EVOLUTION OF ICNIRP GUIDELINES FOR RADIOFREQUENCY EMF Paolo Vecchia Past Chairman of ICNIRP ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014

PROJECT GROUPS ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014

BASIC QUESTIONS How likely is it that the exposure limits for radiofrequency fields will change? What would be the consequences? ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014 How likely is it that the basic approach to protection will change? What would be the consequences?

EVOLUTION OF ICNIRP GUIDELINES RF (interim) 1984 RF 1988 Time-varying electromagnetic fields > 0 Hz GHz1998 Basic features of guidelines have not changed over the time ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014

ICNIRP 1998 Adapted by Hitchock and Patterson 1995 EARLY STANDARDS ( ) ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 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ARE GUIDELINES OUTDATED?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, 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in thresholds, refinement of dosimetry) New technologies (revision of safety factors, possibility of relaxation) Outdated research database ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014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, 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, 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 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, July 2014

TREND OF MOBILE PHONES AND BRAIN TUMORS (USA) ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014

THE IARC CLASSIFICATION ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, 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. ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014 However, do hypotheses and suggestions of long-term effects justify a different approach to health protection?

ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014 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 DIFFERENT PROTECTION SYSTEMS

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, July 2014

THE OPTIMIZATION PRINCIPLE (ALARA) Total Cost Cost of Health Detriment Social Cost Cost Exposure Level UNKNOWN COUNTRY- DEPENDENT

ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014 THE BALANCE FOR BASE STATIONS Total Cost Cost of Health Detriment Cost of Protection Cost Exposure Level Base stations

ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH Lima, Peru, July 2014