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Radiological Protection.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 May 2004

Wednesday, 19 May 2004

Questions (160)

John McGuinness

Question:

160 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if his Department will examine the findings of a report undertaken in the UK by the National Radiological Protection Board expressing the need for further studies to establish whether weak magnetic fields from high voltage power lines lead to childhood leukaemia; if he will consider the international studies in this area which suggest that continued exposure to low level fields can double the risk of leukaemia for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14819/04]

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Written answers

The report referred to was recently issued by the UK's National Radiological Protection Board's advisory group on non-ionising radiation, and followed on from a 1992 examination of various reports relating to alleged ill-health effects of long-term exposure to low level electromagnetic fields. There have been some 25,000 scientific papers published on this subject in the last 30 years. One of the main findings of this 1992 examination was that, while occasional studies did suggest that there could be a link between magnetic fields and some instances of childhood leukaemia, these were not verified by subsequent studies. Without consistency of results from independently conducted studies, causality could not be established. The advisory group recommended the need for consolidation of positive findings and the formulation of testable hypotheses necessary for progress in the field. The group concluded: "that evidence strong enough to justify conclusion that the exposure to ... electromagnetic fields can cause cancer in humans or to allow the hypotheses to be rejected is unlikely to be obtained without high quality epidemiology research..." In response to this statement the NRPB concluded that further research would be needed.

The 2004 report revisited and evaluated the current scientific evidence. On this occasion the same advisory group within the NRPB observed that there had been "well conducted" research studies which had provided better evidence than was available for the 1992 review. The 2004 report notes that sporadic positive associations between electromagnetic fields and some cancers in children have been reported. However, the advisory group stated that the scientific evidence suggesting that exposure to power line frequency electromagnetic fields poses an increased risk of cancer is very weak. It concluded that: "...laboratory experiments have provided no good evidence to show that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields are capable of producing cancer nor do human epidemiology studies suggest that they cause cancer in general". Because occasional associations continued to be reported but replication of these positive findings had still not been achieved, the NRPB again recommended continuing high quality research. Such research continues around the world.

My Department maintains a watching scientific brief on all aspects of non-ionising radiation, and represents Ireland on a number of bodies within the EU, World Health Organisation and the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety.

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