EMF and RF World Concerns Summary
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The following is a compilation of what government, public health and environment organizations and officials, independent scientists, health advocacy groups and activists are advocating around the world in response to the proliferation of electromagnetic fields, and especially 2.4 GHZ microwave radiation.
International Resolutions Advocating a Precautionary Approach to the Use and Expansion of Wireless Technologies:
Vienna resolution 1998 http://www.icems.eu/docs/resolutions/Vienna_Resolution_1998.pdf
Salzburg Austria Resolution 2000: http://www.salzburg.gv.at/salzburg_resolution_e.pdf
Catania Italy 2002 http://www.emrpolicy.org/faq/catania.pdf
Benevento Italy Resolution 2006 http://www.icems.eu/benevento_resolution.htm
London Resolution 2007: http://www.icems.eu/docs/resolutions/London_res.pdf
Venice Italy Resolution 2008 http://www.icems.eu/resolution.htm
Porto Alegre Resolution 2009: http://www.icems.eu/docs/resolutions/Porto_Alegre_Resolution.pdf
Wingspread Conference on the Precautionary principle: http://www.sehn.org/wing.html
Wi-Fi
European Environmental Agency advises the precautionary principle for wi-fi:
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/radiation-risk-from-everyday-devices-assessed
German Government advises against wi-fi:
http://www.icems.eu/docs/deutscher_bundestag.pdf
France National Library and several other Paris libraries are wi-fi-free http://www.next-up.org/pdf/FranceNationalLibraryGivesUpWiFi07042008.pdf
(USA) Progressive Librarians Guild urges the precautionary principle for wi-fi in libraries June 2008 http://libr.org/plg/wifiresolution.php
UK: The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) with 160,000 members has called for a government investigation into the biological and thermal effects of “wi-fi” networks. http://news.scotsman.com/education/39Wifi-in-schools-may-give.5156371.jp
France: Paris City Council launched a study on wi-fi June 2008 (in french) http://www.lemonde.fr/technologies/article/2008/06/16/wi-fi-le-conseil-de-paris-lance-une-etude-sur-les-risques-sanitaires_1058950_651865.html#ens_id=1053227
Penang Malaysia to study health effects of Wi-Fi. October 2008 http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/5250937/
England: Health Protection Agency launches study on health effects of wi-fi Oct 2007:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2007/oct/13/internet.internetphonesbroadband
Austria medical association pressing for a ban on wi-fi in schools http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1549944/Warning-on-wi-fi-health-risk-to-children.htm
Herouville St Claire Normandy removes Wi-Fi from schools http://freepage.twoday.net/stories/5670096/
USA: Sebastopol CA. City Council chooses the precautionary principle and terminates contract for free city wide Wi-Fi:
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080324/NEWS/803240314/1033/NEWS
Sebastopol Area wi-fi petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/mufifree/petition.html
Canada: July 2008 City Council of Thorold rescinds city wide wi-fi contract:
http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1097589
Canada, Lakehead University wifi-free policy http://policies.lakeheadu.ca/policy.php?pid=178
European Parliament Sept 2008 voted 522 to 16 to adopt text: ”is greatly concerned at the Bio-Initiative international report concerning EMFs, which summarises over 1500 studies on that topic and which points in its conclusions to the health risks posed by emissions from mobile-telephony devices such as mobile telephones, UMTS, WiFi, WiMax and Bluetooth, and also DECT landline ” “”The limits on exposure to electromagnetic fields [EMFs] which have been set for the general public are obsolete.” http://new.marketwire.com/2.0/release.do?id=901580
England schools dismantle wireless networks: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article642575.ece
Bavarian federal state parliament advises schools against Wi-fi: (in German). http://www.buergerwelle-schweiz.org/fileadmin/user_upload/buergerwelle-schweiz/Mobilfunk/MF_03.07_Kein_WLAN_in_bayer._Schulen.pdf
England: Teachers union call to suspend WiFi in schools:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1039235/Suspend-wi-fi-schools-says-union-chief-following-reports-causes-ill-health.html
Glastonbury residents “Why Wi-Fi” Campaign http://www.glastonburynaturalhealth.co.uk/WhyWi-Fi.html
