Download a pdf of our February 2007 "News & Comment"

February 15... The Health Council of the Netherlands issued its fourth Annual Update [2006] on EMFs today, concluding that there is no evidence of RF radiation health risks from the country's UMTS (3G) mobile phone network or from DECT base stations. The council also advises that last year's Swiss study — which failed to confirm an earlier Dutch study showing a decrease in "well-being" due to EMF exposure— had an "improved design" and should therefore be given "more weight." The council's 2006 report is in Dutch and in English; the English text begins on p.53. See also its press release.

February 12... The Swiss National Science Foundation today officially launched its EMF research program, known as (NRP 57). The 5 million franc (U.S.$4 million) program is sponsoring 11 new laboratory, epidemiological, dosimetric and risk management studies. These include:
• The effects of pulsed mobile phone signals on the human brain and on cognitive function by Peter Achermann of the University of Zurich;
• The effects of 3G phone radiation on blood flow in the brain by Martin Wolf of the University Hospital, also in Zurich;
• An epidemiological survey on the health status of 2,000 people exposed to high-frequency radiation by Martin Röösli of the University of Berne;
• In vivo and in vitro experiments on stress responses by Meike Mevissen, also of the University of Berne;
• Genotoxic studies on power-frequency EMFs by Primo Schär of the University of Basel;
• Three projects on dosimetry at the Foundation for Research on Information Technologies (IT'IS) in Zurich, which is run by Niels Kuster.
For the complete details, see the press release available in German and French; the program brochure, in German and French, as well as the program implementation plan in English, German and French.

February 5... The German Federal Office of Radiation Protection (BfS) has joined its Swedish counterpart in advising caution with respect to the use of mobile phones, following the release of the new Interphone brain tumor paper (see February 1, below). The radiation office recommends that people keep their radiation exposures as low as possible. It also favors the use of low-SAR phones.

February 1... The Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI) has reiterated its advice that people should adopt a precautionary approach to the use of mobile phones. In a statement issued yesterday, the SSI warned that the latest results from the Interphone study (see January 22 and January 26, below) "strengthen" the possibility that cell phones can lead to tumor development —both gliomas and acoustic neuromas. The SSI recommends the use of hands-free sets and that calls be made from locations where there is good coverage (so that the phone does not have to pump up the radiation to reach the nearest tower). The SSI also announced that it would issue advice on how to reduce RF radiation exposures from mobile phones in the spring.