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EMFacts Blog

    • 25 APR 13

    Joel Moskowitz on the IARC Monograph

    Source: Joel Moskowitz, Director, Center for Family and Community Health
    School of Public Health, University of California

    WHO Monograph on Cancer Risk from Mobile Phone Use Released

    According to the monograph, “Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” (p. 421) Children are particularly vulnerable to this carcinogenic effect as “the average exposure from use of the same mobile phone is higher by a factor of 2 in a child’s brain and higher by a factor of 10 in the bone marrow of the skull.” Also, the child‚s brain is developing at a greater rate than the adult brain.

    SNIP

    Joel M. Moskowitz, PRLog (Press Release) – Apr 19, 2013

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    • 20 APR 13

    IARC Releases RF Cancer Monograph

    The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has released its detailed evaluation of the cancer risks associated with RF radiation, which serves as the rationale for designating RF as a possible human carcinogen.

    The IARC monograph comes close to two years after an invited panel of experts from 14 countries reached this conclusion following an eight-day meeting at IARC headquarters in Lyon, France (see our report).

    An electronic copy of the 430-page document is available at no cost from IARC. A paper copy will be available soon.

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    • 19 APR 13

    SMART METERS IN VICTORIA: INFORMATION AND CONCERNS

    Highly recommended is a recently written report on the situation in Victoria, Australia that examines the ongoing problems with the roll-out of smart meters in that state.

    Excerpt:

    Background The Victorian government mandated the installation of smart meters for every household and small business in 2006, after consultation with power distributors, as part of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program. Replacement of meters started in 2009. Power distributors were mandated to use their ‘best endeavours’ to install smart meters at all households and small businesses by the end of 2013. The Auditor-General concluded in its November 2009 Audit Summary of the AMI project that ‘the cost-benefit study behind the AMI decision was flawed…’ and that there were ‘significant unexplained discrepancies between the industry’s economic estimates and the studies done in Victoria and at the national level’ (Victorian Auditor-General 2009, p. 4). More recently, in ‘Lessons from the Victorian Smart meter roll-out’, the Productivity Commission’s Electricity Network Regulatory Frameworks draft report states ‘Overall, it appears that the Victorian decision to roll-out smart meters was premature and/or poorly planned with inadequate knowledge about smart meter technologies, their costs and associated risks’ (Australian Government Productivity Commission 2012, Ch. 10, p. 346).
    SNIP

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    • 15 APR 13

    Cloud and wireless to drastically impact on power consumption: Australian report

    Cloud and wireless services as set to have a drastic toll on overall energy consumption, with the tech industry vastly underestimating this surge in power use, according to a new study by Melbourne’s Centre for Energy Efficient Telecommunications (CEET).

    The report – titled The Power of Wireless Cloud – says that between 2012 to 2015 the energy use required to power the cloud and wireless networks will grow up to 460 per cent – the equivalent of putting 4.9 million new cars on the road.

    While telecommunication accounts for just 2 per cent of the world’s power consumption, CEET forecast that at the current rate of wireless technology adoption that figure could increase to 10 per cent by 2020 if the issue is ignored.

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    • 15 APR 13

    Leszczynski: FCC, IEEE and ICNIRP should tighten safety standards

    HELSINKI, Finland, April 9, 2013 – Current safety standards for the radiation emissions from cell phones are old. FCC standard is from 1996 and ICNIRP from 1998. Since that time, a large number of research studies have been published, some of which pointed towards the possible health risk of exposures to cell phone radiation.

    In May 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer invited 30 experts to evaluate scientific evidence concerning the carcinogenicity of cell phone radiation.

    As a result of nearly 2 weeks of deliberations, IARC experts voted to classify the cell phone radiation as a possible carcinogen, a class 2B carcinogen. In everyday language it means that although we do not have ultimate proof that cell phone radiation is carcinogenic, we have enough scientific evidence to suspect such possibility and be cautious when using these devices.

    SNIP
    The classification of cell phone radiation as a possible carcinogen came as a great surprise to the scientific community and to the industry alike. Those who disagreed, called the classification flawed and a variety of second-hand “spin” stories were published in the news media denouncing the classification.

    Saying that the IARC classification is flawed is incorrect for the following reasons:
    SNIP

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    • 03 APR 13

    FCC & Cell Phone Industry: A Cozy Relationship

    Source: Louis Slesin, Microwave News

    The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the cell phone industry
    have an overly cozy relationship, according to a two-year investigation by
    the EMR Policy Institute, with the assistance of an industry insider.
    SNIP

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    • 02 APR 13

    Telstra Chief’s wish list for a future where even the garbage bins are smart

    Some years ago Australia’s asbestos mining magnate Lang Hancock suggested a good way to dispose of radioactive waste was to make garbage bins out of the stuff – the idea being that the radiation would keep the flies down.