Ireland: Jan 2008 The City of Dublin Ireland did not install wi-fi due to a EU law: http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0109/wifi.html
Wi-fi code for Welch Schools http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/child-safety-fears-prompt-wifi-code-for-welsh-schools-403255.html
Frankfurt, Germany: Bans Wi-Fi in public schools (in German) http://www.buergerwelle-schweiz.org/fileadmin/user_upload/buergerwelle-schweiz/Mobilfunk/Frankf_Rund_keinWLAN.pdf
A new study in JAMA that found that wireless tracking systems in hospitals can interfere with lifesaving technologies. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080624/ap_on_he_me/med_microchip_dangers
Hospital Techies urge limits on ‘white space’ Wi-Fi. http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9930441-7.html
Spain: Ecologists in Action statement on WiFi: http://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/spip.php?article11598
http://www.es-uk.info/news/20080319_belmonte_en.pdf
GreenWarriors of Norway oppose wi-fi in schools http://www.miljovernforbundet.no/render.asp?articleno=1471&segment=1&session=
Dr. Magda Havas open letter to schools and teachers on Wi-Fi health risks:
http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/09_Havas_WiFi_schools.pdf
Austrian health director Dr. Gerd Oberfeld advising against wi-fi http://www.antennafreeunion.org/salzburg.pdf
Sweden Prof. Olle Johansson scientisit wi-fi letter: http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/pdfs/20070723_wifi_olle.pdf
Dr. George Carlo wi-fi video http://www.mcs-international.org/red_alert_1_wifi_schoolchildren.html
Green party MEP/ concern with wi-fi in schools: http://www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk/2007/10/12/green-meps-demand-investigation-into-wifi-in-schools-after-study-links-electro-magnetic-fields-and-cancers/
(USA) Dr. Mercola wireless warning: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/06/21/are-you-allergic-to-wireless-internet.aspx?source=nl
(Canada) Dr. Magda Havas Report opposing Wi-Fi in San Francisco: http://www.magdahavas.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/07_Havas_WiFi-SNAFU.pdf
The Gathering Brainstorm: http://www.theecologist.org/pages/archive_detail.asp?content_id=1179
Dr. Jeff Fawcett: WiFi Blues: http://ezinearticles.com/?The-WiFi-Blues&id=169261
Wi-Fi in Schools UK http://wifiinschools.org.uk/index.html
Santa Fe Librarians letter supporting wi-fi free Public libraries: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Opinion/Their-View-Librarians–Keep-public-library-Wi-Fi-free
“Wireless Networks (Wi-Fi) Consumer Health and Safety Advice” EMFacts handout http://www.emfacts.com/wifi/
Other EMF and RF Actions and Concerns
Bioinitiative Report: http://www.bioinitiative.org
Bioinitiative Report video with co-author Cindy Sage http://www.youtube.com/v/7tZDor-_co0
Lichtenstein adopts Bioinitiative RF safety standard .6 volts per meter: http://www.next-up.org/pdf/Liechtenstein_confirms_its_intention_to_adopt_BioInitiative_standard_06Vm_09_06_2009.pdf
Brussels determines new EMR safety standard of 3 volts per meter http://www.next-up.org/Newsoftheworld/Belgique.php#2
2009: The European Parliament passed the EMF Resolution calling for caution on the use and expansion of electromagnetic fields, particularly radiofrequency exposure from wireless technologies. The resolution was endorsed by an overwhelming margin of 559 members in favor, 22 opposed, and 8 abstaining. The EP calls on member states to follow the example of Sweden to recognize ES as a disability and grant adequate protection as well as equal opportunities. http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2009-0216+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN
French Health and Security Agency (Afsset) recommend reducing exposure to mobile phones and other portable wireless devices. OCT 2009 http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.9264422c2946d8bf1cb62cde139e996e.c21&show_article=1
2009:Breast Cancer Fund: Policy and Research Recommendations: Reduce Exposure to Radiation http://www.breastcancerfund.org/site/pp.asp?c=kwKXLdPaE&b=3959151
(USA) NIEHS and NIOSH classifies EMF’s as a hazardous substance. NIEHS advocates prudent avoidance of EMF’s.http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/resources/library/consumer/hazardous.cfm
Prudent avoidance has been adopted in Australia, Sweden, and several U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin. http://www.who.int/peh-emf/meetings/southkorea/en/Leeka_Kheifets_principle_.pdf
