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Electromagnetic fields

Electric and electronic systems have become so pervasive that it is now difficult to imagine life without them. While they contribute to our quality of life in many ways, they also create electromagnetic fields (non-ionising radiation) which, when emitted at sufficient levels, may warm biological tissues (as they do in microwave ovens).

Electromagnetic fields have different frequencies - expressed in Hertz (Hz), or oscillations per second - suited to different uses, for example:

strong static fields (0 Hz) are used in medical MRI scanning
low frequencies (50 Hz) are used by the standard alternating electric current (AC) feeding our homes and offices
high frequencies are used by mobile phones (900 MHz).

Until about 20 years ago, the main sources of electromagnetic fields were radio and television broadcasting stations and high voltage power lines. The rapid development of mobile telecommunications and other electronic appliances since the 1990's has substantially increased our daily exposure to electromagnetic fields. This has raised concerns about their possible adverse health effects.

See also: Electromagnetic fields made simple

EU actions on EMF

Regulation

EU recommendation 1999/519 – limiting public exposure to electromagnetic fields

This recommendation:

proposes basic restrictions and reference levels based on guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (as endorsed by the Commission's Scientific Steering Committee)
serves as a reference for EU rules in other areas, such as:

How the recommendation is being implemented:

Funding and monitoring research

The Commission is financing and closely following new developments in scientific research on the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields, as well as keeping track of what national and international authorities are doing to regulate them.

The basic restrictions and reference levels are regularly reviewed to ensure they correspond to the latest scientific evidence. To date they have been reviewed:

in 1998 by the independent EU Scientific Steering Committee
in 2001 by the independent EU Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment (CSTEE)
in 2007 by the independent EU Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)
in 2009 by the independent EU Scientific Committee for Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)

On all occasions, the conclusion was that the existing scientific evidence did not justify a revision of the exposure limits.

However, more research is still needed because basic data on which to evaluate risks is limited, especially for long-term, low-level exposure. In order to get a precise view on the specific research needed to refine existing risk assessments, the Commission asked the SCENIHR to write an opinion on the Research needs and methodology to address the remaining knowledge gaps on the potential health effects of EMF

, adopted in July 2009.

The current EU Framework Programme for Research (FP) , is providing funds to finance research projects in line with the specific recommendations of the SCENIHR. Relevant research projects were funded under FP5 (1998-2002), FP6 (2003-2006). Two projects (MOBI-KIDS and SEAWIND) are being funded under FP7 (2007-2013).

See also:

Events

Workshop EMF and Health: Science and Policy to address public concerns, Brussels, February 2009

The role of the EU Member States

The responsibility for ensuring adequate health protection of EU citizens lies with the national authorities of the EU Member States. Each Member State performs this duty in its own way.

The role of the EU - as expressed in recommendation 1999/519/EC - is to ask governments to assess the exposure situation and take appropriate follow-up action when reference levels are exceeded.

What Europeans think

An EU survey on EMF (2007)

shows that European opinion about the potential health risks of electromagnetic fields is divided:

14% - not at all concerned
35% - not very concerned
35% - fairly concerned
13% - very concerned.

European citizens also feel that national authorities could do more to prevent potential health risks from electromagnetic fields and to inform the public.

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