The problem

Over the past few years, there has been growing public concern about the potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), such as those from overhead power lines, mobile phones and other equipment. With new electronic technologies emerging all the time, this issue has become an urgent social and political conundrum. Many scientific studies have attempted to investigate these concerns but there is not yet a sufficiently robust consensus to inform policy-makers. Do EMFs pose a hazard to health and, if so, what are their potential effects? EMF-NET sets out to find the answers.

Overview:

EMF-NET is a large coordinated action which will:

• Manage, evaluate and collate the results of studies on EMF health effects and health implications
• Integrate European centres involved in research on occupational exposure to EMF in order to exchange experience and good practice, and to support policy-makers
• Establish expert groups focused on the improvement of specific aspects of research in this field
• Support informed decision-making for regulation and risk communication
• Monitor future developments in new technology and EMF research

Contribution to policy development:

EMF-NET will:

• Harmonise the coordinated results of established research projects to provide information, assistance and answers to regulatory bodies and industries
• Facilitate the development of internationally acceptable standards for EMF exposure
• Support informed decision-making by health, environmental and other authorities, industries, consumer associations and individuals by providing reliable information about EMF effects

Project deliverables

From the host of milestones expected within the project, here is a selection of major deliverables:

• Inventory of EMF research – February 2005
• Reports on laboratory and epidemiology studies – most by February 2006
• Mid-term technical reports – April 2006
• Final technical reports – February 2008
• Practical guidelines – February 2008
• Consensus report – February 2008

Dissemination

The following is a selection of the various means by which the project will communicate its actions:

• Fast Response Team to answer specific questions concerning health impacts of EMF
• Website and portal – Ongoing
• Publication of fact sheets, regular newsletters, brochures and books throughout the project
• Presentation of EMF-NET activities to international and national authorities on request and to and scientific conferences
• Organisation of a European Consensus Conference – between August 2007 and February 2008
• Consensus report – February 2008

Technical information

Project acronym: EMF-NET
Project’s official full title: Effects of the exposure to electromagnetic fields: From science to public health and safer workplace
Research priority: 2.3. The impact of environmental issues on health (including safety at work and methods for risk assessment and the mitigation of risks of natural disasters to people)
Specific webpage: http://www.jrc.cec.eu.int/emf-net
Proposal/contract no: PL502173 merged with PL502417
Start date: 01/03/04
Kick off meeting: 20/03/04
Completion date: 29/02/08
European Commission scientific officer: Tuomo Karjalainen, Tuomo.KARJALAINEN@ec.europa.eu

Coordinator:
Name: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Abbreviated Name: CNR.ISIB
Address: Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan
Country: Italy
Tel: +39 02 239 93 344
Fax: +39 02 239 93 367
Website: http://www.isib.cnr.it/

Partners

Name: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Abbreviated Name: FhG/ITEM
Country: Germany

Name: International Agency for Research on Cancer
Abbreviated Name: IARC
Country: France

Name: Joint Research Centre
Abbreviated Name: JRC
Country: Italy

Name: University of Kuopio
Abbreviated Name: UKUO
Country: Finland

Name: VERUM – Stiftung für Verhalten und Umwelt
Abbreviated Name: VFBE
Country: Germany

Name: Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente
Abbreviated Name: ENEAF
Country: Italy

Name: Interuniversity Centre ‘Interaction between Electromagnetic Fields and Biosystem’ at University of Genoa
Abbreviated Name: UGOA
Country: Italy

Name: Interuniversity Centre ‘Interaction between Electromagnetic Fields and Biosystem’ at University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’
Abbreviated Name: ICEmB
Country: Italy 

Name: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique – Délégation Ile de France Est
Abbreviated Name: CNRS IDFE
Country: France

Name: World Health Organisation
Abbreviated Name: WHO
Country: Switzerland

Name: Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie et de Physique de Bordeaux
Abbreviated Name: ENSCPB
Country: France

Name: Department of Clinical Engineering, Graz University of Technology
Abbreviated Name: IBTM
Country: Austria

Name: France Télécom Recherche et Développement
Abbreviated Name: FTR&D
Country: France

Name: Forschungsgemeinschaft Funk e. V.
Abbreviated Name: FGF
Country: Germany

Name: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Abbreviated Name: AUTH
Country: Greece

Name: National Centre of Public Health - National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene
Abbreviated Name: NIRR
Country: Hungary

Name: Department of Electronic Engineering, ‘La Sapienza’ University of Rome
Abbreviated Name: DIE
Country: Italy

Name: Istituto Superiore di Sanità
Abbreviated Name: ISS
Country: Switzerland

Name: Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society
Abbreviated Name: IT’IS
Country: Switzerland

Name: International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection eV.
Abbreviated Name: ICNIRP
Country: Germany

Name: The Union of the Electricity Industry - EURELECTRIC
Abbreviated Name: EURELECTRIC
Country: Belgium

Name: European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association
Abbreviated Name: ETNO
Country: Belgium

Name: Ente per le Nuove tecnologie, l'Energia e l'Ambiente
Abbreviated Name: ENEA
Country: Italy

Name: University of Leeds
Abbreviated Name: UNIVLEEDS
Country: United Kingdom

Name: GSM Association
Abbreviated Name: GSMA
Country: Switzerland

Name: IGEA S.R.L
Abbreviated Name: IGEA
Country: Italy

Name: Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority
Abbreviated Name: STUK
Country: Finland

Name: Mobile Manufacturers Forum
Abbreviated Name: MMF
Country: Belgium

Name: University of Bologna
Abbreviated Name: UNIBO
Country: Italy

Name: Karolinska Institutet
Abbreviated Name: KI
Country: Sweden

Name: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
Abbreviated Name: FIOH
Country: Finland

Name: University of Bradford
Abbreviated Name: UNIBRAD
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Bureau technique syndical européen pour la santé et sécurité
Abbreviated Name: TUTB
Country: Belgium

Name: Federation of French Electrical, Electronic and Communication Industries
Abbreviated Name: FIEEC
Country: France

Name: ARC Seibersdorf research GmbH
Abbreviated Name: Seibersdorf research
Country: Austria

Name: National Radiological Protection Board
Abbreviated Name: NRPB
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy – Panstwowy Instytut Badawczy
Abbreviated Name: CIOP-PIB
Country: Poland

Name: Istituto Superiore per la Prevenzione e la Sicurezza del Lavoro
Abbreviated Name: ISPESL
Country: Italy

Name: National Institute for Working Life
Abbreviated Name: NIWL
Country: Sweden

Name: Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek/Flemish Institute for Technological Research
Abbreviated Name: VITO
Country: Belgium