1. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 EMF-NET - EFFECTS OF THE EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS: FROM SCIENCE TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFER WORKPLACE Paolo Ravazzani Istituto di Ingegneria Biomedica Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche EMF-NET Coordination Action 2004-2008

2. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Aims To provide:  A framework for the co-ordination of the results of the ongoing research activities on EMF and health (EC projects and other national and international actions)  Policy relevant interpretation/advice for the facilitation of policy development options by the EU (and other bodies).

3. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006  More than 40 participants  Scientific community  EC Projects Coordinators  Representatives of EU research at National level  Representatives of other research activities  Industry associations  Trade Union associations  Regulatory bodies (providing advice)  Experts  Consumer associations (in contact with) Participants

4. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Participants  Start Date: MAR 01, 2004  End Date: FEB 29, 2008  Duration: 48 months

5. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Project Management

6. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Workplan  MT1: Scientific evaluation of the results of the studies on EMF health effects  Laboratory studies (ELF, RF, IF, THz, IM, medical applications)  Epidemiological studies (ELF, RF, OF)  MT2: EMF exposure related risk in the working environment  MT3: Improvement of specific common aspects of the research on EMF and health  MT4: Risk perception and communication  MT5: Observatory functions  Monitoring emerging technologies  Monitoring EMF research plans in EU, in Europe and outside Europe

7. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Workplan Gyorgy Thuroczy Bernard Veyret Norbert Leitgeb MT5 Demosthenes Papamelethiou Carlos del Pozo MT4 Theo SamarasMT3 Jolanta KarpowiczMT2 Elisabeth Cardis Maria Feychting Jukka Juutilainen Jochen Buschmann MT1 Main Task CoordinatorsMain Task

8. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Approach  Technical Working Groups of experts  Involving more than 80 European and international experts  Main Tasks:  Analysis of existing reports and activities  Identification and definition of Scientific Key Issues and Interpretation Key Issues  Preparation of the Interpretation Reports  Advisory Board Consultation Process  Steering Committee Validation Process  Delivery to EC Services and publication

9. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Technical Working Group Activities  TWG members are appointed by the Main Task and WP managers (after approval by the SC)  TWG activities are mainly based on the definition of the baseline, followed by the appropriate actions

10. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Technical Working Group Activities Baseline What are the main “Key Issues”? Where are we now? What about existing documents? What is missing? Synergies? Duplication risk? How to interpret the research results? Action Options for actions, interpretation and recommendations Milestones for a European consensus Next goals and expected achievements Where are we going? Interpretation Reports

11. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Scientific evidence?  sufficient evidence  limited evidence  inadequate evidence  evidence suggesting lack of effects

12. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Sufficient evidence - when a positive relationship is observed between the exposure and the effect investigated. - when the effect is replicated in several studies by independent investigators or under different protocols, and when there is a consistent exposure-response relationship. - when confounding factors could be ruled out with reasonable confidence.

13. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Limited evidence - when the evidence of the effect is restricted to a few studies, or when there are unsolved questions regarding the adequacy of the design, conduct or interpretation of the study - when in the studies confounding factors could not be ruled out with reasonable confidence

14. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Inadequate evidence - when the studies are of insufficient quality, consistency or statistical power to permit a conclusion

15. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Evidence suggesting lack of effects - when no effects are reported in several studies by independent investigators under different protocols involving at least two species or two cell types and a sufficient range of field intensities

16. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Strength of evidence for selected biological effects from exposure to RF fields (EMF-NET Report on RF Cancer, Marino et al., Jan 2006) Limited evidence: The later studies have given some support to the suggested associationGene expression (Heat Shock Proteins) Inadequate evidence: No relevant studies availableOrnithine Decarboxylase (ODC) SOME OTHER POSSIBLY CANCER-RELATED IN VIVO STUDIES Inadequate/Limited evidence: The later studies do not give further support to the suggested associationDNA Damage/effect assessment Limited evidence: The later studies do not give further support to the suggested associationStructural changes at the level of chromosomes:Micronucleus Evidence suggesting lack of effect: Later studies further strengthens the previous conclusionGene mutations IN VIVO STUDIES ON GENOTOXIC EFFECTS Evidence suggesting lack of effect: Later studies further strengthens the previous conclusionMortality Evidence suggesting lack of effect: No relevant recent studiesDevelopment of transplanted tumours Inadequate evidence: Later studies do not give support to the suggested associationStudies exposing genetically especially tumour-prone animals to RF fields Inadequate evidence: Later studies do not give support to the suggested associationCombined exposure to RF fields with a known genotoxic agents Evidence suggesting lack of effect: Later studies further strengthens the previous conclusionExposure to RF fields alone CARCINOGENICITY STUDIES Evidence for effects (Classification based on studies published by the year 2000)Type of biological effect and/or potentially affected biological system

17. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Strength of evidence for selected biological effects ELF exposure (EMF-NET Report on ELF, Juutilainen et al., Jan 2006)

18. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Report on Evaluation of Relevant Results from Projects on the Effects of IF Exposure (EMF-NET Report, Leitgeb et al., Jan 2006)  [… IF are frequencies in the range from 10kHz until 10MHz …]  [… An alternative definition is to consider IF as the range between extremely low frequencies ( ELF; <300Hz) and RF. For example, WHO and ICNIRP have used the definition 300Hz to 10MHz (ICNIRP 1999; Litvak et. al 2002) …]  [… Conclusions For the time being there are no or little research data available for well-founded health risk assessment of IF electromagnetic fields. While there is limited evidence for effects on reproduction and development, evidence is inadequate for other effects (such as carcinogenicity, genotoxicity, nervous system effects and general toxicity). This is in sharp contrast with the large body of data available on the effects of RF and ELF fields. …]

19. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 EMF-NET Highest Priority Research Needs Summary Table April 2006  RF electromagnetic fields  Prospective cohort studies of mobile phone users  Studies on potential health risks from long-term use of mobile phones by children  ELF magnetic fields  Studies relevant to assess possible causality between ELF magnetic fields and cancer  Static magnetic fields  IF electromagnetic fields  Exposure assessment

20. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006  Interpretation reports  Short reports  EFRT Documents  Newsletters  Proceedings of conferences/workshops  Books  Information on the activities of European Projects  EMF-NET website: http://emf-net.isib.cnr.it Outputs

21. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Outputs DELIVERABLES / REPORTS  MT1: Scientific evaluation of the results of the studies on EMF health effects  Laboratory studies (4)  Epidemiological studies (7)  MT2: EMF exposure related risk in the working environment  MT3: Improvement of specific common aspects of the research on EMF and health (3)  MT4: Risk perception and communication (1)  MT5: Observatory functions  Monitoring emerging technologies (3)  Monitoring EMF research plans in EU, in Europe and outside Europe (5)

22. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006  Short Reports  Reports on Research Needs I and II [AUG 2005 – APR 2006]  Reports on EMF and Environment and Health (Scale Project) [spring 2004]  Next on EMF-NET  Mid-Term Technical Report on Occupational Exposure [expected by JUNE 2007]  Report on health effects of RF with recommendations for non-ionising radiation protection and research needs (update) (D17_bis) [expected by JULY 2007]  RF Effects on RF and reproduction and development (D4_bis) [expected by JULY 2007] Outputs

23. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 European Fast Response Team on EMF and Health A team of scientists, specialized on different aspects of electromagnetic and health studies have been identified to answer to urgent needs of the European Commission services: Elisabeth Cardis Guglielmo D'Inzeo Jukka Juutilainen Jolanta Karpowicz Norbert Leitgeb Demosthenes Papamelethiou Paolo Ravazzani (Coordinator) Paolo Vecchia Bernard Veyret

24. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 EFRT Fact-sheets on mobile communication issues On mobile communication issues (15):  Fact sheet on Epi Studies on Mobile Phones and Brain Cancer MAR 2007  Lipoatrophia semicircularis and EMF DEC 2006  Distance from RBS DEC 2006  RFID NOV 2006  Radio Base Stations OCT 2006  Comments on Hardell study (Int Arch Occup E&H 2006, March 16) APR 2006  Radio Base Stations and noise DEC 2005  Health and safety of mobile communication equipments NOV 2005  Radio Base Stations and brain currents MAY 2005  Wolf and Wolf paper on Radio Base Stations and cancer MAR 2005  Hands-Free Kits for Mobile Phones FEB 2005  2004 Report by the Board of NRPB JAN 2005  Health Effects of Telephone Masts DEC 2004  Cellular Phones on Human Fertility JUL 2004  TETRA System MAY 2004

25. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 EFRT Fact-sheets on mobile communication issues On other issues (4)  Fact Sheet on low-energy lamps exposure and electrical (hyper)sensitivity MAR 2007  Fact Sheet on Health Risk Posed by High Voltage Power Lines DEC 2006  Effects of EMF on Environment and non-Human Organisms SEPT 2005  Minimum safe distance from High Voltage Power Lines Feb 2005

26. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Recent Publications Base Stations and Wireless Networks: Exposures and health consequences Editors Mike Repacholi Emilie van Deventer Paolo Ravazzani

27. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 Recent Events  WORKSHOP on Current Trends in Health Risk Assessment of Work-Related Exposure to EMFs  MILAN, FEBRUARY 14-16, 2007  http://www.icnirp.org  co-organized with

28. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006  2° WORKSHOP on EMF Risk Communication: “Effective Risk Communication in the Context of Uncertainty”  Stresa, Maggiore Lake, Italy,  May 2 - 4, 2007  http//emf-net.isib.cnr.it  co-organized with DG JRC  NEXT ON…..EMF-NET  EMF and Health Interpretation Conference (under preparation)  Bruxelles  January/February 2008 EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE GENERAL JRC JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE Recent Events

29. ICT FOR SAFE DIGITAL CITY Bologna, June 28, 2006 The Universe is a grand book which cannot be read until one first learns to comprehend the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is composed Galileo Galilei EMF-NET Coordination Action 2004-2008 http://emf-net.isib.cnr.it