High Quality
Open the downloaded document, and select print from the file menu (PDF reader required).
U N C O R R E C T E D P R O O F
PATPHY 622 1–2
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Pathophysiology xxx (2009) xxx–xxx
The London Resolution
1
Olle Johansson
2
The Experimental Dermatology Unit, Karolinska Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Stockholm, Sweden
Q1
34
At a scientific conference on 27th November 2007
5
entitled—“Are Present ICNIRP EMF Exposure Recommen-
6
dations Adequate?”, hosted by Roger Coghill and Robert
7
Verkerk, at the Royal Society, London, scientists endorsed
8
the BioInitiative Report, extended the 2006 Benevento Res-
9
olution and resolved that:
10
“We,theundersigned,docallontheUKHealthProtection
11
Agency (HPA), UK Government and all the health protec-
12
tion agencies and governments world-wide, to take note of
13
thefindingsandrecommendationsintheBioinitiativeReport
14
15
16
17
for exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RF) and extremely
18
low-frequency electromagnetic
fields (ELF-EMF) for the
19
following reasons:
20
•
Theoverwhelmingevidenceofadversenon-thermalhealth
21
effects at exposures many times below the current guide-
22
lines.
23
•
The near 100% penetration of the market in Europe, the
24
USA and many other markets by mobile phones and
25
increasing penetration elsewhere.
26
•
The vast proliferation of wireless networks and devices
27
beyond those envisaged at the time the current guidelines
28
were set.
29
We call for the ICNIRP to reconvene as a mat-
30
ter of urgency to reassess the exposure guidelines and
31
to develop and implement biologically based public
32
safety limits reflecting the overall scientific evidence that
33
existing ICNIRP guidelines are not sufficiently protec-
34
tive against health effects from chronic exposures to
35
the rapidly increasing environmental-level ELF-EMF and
36
RF.
37
∗
Tel.: +46 8 52487073; fax: +46 8 303904.
E-mail address:
1
Magnetic fields at 50–60Hz.
Failing that
38
•
We call for the setting up of an independent body to define
39
new biologically based public exposure limits and/or pre-
40
ventative actions, for ELF-EMF and RF, that address
41
reported biological effects, which, with prolonged expo-
42
sure, can reasonably be presumed to result in adverse
43
health consequences.
44
•
In the absence of such recommendations we suggest as
45
an intermediate step that the HPA and UK Government
46
immediatelyimplementtheELF-EMFandRFrecommen-
47
dations of the BioInitiative Report 2007 and strive for the
48
recommendations of the Public Health Department of the
49
Government of Salzburg (2002) of 0.06V/m for outdoor
50
and 0.02V/m for indoor RF exposure.
51
Based on the precautionary principle, children and vul-
52
nerable groups (such as people with epilepsy and heart
53
conditions) should not be exposed to a risk of harm, thus
54
we propose that
55
•
Children under 16 should use mobile phones and cordless
56
phones for emergency calls only.
57
•
No Wi-fi, WiMax or other forms of wireless networking
58
are placed in homes, schools or public areas or promoted
59
for use thereof.
60
•
That regular and frequent independent audits are under-
61
taken of emissions to ensure that base stations (“masts”)
62
do not exceed the new biologically based guidelines at
63
any locality either singly or by accumulation. Such audits
64
should be widely publicised and made available for public
65
scrutiny.
66
The precautionary principle needs to be implemented.”
67
Signed:
68
Dr.ChristopherBusby,Subcontractor,PolicyInterpretation
69
NetworkonChildren’sHealthandEnvironment(PINCHE),
70
Liverpool/Aberystwyth, UK
Commenting has been disabled.