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13th November
French believe the biological effects of exposure to RF radiation now beyond doubt
In October 2009, the French Safety Agency reported that they consider the biological effects of exposure to RF radiation are beyond doubt. Action must now be taken to reduce exposure.
The recently released report by the French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Afsset) shows that radiofrequency radiation affects cellular functions, as reported by around ten experimental studies considered by Afsset as being indisputable.
There have been several mechanisms of action linking RF exposure with cellular changes, but they are still being discussed by different researchers proposing different ideas.
The level of epidemiological proof concerning the excess risk of certain tumours remains contested. As there may be more than one mechanism involved, this may be expected.
Whilst the biology is discussed and the epidemiology is uncertain, the French Agency accepts that the possibilities are there and the time for precaution is now.
Afsset recommends the following :
- Developing research to clear up remaining doubts and remain on the look-out for new emerging signals
Afsset recommends targeting, as a priority, epidemiological studies, as well as studies on reproduction and childhood development, while also responding to studies that display biological effects. It highlights the delay taken in the knowledge of health effects concerning new frequency bands below 400MHz and those above 2GHz, which includes WiFi.
- Reducing exposures of the public
There is potential to reduce the exposure to radiofrequencies. The priority goes to mobile phones which are the main source of exposure for the public (though this is not necessarily so, see the two previous news items, pointing to DECT phones and mobile phone masts as the worst offenders).
Afsset recommends "choosing systems that minimise the power emitted by DECT cordless telephones;" (page 18 of the report, called OPINION on the bottom of the linked press release). This is exactly what the Orchid phone does.
- Clear labelling of the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
This would favour the least radiation-emitting mobile phones, (though this is only a part of the story, see the Powerwatch article on Mobile Phones).
Afsset also recommends researching some points on the ground where levels of radiofrequency waves are clearly higher than average. It recommends mapping them and suggesting a procedure to reduce the levels.
The expert appraisal carried out by Afsset is novel, not only by the complete nature of the publications analysed but also by the method and innovative approach developed in order to carry it out. The expert appraisal listed 3,500 references. The work compared diverse schools of scientific thought, from interested parties and whistle-blowers, through hearings in particular. The human sciences have been taken into account in the expert appraisal process. Finally, for the first time, an observer from the associative structures will have monitored all of the debates.
For the news report on Afsset's site, click here.