Vol. 436 No. 7
197 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, over the last 30 years in the US and most western countries, the maximum safe limit for human exposure to microwave radiation has been progressively reduced by a factor of 100 from 100 milliwatts per square centimetre to the present day limit of 1 milliwatt per square centimetre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
198 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, in the former Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the Republic of China, a level of exposure of 1 milliwatt per square centimetere is allowable for not greater than 20 minutes and that the maximum level of continuous exposure to microwave radiation in the countries is .01 milliwatt per square centimetre, a level of 100 times below the western level; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
199 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, for more than 20 years, it has been mandatory in Eastern bloc countries for workers and others who are occupationally exposed to microwave radiation to undergo periodic medical examinations which include physical evaluation, haemotology, electrocardiography, electroencephalography and opthalmological examinations; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that in the US and Western Europe such examinations do not take place except on rare occasions when there has been exposure to exceedingly high and dangerous levels of radiation; and his views on whether there is therefore a sound basis for the adoption in the State of the Eastern bloc microwave radiation exposure limits for the protection of the general public.
200 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself that frequent and adequate monitoring of microwave radiation levels are carried out by a competent independent authority in the vicinity of MMDS main and secondary transmitters, termed beam benders; and if he will make it mandatory for the results of these surveys to become freely available to the general public.
201 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health if, failing a revision of microwave radiation exposure limits towards a lower limit, he will institute a system of thorough medical examinations on a yearly basis for all persons living or working within a three mile radius of a main or secondary MMDS transmitter.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 197 to 201 inclusive, together.
The technical specifications laid down by the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications for licensed MMDS systems require compliance with the safety guidelines laid down by the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) on the limits of exposure to radio frequency magnetic fields in the frequency range used by the operators. The limits which have been established by the IRPA are limits within which it is safe to work and live on the basis of all expert knowledge. On the basis of all the expert advice available I am satisfied that MMDS systems are safe from a health point of view.
