The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 27 May 2011

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), meeting in Kyiv at Standing Committee level, today called on European governments to “take all reasonable measures” to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields, especially to radio frequencies from mobile phones, “and particularly the exposure to children and young people who seem to be most at risk from head tumours”.

According to parliamentarians, governments should "for children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by schoolchildren on school premises”, and put in place information and awareness-raising campaigns on the risks of potentially harmful long-term biological effects on the environment and on human health, especially “targeting children, teenagers and young people of reproductive age”.

Read more and download flyers for schools.

NHS Choices, 16 May 2011

The Daily Express has reported that there has been a “call for schools to ban mobiles in new cancer alert”. The newspaper said the Council of Europe Committee has said, “mobile phones could cause brain tumours and should be banned in all classrooms”, and called for a “dramatic reduction” in exposure to other wireless devices, such as baby monitors and cordless phones.

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Daily Express, 16 May 2011

MOBILE phones could cause brain tumours and should be banned in all classrooms, the Council of Europe Committee has said.

The body, which has 47 member countries, has called for a dramatic reduction in exposure to phones and other wireless devices, including baby monitors and cordless home phones.

It said children and young people were most at risk of developing cancer from mobiles and so they should not be allowed at all in schools. They also said WiFi internet connections should be banned.

Women hoping to get pregnant were also at increased risk and should limit their use, it added.

There have been several studies into the possible dangers of mobile phones, with many conflicting findings. While there has not been conclusive evidence that they can cause brain tumours, it has also not been established that they are safe to use.

The report said that after looking at studies available to date, there was enough evidence of potentially harmful effects to warrant immediate action to limit their use.

Daily Mail, 16 May 2011

Pupils at risk from radiation, Euro experts warn.

Mobile phones and wireless internet should be banned from schools because they pose too great a risk to children’s health, a controversial study has warned.

The stark claims go against the overwhelming body of existing research, which suggests such devices are perfectly safe.

But an influential Council of Europe committee said that electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobiles, computers with wi-fi internet connections and even baby monitors could cause cancer and impair brain development.

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Metro, 15 May 2011

Wireless internet systems and mobile phones should be banned from schools amid fears of health risks, a report warns.

It calls for measures to reduce exposure to ‘potentially harmful’ electromagnetic fields, especially radio frequencies from handsets.

Children are singled out as being ‘most at risk from head tumours’ by the report.

Read more

The Telegraph, 14 May 2011

Mobile phones and computers with wireless internet connections pose a risk to human health and should be banned from schools, a powerful European body has ruled.

A Council of Europe committee examined evidence that the technologies have "potentially harmful" effects on humans, and concluded that immediate action was required to protect children.

In a report, the committee said it was crucial to avoid repeating the mistakes made when public health officials were slow to recognise the dangers of asbestos, tobacco smoking and lead in petrol.

The report also highlighted the potential health risks of cordless telephones and baby monitors, which rely on similar technology and are widely used in British homes.

Fears have been raised that electromagnetic radiation emitted by wireless devices can cause cancers and affect the developing brain.

The findings were seized on by campaigners who oppose the spread of wireless devices.

The committee concluded that member states should:

• Set thresholds for levels of long-term exposure to microwaves of the type emitted by mobile phones;

• Introduce clear labelling on products indicating the presence of electromagnetic fields and any health risks associated with use;

• Ban all mobile phones and wireless networks in classrooms and schools;

• Run information campaigns aimed at children and young adults about the risks to human health;

• Step up research on less-dangerous types of antennae and mobile phones.

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The Jerusalem Post, 16 March 2011

Officials say upgrading infrastructure to for 4G cellular phones could increase use of such technologies and increase public’s exposure to radiation.

The Health and Environmental Protection ministries told the Communications Ministry on Sunday that they will oppose the expansion of cellular phone infrastructure to accommodate “fourth-generation” (4G) devices, at least until any health effects from the radiation are examined in depth.

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Stockholm, 2011-02-03

Scientists Urge Halt of Wireless Rollout and Call for New Safety Standards: Warning Issued on Risks to Children and Pregnant Women

Scientists who study radiofrequency radiation from wireless technologies have issued a scientific statement warning that exposures may be harming the development of children at levels now commonly found in the environment. Pregnant women are cautioned to avoid using wireless devices themselves and distance themselves from other users.

