EMF Brief Based on the IARC Classification
EMF: An acronym defining Electromagnetic Fields or what is commonly referred to as Electromagnetic radiation.EMF fields are everywhere in our environment and some of the naturally existing EMF sources are the sun ,earth and ionosphere. There are many electronic sources of radiation and these include TV, Microwave, Radio etc.
The World Health Organization /IARC RF classification
The WHO/IARC has categorized the radio frequency used for TV, and radio and for mobile communication as class 2B .IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) is an organisation that classifies different agents in terms of their potential to cause cancer. This classification is used when the strength of evidence shows a possible cancer hazard. Other agents in this classification include pickled vegetables and coffee.
"For most of us, exposure to EMF, including radio frequency fields, in everyday situations is well below guideline levels. No adverse effects have been found to occur in people exposed to these everyday background levels."
World Health Organisation
For further information please refer to Safaricom EMF team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Background: IARC classification of radio frequency fields (RF)
An expert group from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialist agency within the World Health Organisation, has announced that it has completed a cancer hazard assessment for radiofrequency signals (RF). RF communications are used by TV and radio broadcasters as well as by mobile network operators. They're also used for baby monitors, shop security systems and hospital equipment.
IARC has in the past assessed a long list of chemicals, elements and substances but it has also looked at more familiar agents and activities like coconut oil, coffee, printing inks and occupational exposure to hairdressing and dry cleaning.
The role of the group is to look at all the available evidence and assess whether exposure to the agent has the potential to cause cancer under certain circumstances. What it does not do is quantify the risk of cancer developing when associated with normal usage or exposure.
The World Health Organisation IARC expert group has classified RF as 2B – Possibly carcinogenic to humans. This category is used for an agent where the combined strength of available evidence from human and animal studies showed a possible cancer hazard to humans. Other agents in this classification are pickled vegetables, coffee, bracken fern, talcum powder, and occupational exposure to dry cleaning.
It will now be the job of governments and public agencies to determine whether there is a risk at current levels of exposure to RF, but the scientific consensus is still reassuring. Over the past decade alone, more than 30 independent expert reviews undertaken around the world, including by the World Health Organisation, have found no adverse health effects caused by mobile phones or radio base stations operating within international safety guidelines.
To learn more about EMF and the findings, please access the below links
www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf
www.gsmworld.com/our-work/public-policy/health/mobile_and_health.htm
EMF: An acronym defining Electromagnetic Fields or what is commonly referred to as Electromagnetic radiation.EMF fields are everywhere in our environment and some of the naturally existing EMF sources are the sun ,earth and ionosphere. There are many electronic sources of radiation and these include TV, Microwave, Radio etc.
The World Health Organization /IARC RF classification
The WHO/IARC has categorized the radio frequency used for TV, and radio and for mobile communication as class 2B .IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) is an organisation that classifies different agents in terms of their potential to cause cancer. This classification is used when the strength of evidence shows a possible cancer hazard. Other agents in this classification include pickled vegetables and coffee.
"For most of us, exposure to EMF, including radio frequency fields, in everyday situations is well below guideline levels. No adverse effects have been found to occur in people exposed to these everyday background levels."
World Health Organisation
For further information please refer to Safaricom EMF team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Background: IARC classification of radio frequency fields (RF)
An expert group from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a specialist agency within the World Health Organisation, has announced that it has completed a cancer hazard assessment for radiofrequency signals (RF). RF communications are used by TV and radio broadcasters as well as by mobile network operators. They're also used for baby monitors, shop security systems and hospital equipment.
IARC has in the past assessed a long list of chemicals, elements and substances but it has also looked at more familiar agents and activities like coconut oil, coffee, printing inks and occupational exposure to hairdressing and dry cleaning.
The role of the group is to look at all the available evidence and assess whether exposure to the agent has the potential to cause cancer under certain circumstances. What it does not do is quantify the risk of cancer developing when associated with normal usage or exposure.
The World Health Organisation IARC expert group has classified RF as 2B – Possibly carcinogenic to humans. This category is used for an agent where the combined strength of available evidence from human and animal studies showed a possible cancer hazard to humans. Other agents in this classification are pickled vegetables, coffee, bracken fern, talcum powder, and occupational exposure to dry cleaning.
It will now be the job of governments and public agencies to determine whether there is a risk at current levels of exposure to RF, but the scientific consensus is still reassuring. Over the past decade alone, more than 30 independent expert reviews undertaken around the world, including by the World Health Organisation, have found no adverse health effects caused by mobile phones or radio base stations operating within international safety guidelines.
To learn more about EMF and the findings, please access the below links
www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf
www.gsmworld.com/our-work/public-policy/health/mobile_and_health.htm
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