‘No harmful effects’ from mobile phones
Britain’s engineers have concluded that “low-level exposure to electromagnetic fields” (EMF) from power lines and mobile phones do not have harmful effects.
The
Institution of Engineering and Technology(
IET) has published the latest report from its Biological Effects Policy Advisory Group (BEPAG) on low-level EMFs.
The
Institutionsaid it has “a special interest in any possible health effects of both occupational and general-population exposure to electromagnetic fields, because of its leading role in engineering and technology”.
The range of EMF exposures considered extend from: electrical power transmission and distribution (pylons, power lines, and wiring in buildings etc.), through AM radio, FM radio, television, mobile phones, and scientific frequencies up to 300 GHz.
In the
latest report, published earlier this month, BEPAG has concluded that having considered all the factors raised in the report, along with those in its previous reports which now stretch back over twenty years, the balance of scientific evidence to date does not indicate that harmful effects occur in humans, or animals, due to low-level exposure to EMFs.
An
IETspokesperson said: “BEPAG’s examination of the peer-reviewed global literature published in the last two years has not justified a change in this overall conclusion, which was published in their previous report in May 2012.”
BEPAG is made up of experts in particular science and engineering disciplines; some come from within the Institution’s own membership, but some are drawn from other professions so as to obtain the necessary specialist expertise.
It first reported in June 1994, and then approximately every two years since that date.
Its reports constitute the
IET’s position on these matters.
An
IETspokesperson said:
“BEPAG draws attention to the pressures on scientists to publish their work which may encourage the reporting of apparent effects that have not been adequately investigated.
“BEPAG noted that research institutions have a vested interest in encouraging publications from their staff, but there is little counterbalancing pressure to hold organisations to account if such publications are found to be erroneous.
“BEPAG recommends that all research institutions operate transparent internal quality-control mechanisms to help mitigate this problem.”
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