Collarborative on Health and the Environment CHE EMF statement http://www.healthandenvironment.org/wg_emf_news/772
California EMF program 7 million dollar gov’t mandated study. up to 95% certainty leukemia caused by EMF’s. Up to 80% certainty brain cancer related to EMF’s. Advocate prudent avoidance of EMF’s. http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ehib/emf/
2009 Counties of LA (CA), Pima (AZ) City of Portland Oregon, Cities of Sebastopol, Albany and Glendale CA pass resolutions requesting the federal government repeal section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.and/or requesting the FCC to update RF studies http://www.cloutnow.org/localres/
Chinese breakthrough study how EMFs promote childhood leukemia. http://www.microwavenews.com/XRCC1.html
European Union adopts ALDE report adivsing the precautionary principle for EMF’s http://www.alde.eu/index.php?id=42&L=2&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=9559&cHash=2fec11e0cc
USA, NJ. Sussex County school to close due to unsafe power lines near playground
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/sussex_county_school_to_close.html
(USA) Dr. Robert Becker: http://www.energyfields.org/science/becker.html
(NZ) Dr. Neil Cherry: http://www.neilcherry.com/
(USA) Dr. Louis Slesin: http://www.microwavenews.com
(Canada) Dr. Magda Havas:www.magdahavas.com www.magdahavas.org
Dr. Martin Blank video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6wLFeIrCtU
Electrical Sensitivity
Germany 2002: Freiberger Appeal signed by 30,000 doctors http://www.starweave.com/freiburger/
2005 Ireland IDEA Irish doctors concern over EMR health effects http://www.ideaireland.org/emririshresearch.htm
Switzerland: Dr. Rau Paracelsus Health Clinic : treats 10,000 people annually. They assess health in light of EMF exposure. Although health issues are multi factorial, his assessment is EMFs are a hidden factor in many illnesses: http://www.paracelsus.ch/welcome
US Access Board: Report on Indoor Environmental Quality Released http://access-board.gov/news/ieq.htm
Dr. Christine Aschermann: Observations from a Psychotherapy Practice on Mobile Telecommunications and DECT Telephones
http://emfsafetynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Aschermann2009.pdf
Nordic Council of Ministers: The Nordic Adaptation of Classification of Occupationally Related Disorders (Diseases and Symptoms) to ICD-10 ed. by F Levy and A Wannag. 2000. Lists Electromagnetic intolerance as an occupational disorder.http://www.nordclass.uu.se/verksam/NordICD10.pdf
France Eco village white zone for EHS recovery http://www.zoneblanche.fr/index-eng.html
2008: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_sensitivity
Sweden: FEB Electrosensitivity: http://www.feb.se/index_int.htm
USA: Connecticut and Colorado Governors and Mayor of Broward County declare Proclamations: MAY 2009 Electromagnetic Sensitivity Awareness Month: http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/102653
The City of Colwood, BC Canada has declared August 2009 Electromagnetic Sensitivity Awareness month:http://colwood.fileprosite.com/FileStorage/0F1380D9502E4153B38C355BAB43124F-Mayors%20Press%20Release%20-%20EMS%20Sensitivity%20Month.pdf
The Mayor of Norris Arm, Newfoundland proclaimed October 2009 ‘”Electromagnetic Hypersenstiivity Awareness Month’.http://jimbenderoxford.blogspot.com/2009/10/mayor-of-norris-arm-newfoundland.html
Netherlands Electrohypersensitivity Questionaire Survey Results: http://www.stichtingehs.nl/images/stories/EHS/supplement_8.pdf
Dutch EHS Foundation: http://www.stichtingehs.nl/content/view/64/1/
Canada: Wireless Electrical and Electromagnetic Pollution News: http://www.weepinitiative.org/index.html
China internet addiction youth http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4327258.stm
South Korea govt study” internet addiction/ Millions of youth at risk. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/technology/18rehab.html
Spain: children treated for cell phone addiction: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7452463.stm
Canadian Human Rights commission: policy on environmental sensitivities http://www.chrcccdp.ca/legislation_policies/policy_environ_politique-en.asp
Cell Towers/ Antennas
2009: France: Versaille Court decision requiring a French telecom company to dismantle an existing cell tower in a residential area
2009 Botswana Africa: A controversial cell phone tower erected on the royal Phuthadikobo Hill has been destroyed by the villagers.
