E/178

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

line between those two approaches lies in the distinction made between ‘free’ and ‘forced’ prostitution,
while both camps agree as to the decriminalisation of prostitution and the punishment of those who
procure, entice or lead away, for purposes of prostitution, another person even with his/her consent.

In this context, and in order to tackle the transnational aspects of it, the Union has launched several
actions in order to combat trafficking in human beings. These include the STOP programme and the
recently adopted Council Framework Decision of 19 July 2002 on combating trafficking in human
beings (1).

(1) OJ L 203, 1.8.2002.

(2002/C 309 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1945/02

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(3 July 2002)

Subject: Health implications of mobile-phone use

Research carried out by scientists at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (published in the
European press on 20 June 2002) shows that radiation from mobile phones may cause damage to the
system supplying blood to the brain. In particular, it was established that exposing brain cells to radiation
from mobile phones causes damage to the ‘security barrier’ which prevents harmful substances in blood
from reaching the brain.

In view of the fact that a research study carried out by a scientific committee on behalf of the Commission
into the ‘possible effects of electromagnetic fields, radio frequencies and microwave radiation on human
health’ does not rule out exposure to very low-frequency magnetic fields causing cancer in humans and
that, in reply to my previous question on the same subject (H-0254/00) (1), the Commission stated that it
did not have reliable information establishing a direct link between the level of radiation emissions from
mobile phones and possible effects on health, what is the Commission’s evaluation of this new data and
what measures will it propose to protect consumers?

(1) Written answer of 11.4.2000.

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(20 August 2002)

The study referred to in the written question of the Honourable Member was cited in the press in Finland
already in April 2002 and in the European press in June. It was claimed that a study conducted by the
Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) in Finland had found that exposing human cells to one
hour of radiation from mobile phones triggered a response which normally only occurs when cells are
being damaged. It was also claimed that these changes in the human cells could disable a safety barrier,
which was meant to protect the human brain from harmful substances in the blood and that if occurring
repeatedly over a long period of time, might become a health hazard and cause brain tissue damage.

The study in question is part of a project supported under the 5th Community Research and Technological
Development Framework Programme, Quality of Life, Key Action 4: Environment and Health. The project
is called Reflex (Risk evaluation of potential environmental hazards from low-energy electromagnetic field
exposure using sensitive in vitro methods). It is due to end in August 2003 and only then it will be
possible to draw any definitive conclusions from it or to propose further research needs.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/179

The Commission has contacted STUK (Mrs Salomaa, Research Director) and the Coordinator of the Reflex
project, Professor Adlkofer of the VERUM Foundation in order to receive clarification on this issue and the
following are the facts:

The study was published in a scientific journal (Differention) two months ago. It is an in vitro study
performed with cell cultures. The cell lines used were human endothelial cells (blood vessel cells). When
these cells were exposed in vitro to mobile phone radiation, changes in phophorylation and expression of
several proteins was observed. These proteins included the heat shock protein hsp27. However, these
biochemical changes were small and reversible (the effect disappeared about one hour after the exposure
ceased).

This study has two points that are new and interesting: 1) the cells react to mobile phone radiation and
show a response, and 2) this effect is non-thermal (there was no change in cell culture temperature, it
occurs already at 2 SAR level). However, cells do respond to a variety of environmental and endogenous
stimuli, including heat, pH and hormones. At the moment it is not possible even to say whether the
observed effect is harmful or not.

The future aim of this research group is to study, whether such changes could cause any negative health
effects and therefore they propose a hypothesis on the potential effect on the brain-blood barrier, as they
were indeed studying blood vessel cells. The blood-brain barrier acts as a filter between blood circulation
and brain, protecting brain from a range of substances, like toxins and some proteins. This is just a
hypothesis for future research (cid:1) nothing so far has been proven.

As regards the protection of health, the Commission in accordance with the latest opinion of the Scientific
Committee on Toxicology, Ecotoxicology and the Environment (SCTEE), which has reaffirmed in its
opinion published in November 2001 the validity of the limits of the 12th July Council Recommendation,
does not intend to take additional measures for the time being. Nevertheless, the Commission and the
SCTEE will regularly keep the matter under review.

(2002/C 309 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1952/02

by Bernd Posselt (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2002)

Subject: EU flag

According to reports in the press, the Commission is planning to scrap the time-tested EU flag which was
introduced on a proposal from the European Parliament, namely twelve gold stars on a blue background,
and replace it with a new design, for instance by the architect Rem Koolhaas. Is this true, or can the
Commission give an assurance that the time-tested and recognised flag of Europe will be retained?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(16 July 2002)

In contrast to what has been widely reported in the press, the Commission has no plans to propose the
replacement of the existing European emblem.

The Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, and the President of the Commission, Romano Prodi,
were patrons in 2001 of a project on ‘Brussels, capital of Europe’ and asked a group of intellectuals to
discuss the needs and functions of the European capital and how Brussels could best express them.