August 2000

WHO updates fact sheet on electromagnetic fields and public health

The World Health Organisation has updated Fact Sheet No 193, in response to recent reviews of the effects of exposure to radiofrequency fields on humans. The Fact Sheet can be found on the WHO home page www.who.int/peh-emf/news.htm

Reference: WHO Fact Sheet No 193. Electromagnetic fields and public health. Mobile telephones and their base stations. Revised June 2000.

Statement from European Bioelectromagnetics Association

The Association has issued a statement on its web site about safe exposure to electromagnetic fields, research on biological effects, and risk assessment. The statement can be reviewed at www.ebea.org/menu.html

RF exposure near base stations

The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) in the UK has issued a report about exposure to radio waves from mobile phone base stations. The authors measured power density at 118 locations at 17 sites where people were concerned about their exposure to radio waves. The maximum exposure at any location was 0.023% of the NRPB investigation level, or 0.18% of the reference level of the International Commission on Non-ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

Reference: Mann SM, Cooper TG, Allen SG, Blackwell RP, Lowe AJ. Exposure to radio waves near mobile phone base stations. NRPB-R321, June 2000.