ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS RISK EVALUATION GUIDELINES California Department of Health Services

The International EMF Project was established at WHO in 1996 to provide a forum for a coordinated international response to health issues raised by exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (EMF). Research on EMF has been ad hoc and in many cases uncoordinated. Unreplicated research has been placed at the same level as high quality research that establishes results in a scientifically valid manner. Because of this the EMF issues have now reached a high level of concern among the general public and workers. This needs to be addressed at the international level, since the problem is truly global in nature. Research objectives are needed with a clear focus to improve our database of science used for health risk assessments. This paper indicates how the International EMF Project will evaluate scientific reports, identify the scientific database needed to make health risk assessments, and assess health hazards using established IARC criteria. Running title: EMF Criteria Author to contact for editorial changes: Dr Michael H Repacholi Responsible Officer, Radiation Protection and Global Hazards Assessment Office of Global and Integrated Environmental Health World Health Organization, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 791 3427, Fax:+41 22 791 4123, E-mail: [email protected] Published: Repacholi MH, Cardis E (1997): Criteria for EMF Health Risk Assessment. Radiat Prot Dosim 72: 305-312.