The Seletun Scientific Statement has now been published in Reviews on Environmental Health (2010; 25: 307-317). The article recommends that lower limits be established for electromagnetic fields and wireless exposures, based on scientific studies reporting health impacts at much lower exposure levels. Many researchers now believe the existing safety limits are inadequate to protect public health because they do not consider prolonged exposure to lower emission levels that are now widespread.

“Current US and ICNIRP standards for radiofrequency and microwave radiation from wireless technologies are entirely inadequate. They never were intended to address the kind of exposures from wireless devices that now affect over 4 billion people.”

(Olle Johansson, professor, The Experimental Dermatology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, and The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden)

The combined effect of cell phones, cordless phones, cell towers, WI-FI and wireless internet place billions of people around the world at risk for cancer, neurological disease and reproductive and developmental impairments.

“We are already seeing increases in health problems such as cancer and neurobehavioural impairments, even though these wireless technologies are fairly new in the last decades or so for the general public. This finding suggests that the exposures are already too high to protect people from health harm. Evidence suggests there are special risks for persons with occupational exposures to RF/MW as well as ELF.”

(Elihu Richter, assoc. professor, Unit of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel)

Safety standards also ignore the developing fetus, and young children who are more affected.

“Pregnant women and children of all ages should avoid using cell and cordless phones given the health effects we are seeing already.”

(Yuri Grigoriev, professor, Dr of Med Sci, Chairman of Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, Moscow, Russian Federation)

Many countries are promoting wireless communications on a community-wide scale for energy management and conservation. The SmartGrid concept could require every home to have a wireless electric and gas meter in place of their existing meters. If implemented, it will greatly increase the intensity of new wireless emissions in homes, schools and every other building that uses electricity and gas.

“WI-FI routers, DECT phones and other wireless devices like baby monitors produce radio frequency emissions that will affect millions of people and babies in their homes, and should be halted until other, less harmful options are investigated.”

(Lukas Margaritis, professor, Department of Cell Biology and Biophysics,
Faculty of Biology,
University of Athens, Athens, Greece)

The Scientific Panel urges a halt to the rollout of new wireless technologies, especially those that cause exposures for pregnant women and for children.

“New, biologically-based exposure limits are crucial to guide new technology development toward solutions that are not harmful to health. The global rollout of wireless technologies has outpaced both health studies and calls for more restrictive public safety limits.”

(Cindy Sage, co-editor of The Bioinitiative Report, MA, Sage Associates,
Santa Barbara, CA, USA)

Copies of the Seletun Scientific Statement [Fragopoulou A, Grigoriev Y, Johansson O, Margaritis LH, Morgan L, Richter E, Sage C. “Scientific panel on electromagnetic field health risks: Consensus points, recommendations, and rationales. Scientific Meeting: Seletun, Norway, November 17-21, 2009”, Rev Environ Health 2010; 25: 307-317] can be obtained from the Karolinska Institute. Contact: Prof. Olle Johansson < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >.

Dr. Magda Havas: I made a short (2.5 minute) video for youtube on what I found when I looked at my blood under a microscope before and after using a computer and a mobile phone. My blood returned to "normal" after 10 minutes away from a computer. Live blood analysis may be a useful diagnostic for testing people who are electrically sensitive.

http://www.rcinet.ca/english/column/the-link-s-top-stories/killer-cellphones-/

Daily Mail, 12th June 2006

In a controversial analysis, scientist Alasdair Philips argues that many everyday gadgets are filling our homes with electromagnetic fields - and doing untold damage to us all:

Read more

(DUBLIN) An eminent Swedish professor at the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Stockholm is being blocked from completing replication experiments aimed at seeking a definitive answer to the effects of electromagnetic frequencies on the human body.

Prof. Olle Johansson

Prof. Olle Johansson, a long-time critic of wireless communications technology based on his research, has been informed that his offices and lab are required for other purposes, effectively blocking privatelysupported experiments scheduled for August and September. Johansson is associate professor and head of department at the Experimental Dermatology Unit in the institute’s Department of Neuroscience in Stockholm. He is also a professor with the Swedish Royal Institute of Technology.

