ARPANSA published “RF EME and Health: Research Needs”

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
published a report titled “Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Energy and
Health”.

The report pointed out that “there is currently no established evidence
that exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic energy (EME) at levels
below the safety limits of the Australian RF Standard causes any health
effects. However there are gaps in the knowledge that require further
research”, and made the following recommendations on research needs:

Epidemiology
1.Prospective cohort studies in adults investigating the long-term
effects of RF EME associated with the use of mobile phones
2.Ongoing ecological studies investigating time-trends in mobile phone
use and brain tumour types and sub-types including investigating latency
periods longer than 10 years.
3.Prospective cohort studies of children and adolescents investigating
exposure to RF EME and various outcomes including cancer and behavioural
and neurological disorders.

Human studies
4.Further provocation studies on neurophysiological effects with
improved methods including adequate sample sizes, predefined exposure and
analysis protocols and varied populations.

Animal studies
5.Animal studies investigating whether mobile phone RF EME exposure
promotes cancer.
6.Further animal studies investigating non-cancer outcomes, including
development and behaviour, neurodegeneration and male fertility that are
well designed including well-characterised exposure systems incorporating
detailed dosimetry.

Cellular studies
7.Replication of in vitro studies reporting RF EME effects on cellular
function and DNA damage.

Exposure assessment and dosimetry
8.Ongoing assessment of personal and environmental exposure to RF EME
from new and emerging technologies including total exposure from multiple
sources and changes in exposure over time.
9.Ongoing research on the characterisation of RF EME exposure in
epidemiological and experimental studies.
10.Ongoing research on setting the appropriate limits in the Australian
RF Standard based on development in dosimetric methods.

Special areas of research
11.Research into Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity with the aim of
understanding the etiology of the condition and finding ways to provide
effective treatment for sufferers.
12.Research on millimetre waves including investigating potential hazards
and the adequacy of the current limits in the Australian RF Standard.
13.Continued research on RF risk perception and communication by
considering the needs identified in the 2010 WHO Research Agenda and
addressing further gaps.

URL: http://www.arpansa.gov.au/pubs/technicalreports/tr178.pdf