| NIOSH research on protecting workers from
proven and possible EMF health risks focuses on:
- RF (radio frequencies) --including broadcast antennas, induction
heaters, and cell telephones
- ELF (extremely low frequencies) --including AC electricity
and video display terminals (VDTs)
- Static Magnetic Fields --including DC electricity .
CDC/NIOSH Publications on EMF
Frequently Asked Questions about Cell Phones and Your Health
PDF only 94 KB (2 pages)
This CDC fact sheet answers questions about possible health effects from the radiation emitted by cellular phones. (2005)
Questions
and Answers: EMF in the Workplace
DOE Publication No. DOE/GO-10095-218, DE95013123 (1996)
External Link: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/docs/emf-02.pdfl
This DOE/NIOSH/NIEHS booklet provides in-depth information about ELF-EMF exposures in the workplace. It also describes what researchers have learned about EMFs and identifies some EMF sources in workplaces. In 2002, NIEHS updated this information and combined it with information on household EMF sources, and published it as EMF Questions and Answers.
Manual for Measuring Occupational Electric
and Magnetic Field Exposures
NIOSH Publication No. 98-154 (1998)
This technical document is a reference manual for industrial hygienists
and researchers who measure occupational exposures to static and ELF EMF.
NIOSH Publication on Video Display
Terminals
NIOSH Publication No. 99-135 (3rd ed., 1999)
This publication is a collection of NIOSH studies and statements on all
kinds of health effects from working with VDTs, including studies which
found no link between their EMF emissions and reproductive effects.
RF Fields
Frequently Asked Questions about Cell Phones and Your Health
PDF only 94 KB (2 pages)
This CDC fact sheet answers questions about possible health effects from the radiation emitted by cellular phones. (2005)
OSHA: Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation
External Link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation/index.html
Information on the recognition, evauation, and control of RF/MW radiation.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC): Radio Frequency Safety
External Link: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/
Information and health standards for consumers and broadcasters on wireless communications, including cellular telephones and amateur radios.
Food and Drug
Administration (FDA): Electronic Products Which Emit Radiation
External Link: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/comp/eprc.html
Information for consumers and manufacturers on microwave ovens, video
display terminals, etc.
FDA/FCC: Consumer Update
on Mobile Phones
External Link: http://www.fda.gov/cellphones/
FDA site with answers to frequently-asked questions about potential health
risks from using mobile telephones and research on this question.
National Radiation Protection Board in Great Britain: A Summary of Recent Reports on Mobile Phones and Health (2000–2004)
NRPB-W65 (2005)
External Link: http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/w_series_reports/2005/nrpb_w65.htm
This British report reviews studies of brain cancer and neurological effects from the use of cell phones health and highlights any commonality or differences in opinion.
National Radiation Protection Board in Great Britain: Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields: Report of an independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation
NRPB Documents Volume 14, No. 2 (2004)
External Link: http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/documents_of_nrpb/abstracts/absd14-2.htm
This report examines possible health effects of exposure to RF fields, with an emphasis on studies conducted since the report Mobile Phones and Health by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones Chair Sir William Stewart (2000). The Stewart report was one of the first government reviews on possible health effects from cell phones. It recommended precautionary measures to protect the public health.
ELF and Static EMF
Risk Assessment and Risk Management Five major evaluations of the evidence for health risks from exposures to occupational and residential ELF-EMF have been published since 1998. Three of them were accompanied by statements on managing EMF exposures and directions
for future research.
- Assessment
of Health Effects from Exposure to Power-Line Frequency Electric and
Magnetic Fields
NIH Publication No. 98-3981 (1998)
External Link: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/html/WGReport/WorkingGroup.html
This publication is the findings of a Working Group which evaluated
the scientific evidence on health risks from ELF-EMF. The Working Group
was convened by the federal government's EMF
RAPID (Research and Public Information Dissemination) Program, and
NIOSH participated.
- NIEHS
Report on Health Effects from Exposure to Power-Line Frequency Electric
and Magnetic Fields
NIH Publication No. 99-4493 (1999)
External Link: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/html/EMF_DIR_RPT/Report_18f.htm
This report summarizes the evidence on health risks from ELF-EMF and
makes recommendations to protect the public health. Written by the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at the conclusion
of EMF RAPID program.
