NEWS FROM PUK

>
>  
> 13th November
> French believe the biological effects of exposure to RF radiation now
> beyond doubt
> In October 2009, the French Safety Agency reported that they consider the  
> biological effects of exposure to RF radiation are beyond doubt. Action must
> now be taken to reduce exposure.
> The recently released report by the French Agency for Environmental and  
> Occupational Health Safety (Afsset) shows that radiofrequency radiation
> affects cellular functions, as reported by around ten experimental studies
> considered by Afsset as being indisputable.  
> There have been several mechanisms of action linking RF exposure with  
> cellular changes, but they are still being discussed by different researchers  
> proposing different ideas.
> The level of epidemiological proof concerning the excess risk of certain  
> tumours remains contested. As there may be more than one mechanism involved,  
> this may be expected.  
> Whilst the biology is discussed and the epidemiology is uncertain, the
> French Agency accepts that the possibilities are there and the time for
> precaution is now.  
> Afsset recommends the following :
> * Developing research to clear up remaining doubts and remain on the  
> look-out for new emerging signals  
> Afsset recommends targeting, as a priority, epidemiological studies, as  
> well as studies on reproduction and childhood development, while also  
> responding to studies that display biological effects. It highlights the delay  
> taken in the knowledge of health effects concerning new frequency bands below  
> 400MHz and those above 2GHz, which includes WiFi.  
> * Reducing exposures of the public  
> There is potential to reduce the exposure to radiofrequencies. The priority
> goes to mobile phones which are the main source of exposure for the public
> (though this is not necessarily so, see the two previous news items,
> pointing to _DECT phones_
> (http://www.emfields.org/news/20091026_dect_phone_radiation.asp) and _mobile phone masts_
> (http://www.emfields.org/news/20090828_mobile_phones_masts.asp) as the worst offenders).  
> Afsset recommends "choosing systems that minimise the power emitted by DECT
> cordless telephones;" (page 18 of the report, called OPINION on the bottom
> of the linked press release). This is exactly what the _Orchid _
> (http://www.emfields.org/phones/phones.asp) phone does.
> * Clear labelling of the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)  
> This would favour the least radiation-emitting mobile phones, (though this  
> is only a part of the story, see the Powerwatch _article _
> (http://www.powerwatch.org.uk/library/index.asp) on Mobile Phones).
> Afsset also recommends researching some points on the ground where levels
> of radiofrequency waves are clearly higher than average. It recommends
> mapping them and suggesting a procedure to reduce the levels.  
> The expert appraisal carried out by Afsset is novel, not only by the
> complete nature of the publications analysed but also by the method and
> innovative approach developed in order to carry it out. The expert appraisal listed
> 3,500 references. The work compared diverse schools of scientific thought,
> from interested parties and whistle-blowers, through hearings in
> particular. The human sciences have been taken into account in the expert appraisal
> process. Finally, for the first time, an observer from the associative
> structures will have monitored all of the debates.
> For the news report on Afsset's site, click _here_
> (http://www.afsset.fr/index.php?pageid=436&newsid=502&MDLCODE=news).
>
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