National Library of Medicine MEDLINE Database
TITL: Exposure guidelines for low-frequency electric
and magnetic fields: report from the Brussels workshop. [In Process]
AUTH: Sheppard Asher R; Kavet Robert; Renew David C
ORGA: ashersheppard@compuserve.com
PUB TYPE:
Journal Article.
CITE: Health Phys 2002 Sep; 83 (3):
324-32
LANG: ENG; English
ABST: The EMF Exposure Guidelines Science Workshop was
held to evaluate the information base for guidelines for electric and magnetic
field exposures at extremely low frequencies, to identify research needs, and to
discuss how best to apply scientific knowledge in developing exposure
recommendations. Although the existing guideline values are based on
electrostimulation of nerve and muscle tissues, guidelines must also consider
controversial studies of potential health effects from chronic exposures at
environmental levels that are far too weak to cause electrostimulation. The size
of the safety factor applied in specifying exposure limits reflects a variety of
factors that introduce uncertainties. These include confidence in existing
dose-effect relationships, population diversity, the reliability and precision
of techniques to control over-exposure, and completeness of the information
base, particularly regarding long-term effects. Specific research questions that
can change the level of uncertainty meaningfully were identified in these areas:
biophysical mechanisms of electrostimulation; the range of thresholds throughout
exposed populations; cancer causation in children and adults, including a
possible role for contact currents; cognitive, behavioral, and physiological
effects on the central nervous system; improved dosimetry; and better
understanding of electromagnetic interference with implanted
biomedical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and physiological
monitors. This report introduces ten papers from the workshop that address these
and related topics in detail.
GEOT: United States
IDEN: ISSN: 0017-9078. JOURNAL-CODE: 2985093R.
ENTRY-DATE: 20020829. SPECIAL-LIST: IM. JOURNAL-SUBSET: IM.
ACCE: 22187531
PMID: 12199546
