Nov 1, 2018
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How the Mobile Communication Industry Deals with Science as Illustrated by ICNIRP versus NTP
Franz Adlkofer, Pandora Foundation for independent research, Oct 26, 2018
So, the technical use of RF radiation in mobile communication has experienced hardly any limitation. Doubts about the harmlessness of this radiation, just as old as the technique itself, have been countered by the mobile communication industry as wrong and without basis. Compliant scientists, whose preferred opinion was more important than their qualifications, were generously supported and, by using political connections, placed in national and international advisory and decision-making bodies.
A milestone in putting through the interests of the mobile communication industry was the establishment of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) in 1992. It is a non-governmental organization. Michael Repacholi, then head of the WHO’s EMF Project, managed to get official recognition for this group by the WHO as well as the EU and a series of its member states, among them Germany. Repacholi, first ICNIRP chairman and later emeritus – member, left the WHO after allegations of corruption in 2006 and found a new position as a consultant to an American electricity provider. ICNIRP’s most important task is the establishment of safety limits for non-ionizing radiation including RF radiation. Its decisions are of utmost importance for the mobile communication industry’s economic and strategic planning. The ICNIRP, whose members are convinced of the harmlessness of RF radiation, has never changed its attitude despite all research progress made in this field since 1992. To guarantee that the mobile communication industry can permanently rely on ICNIRP, the succession of a member who leaves is regulated by statute. The remaining members select the new one on the basis of mutual understanding. Together with the other groups mentioned above ICNIRP has ensured that mobile communication industry is not only dominating the technical research to which it is entitled to, but also the biological research – this at the expense of the human health.
https://pandora-foundation.eu/2018/10/26/how-the-mobile-communication-industry-deals-with-science-as-illustrated-by-icnirp-versus-ntp/#more-1199
Full report: https://stiftung-pandora.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pandora_Adlkofer_Dealing-with-NTP-Nancy-Draft_181026_en.pdf
Excerpts
“There is no doubt that the evaluation of the NTP Study results by the invited panel members met all scientific criteria. This is also proven by the fact that the scientists responsible for the NTP Study have been confronted with numerous mistakes and other flaws, which could have been avoided with a better planning and implementation. However, these mistakes and flaws are by far not enough to question the most important result of the NTP Study, the evidence of carcinogenicity from mobile communication radiation.”
“From the NTP Study it must be concluded that the safety limits established by ICNIRP are unable to guarantee the intended purpose, which is the protection of people from harmful effects of the mobile communication radiation, and that therefore time has come for IARC to adjust the classification of RF radiation from “possibly carcinogenic for humans” (Group 2B) to “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A) or even “carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1). Casting doubt on the NTP results, which threaten the business model of the mobile communication industry, as done by ICNIRP, is betrayal of science. If any further proof that ICNIRP is a public relations organization of the mobile communication industry would have been necessary, its Note on recent animal carcinogenesis studies (2) quoted above has finally adduced it. [See below.]
ICNIRP argues that the NTP Study has no reliable basis to revise the current safety limits for RF radiation. Since its guidelines are solely based on acute thermal effects of the radiation, believing that other effects do not exist, the argument is not without logic to them. However, the NTP Study has clearly shown that this stand is absolutely unfounded, because the RF radiation unfolds its harmful effects also within the safety limits, when the exposure time is long enough. The NTP Study, up to now certainly the most ambitious and the most convincing one, has proven this with “clear evidence” (3,5). At the same time, it has refuted the reliability of the current safety limits. As always in such cases the robot-like answer by ICNIRP is that many questions must be answered until causality can finally be acknowledged.
ICNIRP wants the perfect study. The fact that this is impossible because of the nature of biological research, can obviously not be imparted to its members. So they show either incompetence in regard of their scientific qualifications or, most probably, the intention to help the mobile communication industry in a difficult situation. It looks as if ICNIRP is once again used by this industry to enforce its interests, and this time with a method copied from the tobacco industry. By sowing doubt for decades, the tobacco industry succeeded in keeping people unsure about the already certain fact that smoking causes lung cancer. Now the mobile communication industry uses the same tactic, and this with even more dire consequences: the addiction might be comparable, but the number of addicts is by far much higher.”
https://betweenrockandhardplace.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/pandora_adlkofer_dealing-with-ntp_en.pdf
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Sep 12, 2018
US Scientist Criticizes ICNIRP’s
Refusal to Reassess Cell Phone Radiation Exposure Guidelines
Toxicology Program Studies Show Clear Evidence of Cancer
Melnick, Ph.D., has issued a scientific critique of ICNIRPs dismissal of the cell phone radiation studies conducted by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP).
