EVOLUTION OF ICNIRP GUIDELINES FOR RADIOFREQUENCY EMF Paolo Vecchia Past Chairman of ICNIRP
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
PROJECT GROUPS
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
BASIC QUESTIONS
• How likely is it that the exposure limits for radiofrequency fields will change?
• What would be the consequences?
• How likely is it that the basic approach to protection will change? • What would be the consequences?
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
EVOLUTION OF ICNIRP GUIDELINES
• RF (interim)
1984
• RF
1988
• Time-varying electromagnetic fields > 0 Hz - 300 GHz
1998
Basic features of guidelines have not changed over the time
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
EARLY STANDARDS (1953-1982)
ICNIRP 1998
Adapted by Hitchock and Patterson 1995 ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
ARE GUIDELINES OUTDATED?
• • • •
Guidelines for time-varying fields last updated in 1998 “Old” does not necessarily mean “not valid any longer” Long duration is in general a proof of good norms A balance between stability and updating is needed
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
WHY TO REVISE A STANDARD?
•
New scientific evidence (new effects, changes in thresholds, refinement of dosimetry)
• •
New technologies (revision of safety factors, possibility of relaxation) Outdated research database
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
NOT REASONS TO REVISE SCIENCE-BASED STANDARDS
• • •
Social pressure Different regulations issued by national or local authorities Time passed from last revision
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
CONFIRMATION OF ESTABLISHED EFFECTS
It is the opinion of ICNIRP, that the scientific literature published since the 1998 guidelines has provided no evidence of any adverse effects below the basic restrictions and does not necessitate an immediate revision of its guidance on limiting exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields. (ICNIRP 2010)
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
CONSIDERATION OF LONG-TERM EFFECTS
[The Interphone data] combined with the results of biological and animal studies, other epidemiological studies, and brain tumour incidence trends, suggest that within the first 10-15 years after first mobile phone use there is unlikely to be a material risk of adult brain tumours resulting from mobile phone use. ICNIRP - SC I. Mobile Phones, brain Tumours, and the Interphone Study: Where Are We Now? (2011)
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
TREND OF MOBILE PHONES AND BRAIN TUMORS (USA)
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
THE IARC CLASSIFICATION
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
THE IARC CLASSIFICATION IARC’s evaluation of RF-EMF as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” is not in contradiction with the assessments of ICNIRP and other major scientific organizations (such as SCENIHR (EU), HPA (UK), AFSSET (France), ARPANSA (Australia), HCN (The Netherlands), etc. A correct knowledge and understanding of the IARC classification, and of the different approach and scope of the different institutions is crucial. However, do hypotheses and suggestions of long-term effects justify a different approach to health protection?
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
DIFFERENT PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Depending on the effects the appropriate system is chosen:
•
Health threshold based system Adequate for established threshold effects
•
Optimization system Adequate for no-threshold known hazards
•
Precautionary measures Adequate for suspected hazards
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
The main objectives of this workshop are to identify similarities and differences in ionizing and non-ionizing radiation protection principles, in order to develop a reasoned and logically consistent framework The important issue of whether the principles of justification, optimization and limitation that govern ionizing radiation protection can or should be applied for non-ionizing radiation, will be also in the focus. The result of the workshop will flow in the update of the ICNIRP statement on “General approach to protection against non-ionizing radiation”. ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
THE OPTIMIZATION PRINCIPLE (ALARA)
Cost
Total Cost
COUNTRYDEPENDENT
UNKNOWN Cost of Health Detriment
Social Cost
Exposure Level
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
THE BALANCE FOR BASE STATIONS Cost
Total Cost
Cost of Health Detriment
Base stations
Cost of Protection
Exposure Level
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 10-11 July 2014