Johansson first came to the attention of the public when his work led to improved computer screens to protect office workers from what he found as the adverse effects of radiation emitted from monitors.

Next month’s planned experiments are intended to replicate the experiments of Dr. Magda Havas of Trent U University, Canada whose work led to the cancellation of wi-fi in San Francisco and the recent new law requiring warning labels on mobile phones. San Francisco has yet to address the issue of radiation from mobile phone and other telecommunications masts.

Observers claim the current controversy at the Karolinska Institute follows Johansson’s efforts to assist activists in Ireland opposed to the proliferation of telecommunications masts to protect children who absorb up to 75 percent of this type of radiation into their brains. During a visit to Ireland he was quoted as saying “No level of radiation is safe.” The cash-strapped Irish government through the communications regulatory body, ComReg, has introduced what it calls “Test and Trial”, a program where companies are invited to test their wireless equipment in a live environment.

Most recently, Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications giant conducted tests in the 2.3GHz band at speeds of up to 80MBits/sec using a license issued under ComReg’s Test and Trial licensing program. The experiment used TD-LTE, originally promoted by China Mobile using paired spectrum with separated channels as a competitior to Intel’s Wimax, signal. The TD-LTE technology provides high-speed broadband services which can be used to support services such as high-definition TV, video conferencing and many others”  without the need for new devices. Ericsson has two Irish addresses: one in Dublin and its Software Campus at Athlone, Co. Westmeath, the company’s first R&D lab outside Sweden.

The test was conducted using a “large black box” broadcasting from a taxi. No mention of public safety of the test was made by Ericsson.

Two weeks ago, the city of San Francisco passed the first law in the US requiring retailers to display the amount of radiation given off by mobile phones. In retaliation after the vote, the CTIA wireless trade group called off its Autumn show, set for San Francisco. The city stands to lose $80 million in economic activity generated by the 3-day Enterprise and Applications Show, attended by 68,000 visitors. The show has been staged In San Francisco five of the last seven years

Last week U.S. President Barack Obama signed a memorandum doubling the number of frequencies available for wireless devices. The move is intended to create jobs and boost investment in the $153 billion wireless market over the next 10 years. The availability of a bigger chunk of wireless spectrum would allow faster delivery of data and video onto smart phones and other next-generation devices. Digital television is generally regarded as particularly dangerous by the physics community due to the large volume of information incorporated into the carrier waves.

Obama’s memo jump-starts an effort to make available over the next 10 years 500 megahertz of government and commercial spectrum, which reflects a recommendation by the Federal Communications Commission in its National Broadband Plan released in March. In the nation's largest cities, local TV stations use about 150 megahertz, according to the National Broadband Plan.

Researchers such as Dr. George Carlo, of the Science and Public Policy Institute at the Institute for Healthful Adaptation in Washington, D.C. assert that it is not the microwaves but microwaves which carry information that are the cause of the drastic increase in a number of diseases. In Ireland, for example, in a request for funding infection-free examination rooms for cancer patients, the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland (RCPI) predicted last week that by the year 2025, half the population will suffer from some form of cancer.

In April, The European Academy for Environmental Medicine issued the Wuerzberg Appeal, outlining the increasing prevalence of chronic multisystem illnesses such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia (FMS) as well as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases, auto immune diseases and cancer. These multisystem diseases are considered chronic inflammatory processes influenced by environmental factors including chemical pollutants, biological infectious agents and electromagnetic field (EMF) triggers.

Johansson’s difficulties began last year when he was approached by Staffan Cullheim, head of the neuroscience department, who informed the professor he was to vacate his premises immediately because they were to be used as an “animal house for ferrets”.

Johansson refused point blank and the issue was dropped. The professor became ill and required surgery. Still convalescing, he returned to work and was again confronted by Cullheim, this time with plans to use his office and lab for an imaging facility.