September 4, 2018, ICNIRP issued a “Note on Recent Animal Studies” that
concluded the $28 million NTP study did “not provide a reliable basis” for changing the over two
decades old guidelines on radio frequency- cell phone and wireless – radiation.
statements” and concluded by questioning who the ICNIRP is protecting:
“Based on numerous incorrect and misleading claims, the
ICNIRP report concludes that “these studies (NTP and Ramazzini) do not provide
a reliable basis for revising the existing radiofrequency exposure guidelines.”
The data on gliomas of the brain and schwannomas of the heart induced by cell
phone radiation are suitable for conducting a quantitative risk assessment and
subsequent re-evaluation of health-based exposure limits. The ‘P’ in ICNIRP
stands for Protection. One must wonder who this commission is trying to protect
– evidently, it is not public health.”
RL. Critique of the ICNIRP Note of September 4, 2018 Regarding Recent Animal
Carcinogenesis Studies. Environmental Health Trust. Sep 12, 2018. Open access document: http://bit.ly/MelnickICNIRP9-12-2018
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ICNIRP. ICNIRP Note on Recent Animal Carcinogenesis Studies. Munich, Germany. Sep 4, 2018. https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIRPnote2018.pdf
Introduction
Two recent animal studies investigating the carcinogenic potential of long-term exposure to
radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) associated with mobile phones have been released: one by the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP 2018a, b) and the other from the Ramazzini Institute (Falcioni et al. 2018). These studies, among others, have been taken into account during revision of the ICNIRP radiofrequency exposure guidelines. However, both studies have inconsistencies and limitations that affect the usefulness of their results for setting exposure guidelines, and both need to be considered within the context of other animal and human carcinogenicity research. Overall, based on the considerations outlined below, ICNIRP concludes that these studies do not provide a reliable basis for revising the existing radiofrequency exposure guidelines.
<snip>
Conclusion
Although the NTP (2018a, b) and Falcioni et al. (2018) studies used large numbers of animals, best laboratory practice, and exposed animals for the whole of their lives, consideration of their findings does not provide evidence that radiofrequency EMF is carcinogenic. NTP reported that their strongest findings were of increased malignant cardiac schwannoma in male rats, however that is not consistent with the results of Falcioni et al. (2018), is not consistent with the NTP female rat nor male or female mouse results, and is not consistent with the radiofrequency EMF cancer literature more generally. While results from epidemiological studies suggest vestibular schwannoma is an outcome of interest,
this is not true for malignant cardiac schwannoma. NTP found no increase in schwannoma overall or for vestibular schwannoma. Further, as multiple comparisons were not controlled for in the NTP study, there is no indication that the increased incidence of malignant cardiac schwannomas in male rats was more than what would be expected by chance alone. ICNIRP considers that the NTP (2018a, b) and Falcioni et al. (2018) studies do not provide a consistent, reliable and generalizable body of evidence that can be used as a basis for revising current human exposure guidelines. Further research is required that addresses the above limitations.
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Jul 23, 2018
exposure guidelines
establish guidelines for limiting exposure to EMFs that will provide a high
level of protection for all people against known adverse health effects from
direct, non-medical exposures to both short- and long-term, continuous and
discontinuous radiofrequency EMFs.”
1998 RF exposure guidelines which have influenced RF exposure standards in many
nations including the guidelines adopted by the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission.
association with a scientific mission that is registered in Germany as a
nonprofit organization. It is “formally recognized as an official collaborating
non-governmental organization (NGO) by the World Health Organization (WHO) and
the International Labour Organization (ILO). ICNIRP is linked to many
organizations engaged in non-ionizing radiation protection worldwide and
consults with the European Commission.”
research on the effects of chronic exposure to non-thermal levels of RF
radiation. In its latest health risk assessment, ICNIRP concludes that there
are no “substantiated”
adverse effects of RF radiation on human health. See Appendix B: Health Risk Assessment Literature and a summary
of the findings which appears below.
ignoring most of the EMF research in its health risk assessment:
bases its guidelines on substantiated adverse health effects. This makes the
difference between a biological and an adverse health effect an important
distinction, where only adverse health effects require limits for the
protection of humans.” (ICNIRP
Guidelines: Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic
and Electromagnetic Fields [100 kHz TO 300 GHz]. July 11, 2018 draft. p. 2)
levels for safe personal exposure. Adherence to these levels is intended to
protect people from all known harmful effects of radiofrequency EMF exposure.