    Not to be outdone by Hancock for great ideas on what to do with garbage bins, Telstra’s current tech boss Dr Hugh Bradlow sees a smart future where even the humble garbage bin will be wi-fi enabled and be able to keep track of what you throw out and send you a replacement shopping list on your smart phone.

    SNIP

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    • 30 MAR 13

    Two Reports on FCC RF Safety Proceedings

    From the EMR Policy Institute, http://www.EMRPolicy.org

    For Distribution –

    March 29, 2013 – FCC Releases the first report and order, further notice of proposed rulemaking, and notice of inquiry adopted March 27 and released today in ET dockets 13-84 and 03-137 found at:
    http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-13-39A1.pdf

    From Louis Slesin at Microwave News:

    Late today, the FCC issued a package of rules and information requests
    related to RF health and safety. The document is long and complex.
    Learn more about it in our latest Short Take:
    http://microwavenews.com/short-takes-archive/fcc-updating-rfrules

    From Paul Kirby at TR Daily:
    FCC RELEASES LONG-AWAITED
    ITEM ON RF EXPOSURE STANDARDS

    The FCC this afternoon released its long-awaited item opening a proceeding to explore whether it should modify its radio frequency exposure standards. The review will be the first time the FCC has considered whether to reexamine its RF standards since they were adopted in 1996.

    SNIP

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    • 29 MAR 13

    Erja Tamminen: Our Children deserve Safer Technology than Wireless

    This is the second guest blog on BRHP. The opinions expressed in it are of Erja Tamminen herself. Publication of these opinions in BRHP does not mean that BRHP agrees with or endorses these opinions. However, publication of guest blogs is an attempt to start an open debate and free exchange of opinions on RF and health.

    OUR CHILDREN DESERVE SAFER TECHNOLOGY THAN WIRELESS

    There is a technology fever in Finland, even though several international organizations like the World Health Organization, the European Environment Agency, the Council of Europe and the governments of Australia, Belgium, France and Israel emphasize the precautionary principle. In Finland wireless technologies are being favored and the mobile phone industry is influential. Finns areknown to be obedient to authorities and there is a strong reliance on national experts and research done in Finland.

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    • 27 MAR 13

    LA Teacher’s Union Passes Resolution to Ensure Safety from Wireless Technology

    LA Teacher’s Union Passes Resolution to Ensure Safety from Hazardous Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) in Schools including EMF Emissions from Wireless Technology

    United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), representing over 40,000 teachers and other workers in LAUSD, passed the following motion by a sweeping majority last night at 9 PM (Motion for the new UTLA Resolution transcribed from attendee, Shane Gregory’s transcripts):

    Health and Human Services Committee 3-6-13 #1: Moved by Kevin Mottus, seconded by John Cabrera.

    “I move that UTLA will abide by current National NEA Policy for Environmentally Safe Schools which states that all employees and stakeholders should be informed when there are changes in their exposure to environmental hazards including electromagnetic radiation and that all stakeholders and the public should be notified of any actual and potential hazards. UTLA will advocate for technological solutions that maintain technology upgrades while not increasing employees exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
    SNIP

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    • 26 MAR 13

    AAEM on WiFi in schools

    Letter from the American Academy of Environmental Medicine to the Los Angeles Unified School District re. the proposal to install Wi-FI in Los Angeles schools

    Excerpt:

    The WiFi systems in schools are typically hundreds of times more powerful than the home consumer systems you may be familiar with. They are also dozens of times more powerful than the cafe and restaurant systems you may have been
    exposed to. The WiFi systems in schools are necessarily more powerful than any microwave communication systems in any other setting because they are required to run hundreds of computers simultaneously. They are also exposing children ‐ the most vulnerable to microwave radiation ‐ to extended periods all day, for their entire childhood. This is an unprecedented exposure with unknown outcome on the health and reproductive potential of a generation.

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    • 22 MAR 13

    Smart meters, depleted uranium, and bad advice from the Health Council of the Netherlands

    Lately the expert advice of the Health Council of the Netherlands has been relied upon by those promoting smart meter radiofrequency emissions as being perfectly safe. Often quoted is the HCN’s report: “Health Council of the Netherlands Electromagnetic Fields Annual Update 2008”

    The Health Council of the Netherlands has also earlier given its expert advice on the dangers of depleted uranium as widely used in Iraq. Often quoted was their 2002 report: “Depleted Uranium Report from the Health Council of the Netherlands”.