Commenting on the Karolinska Institute’s attempted closure of Johansson’s research facilities, Dr. Carlo, said, "Olle Johansson's lab is one of the few remaining places in the world where independent, non-industry funded research on EMR health effects is being

done. It would be a tragedy if he were to be suppressed from carrying on his work."

The Karolinska Institute has a long history of intellectual scientific rigor as well as honours. Each year the Nobel Assembly of 50 Karolinska professors collates the nominees for the world famous Nobel awards in the fields physiology or medicine.

Prof. Harriet Walberg-Henriksson, president of the Karolinska Institute, and Prof. Bernd Huber, chairman of the League of European Research Universities, have not responded to queries regarding Johansson’s status, research or the timing of the proposed closure of his lab.

Safety Code 6 draws criticism at (Canadian) House of Commons committee meeting.

Health experts and industry clash over health effects from wireless technology

Concerns over the possible health effects from everyday wireless devices have prompted the federal government to take action.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health heard from several health experts from around the world last Tuesday to discuss concerns over the safety of the burgeoning use of wireless technology in Canada.

Read full story here .

Dr.-Ing. Frank Ermisch Diplom-Physiker, Ellwangen 13-01-2007

Das unten aufgeführte Interview wurde am 7.12.06 von der Schwäbischen Post veröffentlicht. In Hüttlingen, einer Gemeinde in der Nähe von Ellwangen kämpfen die Einwohner ebenso wie in anderen Orten gegen einen geplanten Mobilfunksender.

The interview given below was published by the `Schwabischen Post’ on 7.12.06.

In Hüttlingen, a community near to Ellwangen, the residents are, just as in other places, fighting against a planned mobile telecommunications transmitter.

With best wishes,

Frank Ermisch

MOBILFUNK / Interview mit dem Radiologen Professor Dr. Eckel von der Bundesärztekammer

MOBILTELECOMMUNICATIONS / Interview with the Radiologist Professor Dr. Eckel from the  Bundesärztekammer (equivalent to the BMA in the UK)

"Der Zellkern verändert sich"

"The cell nucleus is mutating

Professor Dr. Heyo Eckel ist Fachmann für Strahlen. Er ist Radiologe, Dozent an der Uni Göttingen, stellvertretender Vorsitzender des Ausschusses Gesundheit und Umwelt der Bundesärztekammer, Vorsitzender der niedersächsischen Landesstiftung für "Tschernobyl-Kinder". Und weil er auch noch eine verwandtschaftliche Beziehung zu Hüttlingen hat, sprachen wir mit ihm über elektromagnetische Wellen.

Professor Dr. Heyo Eckel is a radiation expert. He is a radiologist, lecturer at Göttingen University, vice chairman  of the Health and Environment Committee of the German Medical Association [Ausschusses Gesundheit und Umwelt der Bundesärztekammer], Chairman of the Niedersachsen province charity for "Tschernobyl Children". And because he also still has family connections in Hüttlingen, we spoke with him about electromagnetic radiation.

VON MARKUS LEHMANN HÜTTLINGEN/GÖTTINGEN

BY MARKUS LEHMANN HÜTTLINGEN/GÖTTINGEN

Für den Radiologen gibt es zwei Bereiche: den wissenschaftlich-formal-rechtlichen und den emotionalen.

For Radiologists there are two areas: the scientific-formal-legal and the  emotional.

Sein wissenschaftliches Fazit: Elektromagnetische, gepulste Wellen von Sendemasten und Handys beeinflussen und deformieren den Zellkern. Vergleichbar mit denen von Röntgenstrahlen. Solange die Unschädlichkeit von Mobilfunksendern nicht bewiesen ist, müsse alles getan werden, um die Bevölkerung vor potentiellen Gesundheitsschäden zu schützen.

His scientific conclusion: Elektromagnetic, pulsed waves from transmitter masts and mobile phones affect and deform the cell nucleus. Comparable with those of X-rays. As long as the harmlessness of mobile telecommunications is not proven, everything must be done to protect the population against potential health damage.

Sind elektromagnetische Wellen gefährlich für den Menschen?

Are electromagnetic waves dangerous for humans?

