The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) launched a public consultation on September 24, 2024, regarding its preliminary report on the links between radio frequencies and cancer. This consultation, open until November 25, 2024, invites stakeholders to comment on the agency’s provisional conclusions.
In this pre-report, ANSES concludes on page 339:
“Regardless of tumor location or biological systems analyzed in this report, the available data do not allow for a conclusion on the existence or absence of carcinogenic effects. This response also applies to the overall question of a carcinogenic effect in humans.”
This position marks a significant step back from the 2011 classification by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which categorized radio frequencies as “possibly carcinogenic” (Group 2B).
A Minority Position Relegated to an Appendix
The ANSES report includes a minority position expressed by Professor Gérard Ledoigt, an expert in plant biology. Contrary to the general conclusion, Professor Ledoigt believes that radio frequencies have a possible effect on carcinogenesis in humans, particularly concerning effects on the brain.
In Appendix 3 of the report, Professor Ledoigt concludes:
“Overall, radio frequencies have a possible effect on carcinogenesis in humans.”
This important conclusion should not be relegated to an appendix but should appear in the main body of the report to reflect the diversity of scientific opinions.
The inclusion of this single divergent position in an appendix rather than in the main report highlights the lack of plurality in the proposed analysis. This approach has been criticized by ANSES‘s own scientific committee, which pointed out “the absence of plurality of scientific opinions” within the working groups in a statement dated October 15, 2021. This situation, noted among others by NextInpact on October 18, 2021, raises legitimate questions about the representativeness and completeness of the analysis of links between radio frequencies and cancer.
A Broken Dialogue with ANSES
In 2023, Alerte Phonegate, along with five other associations, suspended their participation in ANSES‘s Dialogue Committee. This collective decision follows numerous disagreements over the functioning of this committee and the lack of consideration for the associations’ concerns.
This massive departure highlights deep dysfunctions in how ANSES manages dialogue with stakeholders and takes into account civil society’s alerts. It demonstrates the impossibility of establishing a truly constructive exchange on health issues related to radio frequencies.
This breakdown in dialogue reinforces our conviction that the current public consultation cannot lead to an impartial and transparent risk assessment. It fits into a broader context of mistrust towards the agency’s working methods on radio frequency issues.
A History of Contested Consultations
Alerte Phonegate is already contesting before the Administrative Court the previous public consultation by ANSES on 5G, which we consider a sham of participatory democracy. This legal action, initiated in 2022, aims to annul ANSES‘s opinion on 5G.
We believe that this public consultation process is deliberately biased and therefore does not allow for a genuine scientific debate. ANSES seems to use these consultations as a tool to legitimize pre-established conclusions rather than as a real means to enrich its expertise.
This new consultation on radio frequencies and cancer continues practices that we deem unacceptable. It only strengthens our conviction that since 2020 ANSES is no longer able to ensure an impartial and transparent assessment of health risks related to radio frequencies.
Alerte Phonegate, ARTAC, SERA, ASEF, and AZB Refuse to Endorse the Process
Faced with these conclusions, Alerte Phonegate, the Association for Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Research (ARTAC), Health Environment France Association (ASEF), White Zone Association (AZB) and Health Environment Association in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (SERA) have decided not to participate in this public consultation.
Our associations believe that ANSES‘s approach is biased and will not allow for a genuine scientific debate on health risks related to radio frequencies. The pre-report deliberately ignores major scientific studies demonstrating carcinogenic effects of mobile phone waves. This biased selection of data can only lead to erroneous conclusions minimizing risks to public health.
Persistent Conflicts of Interest
We have long denounced close ties between some experts at ANSES and the telecommunications industry. Despite our repeated warnings, the agency has not taken necessary measures to ensure independence in its work.
This situation is illustrated by an event organized jointly by ANSES and WHO in Paris in 2022 titled “Radio Frequencies and Health: State of Knowledge and Perspectives”. As we pointed out in a previous statement, this event brought together experts whose independence is questionable, some having proven links with the telecommunications industry.
More recently, our statement dated September 19, 2024 confirmed our concerns through methodological problems and potential conflicts of interest in a recent World Health Organization (WHO) study on mobile phone use and brain tumor risk. This study, which concludes no increased risk, raises serious questions about its impartiality and scientific rigor. These examples reinforce our conviction that risk assessment related to radio frequencies is compromised by persistent conflicts of interest.
The Phonegate Scandal Deliberately Ignored
While the Phonegate scandal revealed massive breaches of exposure standards by many mobile phones, ANSES seems willing to ignore this reality in its recent evaluations. This deliberate omission of a major health issue discredits the entire approach.
It is particularly shocking to note that among dozens of pages devoted to dosimetry in this pre-report, no mention is made of two crucial reports by ANSES published in 2016 and 2019. These reports, produced by the agency itself, are at the origin of revealing the Phonegate scandal.
This deliberate absence of reference to previous works by ANSES on such a crucial subject raises serious questions about integrity and comprehensiveness presented analysis. For reminder, ANSES, in its 2019 report highlighted lack human studies concerning biological or health effects related exposures above SAR levels exceeding 2 W/kg . Report indicated data obtained exclusively experimental studies conducted vitro vivo animals except one human study not retained due significant methodological limitations .
What caution apply new report overlooking these standard exceedances potential consequences terms public health ? Indeed , deliberate omission own conclusions Phonegate demonstrates blatant lack coherence transparency evaluation risks related radio frequencies .
For True Scientific Transparency
According Dr Marc Arazi , president NGO Phonegate Alert :
” Faced these shortcomings , call establishment true contradictory open transparent scientific debate …. Only truly independent expertise taking account all available data will objectively evaluate health risks related radio frequencies . “
Our associations remain mobilized shed light dangers mobile telephony defend users’ health . We will continue alert public authorities citizens important public health issue .