Parliamentary
questions
by Anna
Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission
(19 February 2003)
|
Subject: Possible
health threat posed by cellphones |
E-0577/03EN
Answer given by Mr
Busquin
on behalf of the
Commission
(8 April 2003)
The
potential impact of mobile phones, and more specifically of electro-magnetic
fields (EMF) on human health has been the object of a number of research projects
funded under the Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources Programme
of the 5th European Research and Technological Development (RTD)
Framework Programme. These projects focus on a number of theoretical health
end points including development of cancer, impact on hearing, and on the
central nervous system. One of those
projects, which started in January 2002 and due to run three years, deals
specifically with possible health impacts on the nervous system and particularly
on the brain [1]. To date, the
focus of this project has been on dosimetry and fine scale calculation related
to the human head.
The
total Community contribution in the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) to these
projects amounted to nearly € 11 million.
Further research co-ordination is supported through COST (COST Action
281) which links research funded primarily at national level [2].
In May 2002, a workshop was devoted to
discuss the impact on children. A specific short term mission is working on
this item since then and another workshop is already planned in November 2003
in Budapest where specific attention is given to the impact of mobile phone
use on the human brain.
As
part of the 6th European RTD Framework Programme (2003-2006), the
Commission intends to further promote this extensive research effort through
the establishment of a policy oriented research network. The aim of the network will be to bring
together many of the major EMF and health research projects with other
stakeholders (industry, regulators, health community, non-governmental
organisations, special interest groups) to consider the outcome of research
actions. This topic was the subject of
the first Call for research proposals of the 6th Framework Programme
and should provide a cost effective framework to review aspects of long-term
use of cellphones.
The
latest scientific results on the potential health impacts of EMF are kept
under review by the European Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity
and the Environment (CSTEE)
[3]. This Committee has confirmed the validity of
the recommended exposure levels in Council Recommendation 1999/519/EEC of
12 July 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic
fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz) [4] as giving adequate
protection against exposure to EMF.
Through
this combination of research funding, promotion of scientific co-ordination and
regular scientific expert review, the Commission will play its’ part in the
important debate concerning the use of cellphones.
[1] see www.ramp2001.org
[2] http://www.cost281.org
[3] Details of which can be found at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sc/index_en.html
[4] OJ L 199, 30 .7.1999