    This advice has turned out to be very bad………….

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    • 21 MAR 13

    The precautionary principle applied to Wi Fi in French schools enshrined in law

    It is interesting that while the Greens Parties in Australia and New Zealand are very much WiFi friendly, in some cases providing funding to install WiFI in public buses, a more enlightened understanding is being undertaken by the Greens in France by enacting the precautionary policy for WiFi in schools.

    From the office of Isabelle Attard, Member of Calvados, the French National Assembly

    The precautionary principle applied to electromagnetic waves finally enshrined in law
    SNIP

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    • 17 MAR 13

    Michael Repacholi on EMF health risk assessment

    From the blog. Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Dariusz Lesczcynski

    Guest Blog from Mike Repacholi

    Posted on March 16, 2013

    Excerpt

    This is the first guest blog on BRHP. The opinions expressed in it are of Mike Repacholi himself. Publication of these opinions in BRHP does not mean that BRHP agrees or endorses these opinions. However, publication of this, and subsequent guest blogs, is an attempt to start an open debate and free exchange of opinions on RF and health.

    Read more →
    • 15 MAR 13

    Israeli cell phone company to compensate customer who contracted cancer

    Partner Communications, which operates in Israel under the name Orange, will pay NIS 400,000 to a customer who contracted cancer in his ear.
    The customer, who is in his 50s, sued Partner in May, claiming that intensive use of the device resulted in an aggressive lymphoma near his left ear. Partner agreed to pay NIS 400,000 in an out-of-court compromise settlement.

    The customer is an attorney who had converted the secure room – a reinforced room that doubles as a bomb shelter and is common in most new Israeli homes – into an office. He claimed that he conducted a great deal of phone calls and business from the room, where cellular reception was low. In places without good phone reception, such as elevators and secure rooms, the electromagnetic radiation from cellular phones is higher than usual.

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    • 15 MAR 13

    How Reliable Are EMF Cell Culture Studies?

    From Microwave News:

    Maybe not reliable at all.

    In the first systematic measurement survey of its kind, Lucas Portelli has
    shown that the ambient static and time-varying magnetic fields in laboratory
    incubators are large and variable: He found that they can differ by a factor
    of a hundred or even a thousand within and between incubators.

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    • 12 MAR 13

    Wireless Industry’s Patented System to Reduce Cancer Risk from Wireless Local Networks Never Adopted

    PRLog (Press Release) – Mar. 11, 2013 – Swisscom AG, a major telecommunications provider in Switzerland, filed U.S. and international patent applications for an innovative system to reduce “electrosmog” from wireless local networks (i.e., Wi-Fi) in 2003.

    This patent application acknowledged the cancer risk from exposure to wireless radiation eight years before the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer declared that radiofrequency energy, including cell phone and Wi-Fi radiation, is a “possible carcinogen” to humans, like DDT and lead.
    SNIP

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    • 08 MAR 13

    Top Liability Expert A. M. Best Identifies Radofrequency Radiation as a risk for insurers

    Top Liability Expert A. M. Best Identifies Radofrequency Radiation with Emerging Technologies That “Pose Significant Risks with Possible Long-Tail Losses”

    Radiofrequency Radiation heads A.M. Best list that includes Cyber Risk, Fracking, and Nanotechnology.

    Why take note of A.M. Best’s opinion? From its website www.ambest.com :

    The largest and longest-established company devoted to issuing in-depth reports and financial strength ratings about insurance organizations.
    Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the insurance industry. Policyholders refer to Best’s ratings and analysis as a means of assessing the financial strength and creditworthiness of risk-bearing entities and investment vehicles.
    From A.M. Best’s February 14, 2013 Best’s Briefing –
    SNIP
    An exposure which may present only insignificant insured losses at present, may bring future unprecedented losses . . .
    SNIP

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    • 06 MAR 13

    Israeli scientists find possible link between cellphone use, thyroid cancer

    Israeli scientists have reported preliminary findings of a possible link between the radiation from cellphones and thyroid cancer. There has been a steep rise in rates of thyroid cancer in recent years in Western countries. The Israeli research, conducted at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva and at Tel Aviv University, identified evidence for the first time of the possible connection between the rise in thyroid cancer cases to the increased exposure to radiation emitted by cellphones.

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    • 01 MAR 13

    March issue of ‘EMR and Health’ has just been published

    From Lyn McLean, EMR Australia.

    Dear Friends

    The March issue of ‘EMR and Health’ has just been published. It contains our exclusive summary of the findings of the 2012 BioInitiative Report by a team of 29 independent experts, as well as the latest news, summaries of the latest research and articles of interest.
    SNIP

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