To determine these levels, ICNIRP first identified published scientific
literature concerning effects of radiofrequency EMF exposure on biological
systems, and established
which of these were both harmful to human health, and scientifically
substantiated. This latter point is important because ICNIRP considers that, in
general, reported effects need to be independently replicated, be of sufficient
scientific quality and explicable more generally within the context of the
scientific literature, in order to be taken as ‘evidence’ and used for setting
exposure restrictions. Within the guidelines, ‘evidence’ will be used within
this context, and ‘substantiated effect’ used to describe reported effects that
satisfy this definition of evidence. (ICNIRP Guidelines: Guidelines for Limiting
Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields [100 kHz
TO 300 GHz].” July 11, 2018 draft.
p. 2)
October 9, 2018. ICNIRP members will review public comments prior to finalizing
the RF exposure guidelines. ICNIRP will
not reply to comments.
and biology or health have signed the EMF Scientist Appeal. Collectively, these
scientists from 41 nations have published more than 2,000 papers on EMF. The Appeal
calls on the WHO and the United Nations including its member states to
adopt more protective exposure guidelines for EMF including RF radiation in the
face of increasing evidence of health risks since these exposures are a rapidly
growing form of worldwide environmental pollution.
the WHO due to its reliance upon ICNIRP and its members for expert advice. The
paper claims that ICNIRP and its advisors have “close associations with
industry,” and “conflicts of interest.” According to the authors, ICNIRP and its
advisors have been engaged in decades of “denial
of serious non-thermal effects of RF-EMFs in spite of overwhelming scientific
evidence to the contrary.”
Belpomme and his colleagues criticize ICNIRP’s safety limits:
specific absorption rate (SAR)-based ICNIRP safety limits were established on
the basis of simulation of EMF energy absorption using standardized adult male
phantoms, and designed to protect people only from the thermal effects of EMFs.
These assumptions are not valid for two reasons. Not only do they fail to
consider the specific morphological and bioclinical vulnerabilities of
children, but also they ignore the effects known to occur at non-thermal
intensities….”
“It is urgent
that national and international bodies, particularly the WHO, take this
significant public health hazard seriously and make appropriate recommendations
for protective measures to reduce exposures. This is especially urgently needed
for children and adolescents. It is also important that all parts of society,
especially the medical community, educators, and the general public, become
informed about the hazards associated with exposure to EMFs and of the steps
that can be easily taken to reduce exposure and risk of associated disease.”
its health risk assessment seem overly stringent. If other official bodies
(e.g., the International Agency for Research on Cancer or the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency) were to adopt such rules, I suspect that very few
chemicals would be classified as toxins or carcinogens. By its own admission, ICNIRP
is not concerned about protecting animal or plant life from the adverse effects
of EMF exposure, and it is arguable that they are truly concerned about protecting
humans.
organizations (e.g., the European Cancer and Environment Research Institute and
the Russian National Committee on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) are true
that ICNIRP’s members and scientific advisors are selected because they are biased toward industry,
then it is fruitless to engage in ICNIRP’s public consultation process
(see my posts from May 1 through June 27, 2017.)
upon its association with the WHO, a more fruitful activity for the EMF scientific community might be to convince the WHO and governments not to rely on
ICNIRP for EMF guidelines and no longer consult ICNIRP’s advisors.
effects. This makes the difference between a biological and an adverse health
effect an important distinction, where only adverse health effects require
limits for the protection of humans.” (p. 2)
cognitive function
substantiated experimental or epidemiological evidence that exposure to
radiofrequency EMF affects higher cognitive functions relevant to health.” (p.
3)
wellbeing have been substantiated, except for pain, which is related to
elevated temperature at high exposure levels. Thresholds for these have not
been clearly identified, but the best estimate is within the vicinity of 10 and
20 mA for indirect contact currents, for children and adults respectively, and
12.5 kW m-2 for direct
millimeter-wave exposure.” (pp. 3-4)
physiology and related functions
evidence of effects of radiofrequency EMF on physiological processes or eye
pathology that impair health in humans. Some evidence of superficial eye damage
has been shown in rabbits at exposures of at least 1.4 kW m-2,
although the relevance of this to humans has not been demonstrated.“ (p. 4)
vestibular and ocular function
on auditory, vestibular, or ocular function relevant to human health have been
substantiated.” (p. 5)
system
level at which an effect of radiofrequency EMF on the neuroendocrine system has
been observed is 4 W kg-1 (in rodents and primates), but there is no
evidence that this translates to humans or is relevant to human health. No
other effects have been substantiated.” (p. 6)
diseases
neurodegenerative diseases have been substantiated.” (p. 6)
system, autonomic nervous system and thermoregulation
on the cardiovascular system, autonomic nervous system, or thermoregulation
that compromise health have been substantiated for exposures with whole body
average SARs below approximately 1 W kg-1, and there is some
evidence that 4 W kg-1 is not sufficient to alter body core temperature
in hamsters. However, there is strong evidence that whole body exposures in
rats that are sufficient to increase body core temperature by several degrees
centigrade can cause serious adverse health effects in rats.” (p. 7)
haematology
have not indicated any evidence that radiofrequency EMF affects health in
humans via the immune system or haematology.” (p. 7)
reproduction and childhood development
effects of radiofrequency EMF exposure on fertility, reproduction or
development relevant to human health have been substantiated.” (p. 8)
of radiofrequency EMF on cancer have been substantiated.” (pp. 8-9)
https://www.saferemr.com/2018/07/icnirps-exposure-guidelines-for-radio.html