EECS - on Electromagnetic hypersensitivity
European Union and Eletromagnetic Hypersensitivity : a New Turn ?
Dear StakeHolders and Cofighters,
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) following a public hearing on november 4th has published the "Preliminary Draft Opinion" on Electomagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS) which you'll find attached. It's been inspired by a letter from several EHS NGOs such as Electrosensibles por el Derecho a la Salud, Une Terre pour les EHS, FELO (Norway), SOS EHS (Spain), AMICA (Italy), Associazione Italiana Elettrosensibiliti (Italy), Electrosensitivity in Ireland (Ireland), Vågbrytaren (Sweden) and many others which are co-signatories.
The "Preliminary Draft Opinion" also owes a lot to november 4th public speakers on "our side": Dr Isaac Jamieson of Biosustainable Design (UK), Prof. Olle Johansson (Department of Neuroscience Karolinska Institute) and Marc Cendrier scientific information for Robin des Toits (Fr). The EHS letter was brought to the Comittee by Robin des Toits.
The European Economic and Social Committee (depending on the European Commission) has proposed to lessen current safety guidelines and legislative changes; a little revolution even though it's only an advice! The current safety guidelines should be modified in order to actually preserve and protect human health and environnement: the ALARA principle, as suggested by the Council of Europe, whereby the thermal effects and the athermic or biological effects of electromagnetic emissions or radiation are kept As Low As Reasonably Achievable. This is a variant of the precautionary principle, which makes it possible to adopt effective preventive measures and to review current limits without having to wait for total scientific and technical consensus, which is important for the most vulnerable groups.
The precautionnary principle is a must in a context where people - children included - are more and more exposed to wireless technologies and after WHO has classified radiofrequencies as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Altenative efficient technologies in telecommunications should be devellopped in order to protect environment and human health but with fewer negative health effects. Particular attention should be paid to "electrosensitive" persons suffering from an EMF intolerance syndrome and specific measures should be introduced to protect them, such as recognition of the illness of electromagnetic hypersensitivity as an EMF intolerance syndrome. Establishing and labelling entailing electromagnetic risks which can cause electomagnetic hypersensitivity.
EESC advocate EMF free zones 'white zones' which would include housing, health centers, libraries etc. devoid of electromagnetic pollution. Awareness-raising campaign on long-term vulnerability to electromagnetical fields explaining potential negative long-term biological risks for environment, human health with specific reference to children and teenagers.DECT (cordless phones), wifi are included in electromagnetic pollution.
Let's hope this will lead to actual actions and public policies to protect human health from wireless technologies associated health hazards and - at long last - to a decent treatment and awareness of EHS !
Press Contact :
Etienne CENDRIER
Spokesman for Robin des Toits
More and more people suffer from electromagnetic and environmental hypersensitivity syndrome due to exposure to electromagnetic fields, following the expansion of technologies in recent years. In addition to their health problems, people in this growing group often face discrimination when entering many public or private facilities (libraries, hospitals or even public transport), especially in buildings where devices have been installed for transmitting wireless technology.