CHE's Working Group on Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) is a diverse international gathering of more than 170 health professionals, scientists, and concerned individuals from the U.S. and 17 other countries. We welcome CHE Partners who would like to participate in a discussion of the health effects of electromagnetic fields.
We meet periodically via conference call. This group also has a listserv for the purpose of sharing new research and policy ideas and discussion between calls. Links to key documents are posted below. The BioInitiative Report is the most comprehensive summary of science on the health effects of electromagnetic field exposure.
The goals of this working group include:
1. Discussing emerging science that links EMF exposure with health effects,
2. Bringing this science to the attention of CHE Partners and the public, and
3. Exploring research and policy opportunities that CHE Partners may be interested in working on either individually or collectively.
This group is co-facilitated by Nancy Evans, Health Science Consultant, Breast Cancer Fund and Cindy Sage, Sage Associates Environmental Consultants. Nancy can be reached at: nancywrite@comcast.net and Cindy can be reached at: sage@silcom.com.
Briefing Paper on the Need for Research into the Cumulative Impacts of Communication Towers on Migratory Birds and Other Wildlife in the United States
The number of communication towers including radio, television, cellular, microwave, emergency broadcast, national defense, and paging towers has grown exponentially in the U.S. over the past decade. These towers present health and safety challenges for humans, but they are also a growing impact to populations of migratory birds, 4-5 million of which are conservatively estimated to die each year in tower and guy-wire collisions (Manville 2005, 2009).
Towers, Turbines, Power Lines, and Buildings--Steps Being Taken by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Avoid or Minimize Take of Migratory Birds at these Structures
As imperiled bird populations continue to increase, new challenges arise from the effects of growing numbers of communication towers, power lines, commercial wind facilities, and buildings. This paper briefly reviews steps the USFWS is taking to seriously address structural impacts to migratory birds.
"Pathophysiology" Publishes Special Issue on the Human Body's Sensitivity to EMF Signals in the Environment
Public health concerns and scientific evidence for risks from cell phones and other wireless devices is published today in the journal "Pathophysiology".
Cell Phone Advisories - Translations in Spanish, Portuguese and French
Here are English versions and translations of two important cell phone warnings, including the recent cautionary announcement from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute that brought cell-phone-related health concerns into the U.S. media spotlight.
Wireless Phones and Brain Tumours - Letter to the Editor
By Lennard Hardell, PhD, MD
Professor, Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Sweden
Letter to the Editor
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
It is both wise and timely to advocate for the precautionary principle for use of both mobile and cordless phones as recently made in Advice from University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Based on Advice from an International Expert Panel. Our research team in Sweden has raised similar concerns about long-term health effects from exposure to microwaves during such use.
Brain Tumors and EMFs - Press Summary
Here is the summary of information points on brain tumors and acoustic neuromas from the BioInitiative Report, "Summary for the Public", Chapter 1, and "Brain Tumors and Acoustic Neuromas", Chapter 10.
Feel free to use them as talking points.
Lennart Hardell, MD is available for interviews. He is the principle author on brain tumors/ acoustic neuromas for the BioInitiative Report.
Cindy Sage
Co-Editor
BioInitiative Report
Email Cindy Sage
Co-Coordinator
Working Group on Electromagnetic Fields
Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE)
Responses to Media Coverage of Pittsburgh Cautionary Announcement on Cell Phone Use
The recent cautionary announcement by Dr. Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, regarding the use of cell phones has generated a lot of media attention.
Below is a document containing brief summary information points in response to some widespread inaccuracies and misperceptions. The summary points are based upon the BioInitiative Report.
New Release: BioInitiative Report: A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard
To download this report, click here.
BioInitiative: A Rationale for a Biologically-based Public Exposure Standard for Electromagnetic Fields (ELF and RF)
Announcement: For Release June 2007 by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment Working Group on Electromagnetic Fields (CHE-EMF)
CHE EMF Website Login Instructions
Working Group on Electromagnetic Fields -- Update, March 2007
Belgian Declaration - EMF Position Paper -- 30 January 2007
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) Cell Phone Units Produce Elevated Extremely-low Frequency Electromagnetic Field Emissions -- 28 December 2006
CONSENSUS STATEMENT ON ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION -- DRAFT -- 10 October 2006