October 10, 2001	Wednesday	Rajab 22, 1422

GENEVA: World health officials have taken note of a new scientific report that classifies extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields as potential causes of cancer in humans, but have called for additional research.

The WHO recommended on Monday that the identification of these electric and magnetic fields as carcinogens should undergo ”a focused research programme to provide more definitive information.”

Several related studies have been in progress since 1979. Results are expected over the next two to three years. In the meantime, the WHO has reiterated its willingness to assist national health authorities “balance the benefits of electrical technology against possible health risks,” and to help them determine what protective measures might be necessary.

The main concerns of the public are related to the potentially harmful effects of mobile telephones, electrical power lines and the vehicle speed-control devices used by transit police.

Scientific reports have suggested that exposure to the electro-magnetic fields emitted by these sources could have detrimental health effects, such as cancer, reduced fertility, memory loss, negative behavioural changes and slower childhood development.

The classification of the potential cancerous effects of ELF electric and magnetic fields was made by a division of the WHO, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), based in Lyon, France.

In June, an IARC working group reviewed studies related to the “carcinogenicity” of static and ELF electric and magnetic fields. The experts, based on IARC standards for classification that weigh human, animal and laboratory evidence, ELF magnetic fields were classified as “possibly carcinogenic”.

The classification of “possibly carcinogenic” denotes “an agent for which there is limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and less than sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity in experimental animals.”

The working group of experts based their classification on epidemiological studies related to childhood leukemia.

The category “possibly carcinogenic to humans” is the weakest of three categories the IARC utilises in categorising potential carcinogens that have been brought to the public’s attention through scientific publications. This category, in addition to the ELF magnetic fields, includes coffee, styrene (a hydrocarbon found in tar), gasoline engine exhaust, and welding fumes.

The second category covers agents that are “probably carcinogenic to humans”, and are identified based on compelling evidence that they can cause cancer in animals. This classification covers, for example, diesel engine exhaust, sun lamps, ultraviolet rays and formaldehyde (used in manufacturing dyes, synthetic resins, textiles, paper and other products).

The most severe of the categories refers to an agent that ”is carcinogenic to humans”, meaning there exists strong evidence of its cancer-causing effects in humans. This third classification includes asbestos, mustard gas (a chemical weapon), tobacco (whether smoked or smokeless) and gamma radiation.

The WHO recommends some precautionary measures. It suggests that individuals might choose to reduce electro-magnetic field exposure “by minimising the use of certain electrical appliances or by increasing distance to the sources that can produce relatively high fields.”

The global health authorities also propose that decisions related to the installation of new electrical power lines should be taken in consultation with the local authorities, industry, and the public. —Dawn/InterPress Service.