http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=189&dir=2009/October/Monday12
Botswana Africa: Bakgatla, BTA, radiation and public safety http://sundaystandard.info/news/news_item.php?NewsID=5984&GroupID=5
UK EM Radiation Research Trustee Eileen O’Connor Report on base stations: http://www.radiationresearch.org/pdfs/20061101_base_stations_health_concerns.pdf
2009 USA CA. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a local government’s authority to deny antennas in public rights-of-way for aesthetic reasons. The case is Sprint PCS Assets, L.L.C. v. City of Palos Verdes Estates http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2009/10/13/05-56106.pdf http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ugly-telecoms26-2009oct26,0,5439620.story
2009 Hunnington Beach California: City leaders vote to move controversial cell phone tower
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/city-phone-cell-2378582-tower-mobile
International Association of Firefighters moratorium of cell tower siting on Fire stations http://www.iaff.org/hs/Facts/CellTowerFinal.asp
Australian Democrats “Demand crackdown on mobile phone towers” http://www.democrats.org.au/news/index.htm?press_id=6417
http://www.democrats.org.au/docs/2007/Joining_the_Dots11.pdf
The American Bird Conservancy, Forest Conservation Council and Friends of the Earth brought a lawsuit against the FCC http://www.foe.org/new/news6.html and the Federal Court Ordered Cell Tower Safeguards for Migrating Birds http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/releases/080219.html
Israel bans antennaes on residences: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/916666.html
Portugal opposes Cell tower http://www.portugalresident.com/portugalresident/showstory.asp?ID=28969
Taiwan removes 1500 cell towers near schools: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2007/11/06/129715/1500-cellphone.htm
Ukiah CA. rejects cell tower: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080222/NEWS/802220314/1033/NEWS01
USA: Two radio towers in Washington State toppled http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9AGKD0O0&show_article=1
Panama: Companies in need of antennas must share structures to hold them:
http://laestrella.com.pa/mensual/2008/11/01/contenido/22550.asphttp://laestrella.com.pa/mensual/2008/11/01/contenido/22550.asp
Oregon, USA city school board unplugs cell towers: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/west_linnwilsonville_school_bo.html
New Zealand citizens video appeal to Government (opposing cell towers) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw6av2W60KA
Los Angeles unified school district policy restricts cell sites on LA USD property and requires new schools to avoid siting near cell sites
http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/lausd/board/secretary/html/agendas/mt/mt06-27-00.html
2009 Los Angeles Unified School District adopted a resolution that includes a statement in favor of repealing the Telecommunication Act of
1996’s preemption of consideration of health and environmental effects of wireless facilities. http://cloutnow.org/lausd/
Cyprus: House Health Committee demands action to protect the public from mobile phone masts. http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=39623&cat_id=1
USA: CA: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a 3-Judgepanel’s earlier decision and ruled that a wireless siting ordinance enacted by San Diego County is not preempted by the Telecommunications Act of 1996: Link to the decision:
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/8748AF2058D98DD3882574C100012711/$file/0556076.pdf?openelement
Environment
2002 letter from the EPA (Environment Protection Agency) stating the the FCC’s standards are “thermally based, and do not apply to chronic, non-thermal exposure situations”:http://www.emrnetwork.org/position/noi_response/noi_epa_response.pdf
Overloading of Towns and Cities with Radio Transmitters (Cellular Transmitter): a hazard for the human health and a disturbance of eco-ethics by Karl Hecht, Elena N. Savoley http://www.hese-project.org/hese-uk/en/niemr/hechtvortrag070724englisch.pdf
Institute for Inquiry: Wireless questions http://www.instituteforinquiry.org/inquiries/wireless.php
The Ecologist: Mobile Phones Could lead to bee decline: http://www.theecologist.org/pages/archive_detail.asp?content_id=865
India Study: Mobile phone towers and cell phones can pose a threat to honey bees, a study published in India has concluded.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090831/ts_afp/indiaenvironmentbeesscience_20090831114116
Bees, Birds and Mankind: Destroying Nature by Electrosmog by Dr. Ulrich Warnke
http://www.broschuerenreihe.net/international/bees-birds-and-mankind/index.html
Mt. Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center: Health effects from cell tower radiation:
http://www.mountshastaecology.org/Archive/Health_Effects_from_Cell_Phone_Tower_Radiation.html
Organic Consumers Association: http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_6388.cfm
Cell Phones