Diese Wellen deformieren und schädigen den Zellkern. Das ist bewiesen und haben Untersuchungen "in vitro" (im Laborversuch) ergeben. Der Zellkern kann sich auch durch natürliche Vorkommnisse verändern. Darüber hat man aber keinen Einfluss. Diese Veränderungen durch die Wellen sind aber sicher belegt.

These waves deform and damage the cell nucleus. That is proven and has resulted in experiments "in vitro" (in laboratory studies). The cell nucleus can also mutate as a result of natural occurrences. However, one has no control over that. But  changes  due to the influence from electromagnetic waves are definitely documented.

Und diese Technik wird, flächendeckend, eingesetzt?

And this technology is deployed across the country?

Nach dem Stand der Wissenschaft besteht kein alarmierendes Gesundheitsrisiko. Von den vielen Tausend Gutachten gibt es nur 400 bis 500, die rein wissenschaftlichen Kriterien entsprechen und die also ernst zu nehmen sind. Aber man muss bedenken: Die Mobilfunktechnik ist noch relativ neu, kommt nun aber flächendeckend zum Einsatz. Folgeschäden sind also nur schwer, noch nicht oder erst in Jahren festzustellen. Wie damals bei den Röntgenstrahlen.

According to the present state of scientific knowledge there is no alarming health risk. Out  of the many thousand of reports, there are only 400 to 500, which comply with purely scientific protocoll and thus must be taken seriously. But one must consider: The mobile telecommunications technology is still relatively new, but yet it is now deployed across the whole country. Consequential damage is hard to ascertain, not yet and maybe only after years. Like  in bygone days with  X-Ray radiation.

Sie sind ja auch in die Tschernobyl-Problematik eingebunden...

You are  also  involved in the Tschernobyl problem.....

Ja. Und die Schädigungen, die von radioaktiver Strahlung ausgehen, sind identisch mit den Auswirkungen von elektromagnetischen Wellen vergleichbar. Die Schädigungen sind so ähnlich, dass man sie nur schwer unterscheiden kann.

Yes. And the injuries that result from  radioactive radiation are identical with the effects of electromagnetic radiation. The damages are so similar that they are hard to differentiate.

Sie sagen also, dass eine potentielle oder vermutete Gefahr besteht. Was ist ihr Vorschlag?

So you are saying, that there is a potential or suspected danger. What is your suggestion?

Man muss politisch einwirken. Die Politiker verweisen stets auf die Grenzwerte. Man muss sich auf die Mindestabstände der Anlagen, wie in der Schweiz, zusammen mit der Industrie, einigen. Vor allem muss weitergeforscht werden, wie diese elektromagnetische Wellen auf Menschen wirken. Diese Strahlung schmeckt nicht, riecht nicht. Und man hört sie nicht. Sie ist nicht mit menschlichen Sinnesorganen fassbar. Und deshalb haben die Menschen Angst vor ihr.

One must act politically. The politicians refer constantly to safe limits. There must be an agreement with the industry on a minimum distance from  base stations, as in Switzerland,. Above all there must be further research on how these electromagnetic waves effect humans. This radiation does not taste, it does not smell. And one does not hear it. It is not discernable through our senses. And, that’s why people are afraid of it.

Was raten Sie Bürgern, die Angst vor einem Sendemasten in ihrer Umgebung haben?

What do you advise citizens who have fears about a transmitter in their vicinity ?

Rechtlich kann man nur wenig machen. Man kann raten, dass sich die Menschen zusammenschließen. Um Druck - moralischen - Druck auf die Kommunalpolitiker, die Landes- und Bundespolitiker auszuüben. Denn die haben eine Fürsorgepflicht, vermutete oder vermeintliche Schäden von den Bürgern abzuwehren.

Legally, one cannot do much. One can advise, that people unite together. In order to exert pressure - moral - pressure on the local politicians, the provincial and federal government politicians. Because they have a duty of care to avert presumed or perceived damage to citizens.

Bernd Kowall

Department of Epidemiology and International Public Health, School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, PO 100131, 33501, Bielefeld, Germany.

PMID: 20020175 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Available in full here

http://www.springerlink.com/content/?k=German+wide+cross+sectional+survey+on+health+impacts+of+electromagnetic+fields+in+the+view+of+general+practitioners