Guidance levels

The European Parliament has pointed out in 1998 that the existing ICNIRP guidance levels for electromagnetic fields are obsolete and do not protect children, elderly and special adult groups. (See the Mid-term review of the European Environment and Health Action Plan, items 21-23). The problem in those ICNIRP guidelines is that they are based on acute, thermal effects and 6 minute exposure.

Additionally, these ICNIRP guidelines are maintained by rejecting important research results (almost all biological effects) and they are heavily influenced by the industry. Unfortunately, these ICNIRP guidelines allow device manufacturers to produce risky devices and allow teleoperators to use exposure levels that pose a health risk in certain situations.

An example: The ICNIRP guidance level for 900 MHz GSM transmitter is 9 W/m² (Watts per square meter)  = 9.000.000 µW/m² (micro Watts per square meter).

Many countries like Switzerland, Italy, Austria (Land Salzburg), Russia and China have their own guidelines. These biologically based guidelines are based on 24/7 chronic exposure and related chronic exposure studies. Needless to say, these biologically relevant guidelines are several magnitudes lower than the ICNIRP guidance level.  

Our Recommentation: BioInitiative (2007) A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF).

http://www.bioinitiative.org/report/index.htm
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandgrants/comments/71B9.pdf

 Based on a review of biological effects. Focuses on chronic, 24/7 exposure.

The BioInitiative Report recommends for pulsed RF-radiation 100 µW/m² indoors and 1000 µW/m² (=0,6 V/m) outdoors + for low-level magnetic field 0,1-0,3 uT (microTesla) for homes. The BioInitiative reference value is lately endorsed by the European Parliament and adopted in several cities in France. In  our measurements we utilise these recommendations as reference values.

More reasons to  be cautious: ICEMS Monograph - "Non-Thermal Effects and Mechanisms of Interaction Between Electromagnetic Fields and Living Matter".  Describes biological effects in detail.

Often the reactions in animals and human beings start in the ELF-range from 40 nT (nanoTesla) and in RF-range from less than 1 µW/m².

In Salzburg, Austria they have the lowest recommendation level for pulsed 3G RF radiation (<1 µW/m² indoors) backed up by documentation. Even more stricter is the Baubiologie Guidance Level for Sleep Areas, based on 10.000 home measurements.

Additional information:

- Initiatives of Medical Doctors

- 'A Radiant Day' video and document about history of ICNIRP

- PhD Thesis of Don Maisch: "Setting Exposure Standards for Telecommunications Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation, An examination of the manipulation of telecommunications standards by political, military, and industrial vested interests at the expense of public health protection"