WHO's agenda for Electromagnetic Fields research

Overview

Potential effects of exposure to static and time varying electric and magnetic fields are causing significant public and occupational health concerns and need scientific clarification. Electromagnetic fields (EMF) represent one of the most common and the fastest growing environmental influences in our lives, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. Health effects such as cancer, changes in behaviour, memory loss, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and many others, have been suggested as resulting from exposure to EMF.

To address these concerns WHO established the International EMF Project and is collaborating with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, International Agency for Research on Cancer, International Electrotechnical Commission, International Labour Office, International Telecommunications Union, United Nations Environment Programme, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Commission, over 40 governmental agencies, and the following WHO collaborating institutions: National Radiological Protection Board, UK; Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, Germany; Karolinska Institute, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Sweden; Food and Drug Administration, USA; National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, USA; National Institute of Occupational Health, USA; and the National Institute for Environment Studies, Japan.