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International Appeal: Scientists call for protection from non-ionizing electromagnetic field exposure

December 2015
European Journal of Oncology Volume 20(n. 3/4):pp. 180-182

Authors:

Elizabeth Kelley

International Commission on the Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Fields

Martin Blank

Columbia University

Joel M Moskowitz

University of California, Berkeley

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We are scientists engaged in the study of biological and health effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields (EMF). Based upon peer-reviewed, published research, we have serious concerns regarding the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices. These include–but are not limited to–radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitting devices, such as cellular and cordless phones and their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors as well as electric devices and infra-structures used in the delivery of electricity that generate extremely-low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF EMF). https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/EJOEH/article/view/4971

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International Appeal: Scientists call for protection from

non-ionizing electromagnetic ﬁeld exposure

To: His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations;

Honorable Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Honorable Achim

Steiner, Executive Director of the U.N. Environmental Programme; U.N. Member Nations

Summary. We are scientists engaged in the study of biological and health eﬀects of non-ionizing electro-

magnetic ﬁelds (EMF). Based upon peer-reviewed, published research, we have serious concerns regarding

the ubiquitous and increasing exposure to EMF generated by electric and wireless devices. ese include–but

are not limited to–radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitting devices, such as cellular and cordless phones and

their base stations, Wi-Fi, broadcast antennas, smart meters, and baby monitors as well as electric devices

and infra-structures used in the delivery of electricity that generate extremely-low frequency electromagnetic

ﬁeld (ELF EMF).

EUR. J. ONCOL.; Vol. 20, n. 3/4, pp. 180-182, 2015 © Mattioli 1885

Specific topics

Scientiﬁc basis for our common concerns

Numerous recent scientiﬁc publications have

shown that EMF aﬀects living organisms at levels

well below most international and national guidelines.

Eﬀects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress,

increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages,

structural and functional changes of the reproductive

system, learning and memory deﬁcits, neurological

disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being

An introduction to the International EMF Scientist Appeal

e current issue of the European Journal of Oncology contains a document the “International

EMF Scientist Appeal” (EMFscientist.org) that addresses the concerns of 215 scientists from 40 nations

about the adverse health eﬀects on the human population exposed to non-ionizing electromagnetic ﬁelds

(EMF) from extremely-low frequency to radiofrequency. e Appeal has been submitted to the United

Nations, to two of its sub-agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations

Environmental Programme (UNEP), and to all UN Member Nations.

We note that the overall weight of evidence reported in peer-reviewed, scientiﬁc studies strongly

supports greater precautionary measures be taken to reduce or eliminate EMF exposure.

Coordinating and Advisory Committee for the “International EMF Scientist Appeal” (Martin

Blank, Magda Havas, Elizabeth Kelley, Henry Lai, and Joel Moskowitz). We can be reached through

Elizabeth Kelley at info@EMFscientist.org.

10-internationa appeal 180 16/12/15 13:56

International appeal 181

in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race,

as there is growing evidence of harmful eﬀects to both

plant and animal life.

ese ﬁndings justify our appeal to the United

Nations (UN) and, all member States in the world, to

encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) to

exert strong leadership in fostering the development

of more protective EMF guidelines, encouraging pre-

cautionary measures, and educating the public about

health risks, particularly risk to children and fetal de-

velopment. By not taking action, the WHO is failing

to fulﬁll its role as the preeminent international public

health agency.

Inadequate non-ionizing EMF international

guidelines

e various agencies setting safety standards have

failed to impose suﬃcient guidelines to protect the

general public, particularly children who are more vul-

nerable to the eﬀects of EMF.

e International Commission on Non-Ion-

izing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) established

in 1998 the “Guidelines For Limiting Exposure To

Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic, and Electromag-

netic Fields (up to 300 GHz)” (1). ese guidelines

are accepted by the WHO and numerous countries

around the world. e WHO is calling for all na-

tions to adopt the ICNIRP guidelines to encourage

international harmonization of standards. In 2009,

the ICNIRP released a statement saying that it was

reaﬃrming its 1998 guidelines, as in their opinion,

the scientiﬁc literature published since that time

“has provided no evidence of any adverse eﬀects be-

low the basic restrictions and does not necessitate an

immediate revision of its guidance on limiting ex-

posure to high frequency electromagnetic ﬁelds (2).

ICNIRP continues to the present day to make these

assertions, in spite of growing scientiﬁc evidence to

the contrary. It is our opinion that, because the IC-

NIRP guidelines do not cover long-term exposure

and low-intensity eﬀects, they are insuﬃcient to

protect public health.

e WHO adopted the International Agency for

Research on Cancer (IARC) classiﬁcation of extreme-

ly low frequency electromagnetic ﬁeld (ELF EMF)

in 2002 (3) and radiofrequency radiation (RFR) in

2011 (4). is classiﬁcation states that EMF is a pos-

sible human carcinogen (Group 2B). Despite both IARC

ﬁndings, the WHO continues to maintain that there

is insuﬃcient evidence to justify lowering these quan-

titative exposure limits.

Since there is controversy about a rationale for

setting standards to avoid adverse health eﬀects, we

recommend that the United Nations Environmental

Programme (UNEP) convene and fund an indepen-

dent multidisciplinary committee to explore the pros

and cons of alternatives to current practices that could

substantially lower human exposures to RF and ELF

ﬁelds. e deliberations of this group should be con-

ducted in a transparent and impartial way. Although

it is essential that industry be involved and cooperate

in this process, industry should not be allowed to bias

its processes or conclusions. is group should provide

their analysis to the UN and the WHO to guide pre-

cautionary action.

Collectively we also request that:

1. children and pregnant women be protected;

2. guidelines and regulatory standards be strength-

ened;

3. manufacturers be encouraged to develop safer

technology;

4. utilities responsible for the generation, trans-

mission, distribution, and monitoring of elec-

tricity maintain adequate power quality and

ensure proper electrical wiring to minimize

harmful ground current;

5. the public be fully informed about the potential

health risks from electromagnetic energy and

taught harm reduction strategies;

6. medical professionals be educated about the

biological eﬀects of electromagnetic energy and

be provided training on treatment of patients

with electromagnetic sensitivity;

7. governments fund training and research on

electromagnetic ﬁelds and health that is inde-

pendent of industry and mandate industry co-

operation with researchers;

10-internationa appeal 181 16/12/15 13:56

International appeal

182

8. media disclose experts’ ﬁnancial relationships

with industry when citing their opinions re-

garding health and safety aspects of EMF-

emitting technologies; and

9. white-zones (radiation-free areas) be estab-

lished.

e list of signatories and their aﬃliations is

available at EMFscientist.org

References

1. http://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIR-

Pemfgdl.pdf

2. http://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIRP-

StatementEMF.pdf

3. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol80

4. http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol102/

10-internationa appeal 182 16/12/15 13:56

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