Research Programs

Extensive research has been conducted into possible health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields, including many types of radio signals.

The WHO states:

In the area of biological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation approximately 25,000 articles have been published over the past 30 years. Despite the feeling of some people that more research needs to be done, scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals. Based on a recent in-depth review of the scientific literature, the WHO concluded that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields. However, some gaps in knowledge about biological effects exist and need further research.

Many research programmes have been guided by the WHO research recommendations for electromagnetic fieldsand the WHO estimates that since 1997 over US$200million of funding has been allocated to such programmes.

Australia

Program: Australian Centre for Radiofrequency Bioeffects Research (ACRBR)
Scope: Studies in human volunteers of non cancer outcomes, exposure assessment and public information.
Budget: AUD 2.5 million (€1.4 million)
Timing: 2004-2009
Status: 20 studies underway or completed. No hazards established to date.
Website: http://www.acrbr.org.au/
Updated: 18 May 2009

Denmark

Program: Health Aspects of Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (Programkomiteen for Ikke-ioniserende Stråling)
Scope: Studies in human volunteers, in vitro studies, factors affecting risk perception and epidemiological studies among mobile phon users.
Budget: DKK 30 million (€1 million)
Timing: 2004-2008
Status: Complete. 6 studies supported and no health effects found. No plans for a follow-up program.
Website: http://fi.dk/soeg-stoette/projektbeskrivelser/
Updated: 18 May 2009

Europe

Program: European Commission – Electromagnetic Fields and Health
Scope: The European Union has funded research activities related to technology, health risk assessment and risk communication.

CEMFEC: Combined effects of electromagnetic 0elds with environmental carcinogens. (1998-2002)
Advice Pulsed Fields: Development of advice to the EC on the risk to health of the general public from the use of security and similar devices employing pulsed electromagnetic 0elds. (2000-2002)
REFLEX: Risk evaluation of potential environmental hazards from low energy electromagnetic 0eld exposure using sensitive in vitro methods. (2000-2004)
INTERPHONE: International case-control studies of cancer risk in relation to mobile telephone use. (2000-2005+)
PERFORM-A : In vivo research on possible health effects of mobile telephones and base stations (carcinogenicity studies in rodents). (2000-2005+) ???
THz-Bridge: Tera-Hertz radiation in biological research, investigation on diagnostics and study of potential genotoxic effects. (2001-2004)
COST 281 Potential Health Implications from Mobile Communication Systems. (2001-2006)
RAMP 2001: Risk assessment for exposure of nervous system cells to mobile telephone EMF: from in vitro to in vivo studies. (2002-2005)
GUARD: Potential adverse effects of GSM cellular phones on hearing. (2002-2004)
EMFnEAR: Exposure at UMTS Electromagnetic Fields: Study on Potential Adverse Effects on Hearing. (2004-2007).
EMF-NET: Effects of the exposure to electromagnetic 0elds: from science to public health and safer workplace. (2004-2008.)
COST BM0704: Emerging EMF Technologies and Health Risk Management. (2008-2012)
EFHRAN: European Health Risk Assessment Network on Electromagnetic Fields Exposure. (2009-2012)

Budget: €11.5 million (approximately, some projects have contributions for other governments and industry)
Timing: 1998 – 2012
Status: Continuing. Some projects have completed, some are underway and the European Commission has asked SCENIHR to produce an opinion on that future research needs.
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/environment/EMF/emf_en.htm
Updated: 20 May 2009

Finland

Program: Health Risk Assessment of Mobile Communications (HERMO)
Scope: Studies of possible effects on nervous system and sensory organs, including growing nervous tissue. Dosimetric studies of energy absorbed by the human body.
Budget: €1.5 million
Timing: 2004-2007
Status: Complete. 13 projects supported and no health effects found. Discussions underway about possible follow-up program.
Website: http://www.uku.fi/hermo/
Updated: 18 May 2009

France

Program: Health and Radiofrequencies Foundation (La Fondation Santé et Radiofréquences)
Scope: Exposure from new RF uses and emerging technologies; Studies of children, teenagers, and future generations; Mechanisms for public discussion.
Budget: €4.8 million
Timing: 2005-2010
Status:. Currently supporting 26 projects.
Website: http://www.sante-radiofrequences.org/
Updated: 18 May 2009

Germany

Program: German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme (Deutsches Mobilfunk Forschungsprogramm – DMF)
Scope: Effects in cells, animals and humans ofr exposures to mobile communications signals and improving risk communication.
Budget: €17 million
Timing: 2002-2008
Status:. Complete. 54 projects supported and found no adverse health effects, including inability to confirm previous indications of possible health risks.
Website: http://www.emf-forschungsprogramm.de/
Updated: 18 May 2009

Netherlands

Program: Electromagnetic Fields and Health Research (Elektromagnetische Velden en Gezondheid – EMF&H)
Scope: Sociological and epidemiological research; biological research, involving humans, animals and cells; improvements to measurement and modelling of exposures.
Budget: €16.6 million
Timing: 2006-2014
Status:. Complete. 14 projects supported to date and additional calls for research proposals have been issued.
Website: http://www.zonmw.nl/en/programmes/all-programmes/electromagnetic-fields-and-health-research/
Updated: 18 May 2009

Switzerland

Program: Electromagnetic Fields and Health Research (Elektromagnetische Velden en Gezondheid – EMF&H)
Scope: Characterisation and measurement of electromagnetic fields. Of special interest are effects of EMF exposure on the the brain and possible effects on health and well-being, studies of underlying mechanisms and investigating risk perception.
Budget: CHF5 million (€3.3 million)
Timing: 2007-2011
Status:. 11 projects supported to date that are expected to complete by December 2009, with a final report in 2010.
Website: http://www.nfp57.ch/
Updated: 18 May 2009

United Kingdom

Program: Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR)
Scope: Characterisation and measurement of electromagnetic fields. Of special interest are effects of EMF exposure on the the brain and possible effects on health and well-being, studies of underlying mechanisms and investigating risk perception.
Budget: £8.8 million (MTHR1) and £3.1 million (MTHR2) (€13.5 million)
Timing: 2001-2007 (MTHR1) and
Status:. 31 projects supported to date. A progress report published in 2007 found no adverse health effects from mobile telephone technology, recommended stopping research in some areas while continuing on other topics.
Website: http://www.mthr.org.uk/
Updated: 18 May 2009

United States of America

Program: Radiofrequency Radiation Emissions from Cellular Phones
Scope: The National Toxicology Program (NTP) is part way through a large-scale animal study designed to characterize the toxicity and potential carcinogenicity of long-term exposure to the RF energy transmitted by mobile phones.
Budget: US$22 million (€13.5 million)
Timing: 2007-2011
Status:. 31 projects supported to date. A progress report published in 2007 found no adverse health effects from mobile telephone technology, recommended stopping research in some areas while continuing on other topics.
Website: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/?objectid=7E733ABE-BDB5-82F8-FBDC3F58C0CEE928
Updated: 18 May 2009