The Precautionary Principle must be guided by EMF research.
Regulatory action based on the Precautionary Principle is generally guided by the results of epidemiology studies. Even though laboratory research on electromagnetic fields (EMF) has supplied much relevant information and continues to do so, it is often overlooked. Laboratory research has shown that EMF of many frequencies stimulate many biological systems, and at low thresholds of both field strength and duration. It has also shown that EMF stimulate protein synthesis in cells and accelerate electron transfer reactions. In the last few years, important practical insights have been provided by the research on the cellular stress response, where the same specific biological response is induced in cells by both ELF (power frequency) and RF (radio frequency) fields, despite the very different energy levels. Since this protective biological response is not determined by the level of energy absorbed, safety standards based on the best available biological evidence must (1) recognize non thermal protective responses and (2) include cumulative exposures across the EM spectrum.
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Martin
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Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA. mb32@columbia.edu
D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004782:Environmental Health; D006801:Humans; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011634:Public Health; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D011846:Radio Waves; D012106:Research; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
D004247:DNA