Dr E van Deventer Team Leader Radiation Programme Department of Public Health Environmental and Social Determinants of Health OUTLINE Introduction Assessing the health risk Managing the health ID: 935523
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Slide1
RF fields and Health:A WHO Perspective
Dr E. van Deventer
Team Leader, Radiation ProgrammeDepartment of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health
Slide2OUTLINEIntroductionAssessing the health riskManaging the health riskConclusions
Slide3World Health OrganizationFunction: act as the UN directing and coordinating authority on international health workObjective: "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health"Definition: "HEALTH is a state of COMPLETE physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the ABSENCE of disease or infirmity" (Constitution, 1948)
Slide4The Present EMF Context
Increasing EMF human exposure due to electricity demand, medical technologies and wireless devices
Concern from the public
Slide5Applications using radiofrequency fields (100 kHz – 300 GHz)
Navigation/Radar
Broadcasting
Wi-Fi
Telecommunications
Commercial
Residential sources
Vehicular
technologies
Slide6Slide7WHO International EMF ProjectEstablished in 1996Coordinated by WHO HQA multinational, multidisciplinary effort to create and disseminate information on human health risk from EMF
Slide8WHO Partners in Radiation
NGOs
Collaborating
Centres
International
Organizations
National
Authorities
Slide9Do EMFs pose a heath risk?
Risk AssessmentThe Evidence
Risk Management The Policies
Risk Perception
The Public Concern
Slide10OUTLINEIntroductionAssessing the health risk
Slide11Large and increasingly sophisticated database
Known mechanisms
International exposure guidelines based on established health effectsScientific uncertaintyThe Present Scientific Knowledge
Slide12What do we know?
Frequency
100 kHz
300 MHz
10 GHz
Slide13What do we know? Mechanisms of interaction
Induced currents
Induced currents
and heating
Surface heating
Non-thermal
effects??
Frequency
100 kHz
300 MHz
10 GHz
Slide14Research Balance of studies needed
http://
www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/booklet/emf2002.pdf
Slide15Laboratory StudiesCellular studiesGenotoxicityGene expressionAnimal studiesCancerBehaviourBBBSkinHuman studiesSleepEEGHormones
EHS
Slide16Short-term effects(WHO fact sheet 193, October 2014)To date, research does not suggest any consistent evidence of adverse health effects from exposure to RF fields at levels below those that cause tissue heating. Research has not been able to provide support for a causal relationship between exposure to EMF and self-reported symptoms, or “electromagnetic hypersensitivity”.
Slide17From Martin Röösli
dose
near-field dose
far-field dose
Slide18Epidemiological studiesStudies on mobile phonesTumours in head and neck Glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, parotid glandNumerous studies on the use of mobile phonesPublished: USA, Nordic countries, INTERPHONE, CEFALOOngoing: MOBI-Kids, COSMOS, GERoNiMO, …
Slide19Long-term effects(WHO fact sheet 193, October 2014)No increased risk of glioma, meningioma or acoustic neuroma with mobile phone use > 10 years Indications of increased risk of glioma for heavy usersBut biases and errors prevent a causal interpretationNo available data for long-term use
Studies on children ongoing
Slide20Epidemiological studiesBase stations and wireless networksSome studies have been performed Well-being and performance CancerPersonal exposure assessment
Wi-Fi
GSM
GSM
3G
Wi-Fi
Kenneth R. Foster,
Radiofrequency
exposure
from
wireless
LANs
utilizing WI-FI
technology
. Health Phys. 92(3):280 –289; 2007
Slide21Conclusions:
“Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects”
Slide22Problem Formulation
Health Risk Assessment
Exposure Assessment
Determine the amount, duration and pattern of exposure to the agent
Hazard Identification
Review key research to identify any potential health problems that an agent can cause
Exposure-Response Assessment
Estimate how much of the agent it would take to cause varying degrees of health effects that could lead to illnesses
Risk Characterization
Assess the risk for the agent to cause cancer or other illnesses in the general population
RF fields classified as
"
possibly carcinogenic to humans
"
(Group 2B
)
Slide23IARC Evaluation of Radiofrequency Fields Volume 102 (2013)RF fields classified as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2B) based on limited evidence in humans, based on positive association between glioma and acoustic neuroma and exposure to RF-EMF from wireless phones (epidemiologic studies)
limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of RF-EMFweak mechanistic evidence relevant to RF-EMF-induced cancer in humansEvidence for other exposures (e.g. base stations, Wi-Fi) and outcomes (other cancers) considered insufficient for any conclusion
Slide24All studied
outcomes
Problem Formulation
Health Risk Assessment
(cont'd)
Exposure Assessment
Determine the amount, duration and pattern of exposure to the agent
Hazard Identification
Review key research to identify any potential health problems that an agent can cause
Exposure-Response Assessment
Estimate how much of the agent it would take to cause varying degrees of health effects that could lead to illnesses
Risk Characterization
Assess the risk for the agent to cause cancer or other illnesses in the general population
2016
Radiofrequency Fields
Slide25OUTLINEIntroductionAssessing the health riskManaging the health risk
Slide26Norms, Standards and GuidelinesEmission standards have specifications that limit the EMF emissions from devices
Exposure standards
have specifications that limit EMF exposure to people
Slide27Relevant AuthoritiesNon-governmental and international organizationsEmission standardsMeasurements standardsExposure standards
Slide28Reference Levels
Slide29WHO Model LegislationTo assist countries with a legislation to protect their population from EMFProvides a legal framework to provide protection from EMFIncludes (i) Model Act, (ii) Model Regulation and (iii) an Explanatory Memorandum
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/standards/emf_model/en/index.html
Slide30Risk Perception and Communication WHO Risk Handbook
For programme managers who need basic information on EMF risk perception, communication and management
Available in EnglishTranslated into Spanish, Italian, German, French, Russian, Bulgarian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Hungarian and Japanesehttp://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/risk_hand/en/
Slide31OUTLINEIntroductionAssessing the health riskManaging the potential riskConclusions
Slide32Challenges to governments….Rapidly evolving RF technologies Launched on the market before health evaluationDisparities in risk management measures and regulations around the worldConcern from the public
Slide33ConclusionsNeed for clear roles and responsibilities in government on this topic Need for adoption and compliance of health-based standardsNeed for a public information program and dialogue with stakeholders Need for promoting research to reduce uncertaintyWe are a "global village"
Slide34The International EMF ProjectRadiation and Environmental Health
Public Health and EnvironmentWorld Health Organization21 Avenue AppiaCH-1211 Geneva 27Switzerland
email: emfproject@who.intwebsite: www.who.int/emf