The Canadian Public Health Officer, David Butler-Jones, advised Canadians to limit their and their children’s use of cell phones until science resolves uncertainties about long term health effects. http://www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/cellphone071505.cfm
June 2008: France 20 top scientists warn about cell phones and brain cancer http://espanol.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080615/tecnologia/francia_telecomunicaci__n_consumo_salud
July 2008 Study: Prenatal Cell Phone Exposure Tied to Children’s Behavior http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-prenatal-cell-phone.html
England:2000, the UK Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones chaired by Sir William Stewart, reports that “a precautionary approach be adopted until more robust scientific information becomes available.” www.iegmp.org.uk
http://www.iegmp.org.uk/documents/iegmp_6.pdf
UK Health protection advises children under 16 to limit their use of mobile phone.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4196762.stm
Russian National Committee on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection advises against cell phones for 18 years and under http://emfsafetynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/mobile-and-children-RNC.pdf
http://weepnews.blogspot.com/2008/04/rncnirp-mobile-phones-high-risk-for.html
India: limit cell phone use for youth under 16 http://sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=14695318
Israel: Health Ministry calls for parents to limits kids cell phone use: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1006175.html
India: ban on children and pregnant women in TV ads for cell phones http://www.bi-me.com/main.php?id=21423&t=1&c=33&cg=4&mset=
2004, the European Union’s EMF REFLEX Research Project is released, showing that mobile phone radiation (radiofrequency radiation) damages DNA in human cells. omega.twoday.net/stories/436261
http://www.itis.ethz.ch/downloads/REFLEX_Final%20Report_171104.pdf
Madhya Pradesh, India: Bans cell phones in schools: http://www.indiaenews.com/education/20080718/132841.htm
Australia: Cell phone warning http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/video#
French Ministry of Health cell phone warning http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/2308
Canada, Toronto Public Health is advising children and teens to limit the time they spend on cellphones until more is known about potential health effects. Toronto Star, Ontario. http://healthzone.ca/health/article/459099
USA: July 2008 University of Pittsburg’s Cancer Intistute Dr. Ron Herberman’s memo to staff / Cell phone warning:http://www.post-gazette.com/downloads/20080722upci_cellphone_memo.pdf
USA September 2008 Rep. Dennis Kucinich holds Congressional Hearing on Cell Phone Health Effects
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/09/25/cellphones.cancer/index.html?iref=24hours
September 2008 Economist commentary on the Interphone Study ” Mobile Madness”: http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12295222
The Belgian Foundation against Cancer (www.cancer.be) issued a warning
concerning mobile phone use :
http://www.expatica.com/be/news/local_news/Calling-in-the-car-increases-risk-of-cancer.html
Finland: The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) has recommended restricting the use of mobile phones by children:http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/01/authority_recommends_restricting_childrens_use_of_mobiles_466353.html
2009 National Safety Council calls for a nationwide ban on cell phones while driving
http://www.nsc.org/resources/issues/distracted_driving.aspx
World Health Organization Interphone study Results Update WHO INTERPHONE results update Oct. 2008
Lyon France advertising campaign against cell phones for kids under 12 http://www.lyon.fr/vdl/sections/fr/evenements/le_portable_avant_12
USA Boston: Cell phone Ban After Boston Trolley Crashhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/us/10boston.html
Mobile phones to be banned in French primary schools to limit health risk http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6366590.ece
How Susceptible are Genes to Mobile Phone Radiation? by Prof. Franz Adlkofer, Prof. Igor Y. Belyaev, Vladislav M. Shiroff, and Dr. Karl Richter http://www.broschuerenreihe.net/international/how-susceptible-are-genes/index.html
Mobile phone use ‘raises children’s risk of brain cancer five fold’
(England) The truth about Mobile Phones and WiFi Dr Andrew Goldsworthy 2007: http://www.radiationresearch.org/The Truth About Mobile Phones and Wi-Fi.pdf
Dr. Vini Kharuna Brain Surgeon: “Mobile Phones and Brain Tumours- A Public Health Concern”http://www.brain-surgery.us/mobph.pdf
“Cell Phones and Brain Tumors”15 reasons for concern http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/science/reasons_us.pdf
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) who works to protect children and kids from toxic chemicals in our food, water, air, and the products we use every day, released a 40 page report titled: ”Cell Phone Radiation-Science Review on Cancer Risks and Children’s Health”http://www.ewg.org/project/2009cellphone/cellphoneradiation-fullreport.pdf
Updated 10/25/2009 by Sandi Maurer
EMF Safety Network PO Box 1325 Sebastopol CA 95473 (707) 823-1873 www.emfsafetynetwork.org