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The European
Parliament adopted by 559 votes to 22, with 8 abstentions, a resolution on health
concerns associated with electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The resolution
recalls that wireless technology (mobile phones, Wi-Fi/WiMAX, Bluetooth, DECT
landline telephones) emits EMFs that may have adverse effects on human health.
Most European citizens, especially young people aged from 10 to 20, use a
mobile phone, while there are continuing uncertainties about the possible
health risks, particularly to young people whose brains are still developing. The dispute
within the scientific community regarding the potential health risks arising
from EMFs has intensified since 12 July 1999, when exposure limits for fields
in the 0 Hz to 300 GHz range were laid down in Recommendation
1999/519/EC. Among the scientific projects arousing both interest and
controversy is the Interphone epidemiological study, financed by an EU
contribution of EUR 3.8 million, primarily under the Fifth Framework
Programme for Research and Technological Development, the findings of which
have been awaited since 2006. The purpose is to establish whether there is a
link between use of mobile phones and certain types of cancer, including
brain, auditory nerve, and parotid gland tumours. Reviewing
the European standards for EMFs: the Commission
is called upon to review the scientific basis and adequacy of the EMF limits
as laid down in Recommendation 1999/519/EC and report to the Parliament. MEPs
call for particular consideration of biological effects when assessing the
potential health impact of electromagnetic radiation and for active research
to address potential health problems by developing solutions that negate or
reduce the pulsating and amplitude modulation of the frequencies used for transmission. As well as, or
as an alternative to, amending European EMFs limits, the Commission, working
in coordination with experts from Member States and the industries concerned,
should draw up a guide to available technology options serving to
reduce exposure to EMFs. Placement
of masts and transmitters: the resolution calls
for optimal placement of masts and transmitters. It calls for the sharing of
masts and transmitters placed in this way by providers so as to limit the
proliferation of poorly positioned masts and transmitters. Moreover, MEPs
urge the authorities responsible for authorising the placement of mobile
telephony antennas to reach agreement, jointly with the operators in that
sector, on the sharing of infrastructure, in order to reduce the volume
thereof. Member States and local and regional
authorities are called upon to create a one-stop shop for authorisation to
install antennas and repeaters, and to include among their urban development
plans a regional antenna plan. Keeping
certain establishments clear: MEPs consider that
it is in the general interest to encourage solutions based on negotiations
involving industry stakeholders, public authorities, military authorities and
residents’ associations to determine the criteria for setting up new GSM
antennas or high-voltage power lines. In this context, it is important to
ensure at least that schools, crèches, retirement homes, and health care
institutions are kept clear, within a specific distance determined by
scientific criteria, of facilities of this type. Research: MEPs stress the need to increase research and development
(R&D) funding for the evaluation of potential long-term adverse effects
of mobile telephony radio frequencies. The Commission is called upon to launch,
during the 2009-2014 parliamentary term, an ambitious programme to gauge the
electromagnetic compatibility between waves created artificially and those
emitted naturally by the living human body, with a view to determining
whether microwaves might ultimately have undesirable consequences for human
health. The Parliament
proposes that the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies
(EGE) be given the additional task of assessing scientific integrity in
order to help the Commission forestall possible cases of risk, conflict of
interests, or even fraud that might arise now that competition for
researchers has become keener. Interphone: the Parliament deplores the fact that, as a result of repeated
postponements since 2006, the findings of the Interphone study have yet to be
published. MEPs consider that it is up to the Commission to ask those in
charge of the project why no definitive findings have been published and,
should it receive an answer, to inform Parliament and the Member States without delay. Overcoming
the lack of information: MEPs call on the Member
States to make available to the public, maps showing exposure to
high-voltage power lines, radio frequencies and microwaves, and especially
those generated by telecommunications masts, radio repeaters and telephone
antennas. That information should be published on the internet. MEPs also
suggest to the Commission, to make for efficiency in policy and budget terms,
that the Community funding earmarked for studies on EMFs be partly switched
to finance a wide-ranging awareness campaign to familiarise young
Europeans with good mobile phone techniques, such as the use of
hands-free kits, keeping calls short, switching off phones when not in use
(such as when in classes) and using phones in areas that have good reception. The Commission
is called upon to present a yearly report on the level of
electromagnetic radiation in the EU, its sources, and actions taken in the EU
to better protect human health and the environment. Reducing
exposure of local residents: the resolution encourages
the introduction of a single standard designed to ensure that local residents
would be subjected to as low a degree of exposure as possible when
high-voltage grids were being extended. It also calls on the Member States to
follow the example of Sweden and to recognise persons that suffer from
electrohypersensitivity as being disabled so as to grant them adequate
protection as well as equal opportunities.
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