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Mobiles, pylons and health key topics

Addressing key topics within the mobiles, over-head pylons and health sector.

In 1992, the IET formed a volunteer expert advisory group to consider the possible harmful effects of low-level, low frequency electrical and magnetic fields (EMFs), primarily at power (50/60 Hz) frequencies.  In 1998, this Biological Effects Policy Advisory Group (BEPAG) had its terms of reference extended to include frequencies up to 300 GHz to reflect public concern over possible health effects of radiofrequency (“RF”) fields, especially from mobile communications systems.

BEPAG uses refereed papers as its source material, retrieved from a broad search of a range of science and engineering, and medicine databases.

BEPAG produce and publish a biennial IET Position Statement on:

PDF Position statement on the possible health effects of electromagnetic fields including mobile phones and electricity distribution (1252 k) Updated May 2008

 

BEPAG divides the refereed papers into five areas:

  • epidemiology
  • human studies
  • animal studies
  • cellular studies
  • and mechanisms of interaction to reflect the main groups of experimental studies.

The continuing trend is for EMF research to refocus from power frequencies towards mobile phone frequencies with the anticipation that so called ‘hypersensitivity’ studies will start to feature in the near future.

BEPAG has produced, and maintains, a factfile:

PDF Mobile Phones and Electricity Distribution Factfile (1346 k) Updated July 2007

 

BEPAG’s work is continuous and on going with its biennial review publication.  In addition the group supports the IET in many other ways including representation on government and learned society bodies.