Research agenda on electromagnetic fields
Because of the scientific questions and the public concern regarding the potential health effects from electromagnetic fields (EMF), several countries have funded research programmes and, in some cases, set up foundations to sponsor studies relating to this topic.
To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and to make sure that all important questions are being studied, research coordination on a global level is important. To that end, the International EMF Project, in collaboration with major national and multinational research funding institutions, has been providing such an umbrella for worldwide coordination and exchange of information about planned and ongoing projects.
Many large research funding agencies use the WHO Research Agendas as a basis for their funding research. Since 1997 over $200million of funding for research has been conducted to complete these Agendas.
Process for determining research needs
The criteria used to evaluate health risks by the International EMF Project are adapted from those used by WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (Repacholi and Cardis, 1997). Research needs are identified when the evidence for a health risk is judged suggestive, but insufficient to meet the criteria for assessing health risk. Research needs are established on the basis of unconfirmed effects having implications for health, and replication of key studies to confirm important positive or negative effects. Thus, the overall goal is to promote studies which demonstrate a reproducible effect of EMF exposure that has the likelihood to occur in humans and has a potential adverse health effect.
The research needs cover several different types of studies, including epidemiology, laboratory studies and dosimetry. All of these play important individual and collective roles in identifying possible adverse effects on health and in providing information on the need for, and appropriate levels of, protection. While in vitro studies can provide important insights into fundamental mechanisms for biological effects from exposure to low-level EMF, in vivo studies, whether on animals or human beings, provide more convincing evidence of adverse health consequences. Epidemiological studies provide the most direct information on risks of adverse effects in human beings. However, these studies have limitations, especially when low relative risks are found.
In both the scientific reviews and the Environmental Health Criteria, WHO endeavors to be inclusive of scientific literature published worldwide when identifying gaps in knowledge. It endeavors to review studies from countries such as Russia and China where publication is sometimes less accessible to English speakers and therefore tends to be less frequently cited in many EMF reviews.
Priority should be given to studies designed to investigate health hazards of concern to the general public, hazards of potential public health importance (based on the size of the populations potentially exposed, the extent of their exposure, and the seriousness of the hypothesized adverse effect), and studies of scientific importance (e.g., testing the relevance of effects observed or mechanisms postulated on the basis of in vitro or in vivo results).
Quality of research projects
For new studies to be useful to health risk assessments and for standard setting, the research must be of high scientific quality. This requires clearly-defined hypotheses, estimates of the ability of the study to detect small effects, and use of protocols that are consistent with good scientific practice. Quality assurance procedures should be included in the protocol and monitored during the study.
Proceedings of WHO-sponsored seminars
Base Stations and Wireless Networks: Exposures and Health Consequences: Proceedings of International Workshop on Base Stations and Wireless Networks - WHO Geneva, Switzerland, 15-16 June 2005; M.H. Repacholi, E. van Deventer, P. Ravazzani (eds.) World Health Organization 2007, ISBN 978-92-4-159561-2
Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity: Proceedings of the WHO International Seminar and Working Group meeting on EMF Hypersensitivity - Prague, Czech Republic, 25-27 October 2004; K.H. Mild, M.Repacholi, E. van Deventer, P. Ravazzani (eds.) World Health Organization 2006, ISBN 92-4-159412-8
Adverse Temperature Levels in the Human Body: published as a Special Issue in the International Journal of Hyperthermia - Geneva, 2002.
Pulsed Radiofrequency Field Exposure Health Consequences and Standards: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Pulsed Radiofrequency Field Exposure Health Consequences and Standards - Erice, Italy, 21-27 November 1999; R. Matthes, J.H. Bernhardt, M.H. Repacholi (eds.) International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection 2001, 3-934994-00-8
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on the Living Environment: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on the Living Environment - Ismaning, Germany, 4-5 October 1999; R. Matthes, J.H. Bernhardt, M.H. Repacholi (eds.) International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection 1999, ISBN 3-9804789-9-8
Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields in the Frequency Range 300 Hz to 10 MHz: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields in the Frequency Range 300 Hz to 10 MHz - Maastricht, The Netherlands, June 7- 8 1999; R. Matthes, E. van Rongen, M.H. Repacholi (eds.) International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection 1999, ISBN 3-9804789-7-1
Proceedings of the International Workshop on Electromagnetic Fields and Non-specific Health Symptoms - Graz, Austria, 19-20 September 1998; N. Leitgeb (ed.) COST 244 bis (European Cooperation in the Field of Science and Technical Research), 1998
EMF Risk Perception and Communication: Proceedings of the International Seminar on EMF Risk Perception and Communication - Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, 31 August - 1 September 1998; M.H. Repacholi, A.M. Muc (eds.), WHO 1999, WHO/SDE/OEH/99.01
Risk Perception, Risk Communication and its Application to EMF Exposure: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Risk Perception, Risk Communication and its Application to EMF Exposure - Vienna, Austria, 22-23 October 1997; R. Matthes, J.H. Bernhardt, M.H. Repacholi (eds.) International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection 1998, ISBN 3-9804789-4-7
Biological Effects of Static and ELF Electric and Magnetic Fields: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Biological Effects of Static and ELF Electric and Magnetic Fields and related Health Risks Bologna, Italy, 4-5 June 1997; R. Matthes, J.H. Bernhardt, M.H. Repacholi (eds.) International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection 1997, ISBN 3-9804789-3-9
Non-Thermal Effects of RF Electromagnetic Fields: Proceedings of the International Seminar on Biological Effects of RF Electromagnetic Fields and Related Health Risks - Munich, Germany, 20-21 November 1996; J.H. Bernhardt, R. Matthes, M.H. Repacholi (eds.) International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection 1997, ISBN 3-9804789-2-0