CHE's Working Group on Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) is a diverse international gathering of more than 170 health professionals, scientists, and concerned individuals from the U.S. and 17 other countries. We welcome CHE Partners who would like to participate in a discussion of the health effects of electromagnetic fields.
We meet periodically via conference call. This group also has a listserv for the purpose of sharing new research and policy ideas and discussion between calls. Links to key documents are posted below. The BioInitiative Report is the most comprehensive summary of science on the health effects of electromagnetic field exposure.
The goals of this working group include:
1. Discussing emerging science that links EMF exposure with health effects,
2. Bringing this science to the attention of CHE Partners and the public, and
3. Exploring research and policy opportunities that CHE Partners may be interested in working on either individually or collectively.
This group is co-facilitated by Nancy Evans, Health Science Consultant, Breast Cancer Fund and Cindy Sage, Sage Associates Environmental Consultants. Nancy can be reached at: nancywrite@comcast.net and Cindy can be reached at: sage@silcom.com.
Resources
Cell Phones and Brain Tumors - How Many Hours Do You Have?
July 15, 2010: We've created a one-page questionnaire that has some simple questions about your cell-phone use that can help you see your potential risk for a brain tumor (a glioma).
We're interested in your feedback. How many hours do you have? You can submit information back to Cindy Sage or Nancy Evans.
We'll keep your name and contact information anonymous, but write up the results and put them on the CHE-EMF website.
INTERPHONE Report: Press Release
May 17, 2010: Today’s release of the final results of the ten-year long World Health Organization
INTERPHONE Study confirms previous reports showing what many experts have warned – that regular use of a cell phone by adults can significantly increase the risk of glioma by 40% with 1640 hours or more of use (this is about one-half hour per day over ten years).
Request the full INTERPHONE study by contacting Cindy Sage at
sage@silcom.com along with the commentary in the
International Journal of Epidemiology. Or it can be downloaded from the home page of the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) at
http://www.iarc.fr/.
11/19/09: Plain Talk about Cell Phone Safety
It is time for some plain talk about what you can do immediately to reduce possible risk of malignant brain tumor (glioma) and acoustic neuroma (a tumor of the auditory nerve in the brain) if you use a cell or cordless phone.
10/5/09: Late Lessons from Early Warnings: The Precautionary Principle 1896-2000
10/5/09: Article on Wireless Health Issues for Children with Learning Disabilities
9/28/09: Jacquie McGlade Statement on Mobile Phones for Conference on Cell Phones and Health: Science and Public Policy Questions
9/28/09: What to Tell Your Employer about Cell Phones and PDAs in the Workplace
Ask your office manager or owner of your business to write down and distribute an office policy on cell phone/PDA use and wireless in the workplace.
7/7/09: Commentary on FDA Action Gutting of Cell Phone Advice
The FDA’s most recent dismissal of brain tumor risk from cell phone use is stunning in its timing. While other countries of the world are now advising consumers to take precautionary action, the FDA is issuing an “all clear”.
7/7/09: Briefing Notes by Cindy Sage, Co-Editor, BioInitiative Report to the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Rockville, MD
Comment to the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health on the issue of cell phones, cordless phones and PDAs.submitted by Cindy Sage, Co-Editor, BioInitiative Report
Briefing Paper on the Need for Research into the Cumulative Impacts of Communication Towers on Migratory Birds and Other Wildlife in the United States
The number of communication towers including radio, television, cellular, microwave, emergency broadcast, national defense, and paging towers has grown exponentially in the U.S. over the past decade. These towers present health and safety challenges for humans, but they are also a growing impact to populations of migratory birds, 4-5 million of which are conservatively estimated to die each year in tower and guy-wire collisions (Manville 2005, 2009).
Towers, Turbines, Power Lines, and Buildings--Steps Being Taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Avoid or Minimize Take of Migratory Birds at these Structures
As imperiled bird populations continue to increase, new challenges arise from the effects of growing numbers of communication towers, power lines, commercial wind facilities, and buildings. This paper briefly reviews steps the USFWS is taking to seriously address structural impacts to migratory birds.
"Pathophysiology" Publishes Special Issue on the Human Body's Sensitivity to EMF Signals in the Environment
Public health concerns and scientific evidence for risks from cell phones and other wireless devices is published today in the journal "Pathophysiology".
Cell Phone Advisories - Translations in Spanish, Portuguese and French
Here are English versions and translations of two important cell phone warnings, including the recent cautionary announcement from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute that brought cell-phone-related health concerns into the U.S. media spotlight.
Wireless Phones and Brain Tumours - Letter to the Editor
It is both wise and timely to advocate for the precautionary principle for use of both mobile and cordless phones as recently made in Advice from University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Based on Advice from an International Expert Panel. Our research team in Sweden has raised similar concerns about long-term health effects from exposure to microwaves during such use.
Brain Tumors and EMFs - Press Summary
Here is the summary of information points on brain tumors and acoustic neuromas from the BioInitiative Report, "Summary for the Public", Chapter 1, and "Brain Tumors and Acoustic Neuromas", Chapter 10.