- "ELF Electromagnetic Fields and the Risk of Cancer" by the Advisory Group
on Non-ionising Radiation of the National Radiological Protection Board
(now called the Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency)
NRPB Documents Volume 12, No. 1 (2001)
External Link: http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/documents_of_nrpb/abstracts/absd12-1.htm
This British risk evaluation headed by Sir Richard Doll reviews the evidence on cancer risks from residential and occupational ELF-EMF exposures which has been published since an earlier NRPB report (1992). The conclusions and recommendations of the Doll report are posted on the Health Protection Agency’s WEB site, along with information for ordering the whole report. The Board
of the NRPB issued a Response on its implications for future research and EMF exposure limits.
- Non-ionizing
Radiation, Part I: Static and Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic
Fields
Monograph by the International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC Monographs, Volume 80 (2002)
External Link: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol80/volume80.pdf
This risk assessment is part of a highly-respected international program to evaluate all carcinogens. The complete monograph is available as a PDF file.
-
Evaluation of the Possible Risks from Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs)
from Power Lines, Internal Wiring, Electrical Occupations and Appliances
(Report from the California EMF Program (2002)
External Link: http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/deodc/ehib/emf/RiskEvaluation/riskeval.html
This report by the California Department of Health Services evaluates the evidence for the risks of all diseases from exposures to residential and occupation ELF-EMF, concentrating on more recent studies. It uses a new method of risk assessment, based on the Bayesian philosophy of science. Public comments and criticisms of this report are posted on the same website. The California EMF Program also published Policy
Options in the Face of Possible Risk from Power Frequency Electric and
Magnetic Fields (EMF) (
PDF 76 KB (9 pages) ) which analyzes possible government actions under different regulatory philosophies, including a cost-benefit analysis for power line modifications.
OSHA:
Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Radiation
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/elfradiation/index.html
Information on the recognition, evauation, and control of ELF radiation.
OSHA:
Computer Workstations
External Link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/computerworkstation/index.html
This page briefly examines the potential hazards and interventions employers can use to prevent or reduce the potential harmful effects of working with computers.
NIOSH Fact Sheet: EMFs
in the Workplace
NIOSH Publication No. 96-129 (1996)
En
Español
This fact sheet answers frequently-asked questions about extremely low frequency (ELF) EMFs in the workplace. This publication can help identify EMF sources at work and suggests simple steps for reducing exposures.
Questions
and Answers: EMF in the Workplace
External Link: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/html/Q&A-Workplace.html
DOE Publication No. DOE/GO-10095-218, DE95013123 (1996)
This DOE/NIOSH/NIEHS booklet provides in-depth information about ELF-EMF exposures in the workplace. It also describes what researchers have learned about EMFs and identifies some EMF sources in workplaces. In 2002, NIEHS updated this information and combined it with information on household EMF sources, and published it as EMF Questions and Answers.
NIOSH Documents on ELF-EMF Research
Proceedings of NIOSH/DOE Workshop on "EMF Exposure Assessment and
Epidemiology: Hypotheses, Metrics, and Measurements"
NTIS Publication No. PB 2000-101086 (2000)
PDF only 2,882
KB (192 pages)
This workshop proposed new methods for measuring ELF-EMF exposures and designs for epidemiologic studies that might explain associations with cancer and other diseases. These new ideas for health studies came from hypothesized biophysical mechanisms for ways occupational and residential EMF might affect the human body.
Manual for Measuring
Occupational Electric and Magnetic Field Exposures
NIOSH Publication No. 98-154 (1998)
This technical document is a reference manual for industrial hygienists
and researchers who measure occupational exposures to static and ELF EMF.
NIOSH Publication
on Video Display Terminals
NIOSH Publication No. 99-135 (3rd ed., 1999)
This publication is a collection of NIOSH studies and statements on all
kinds of health effects from working with VDTs, including studies which
found no link between their EMF emissions and reproductive effects.
EMF Databases
Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) for Power-Frequency Magnetic Fields
This site contains Excel® spreadsheets developed by NIOSH to assess exposures to ELF magnetic fields by occupational categories. By using the the 1980 Standard Occupational Classifications (SOC) or the 1980 U.S. Census categories, this JEM can be linked to mortality and morbidity databases for epidemiologic studies (Bowman et al., 2006).
EMF RAPID program: EMF Measurement
Database
External Link: http://www.emf-data.org/
This site contains six databases of EMF measurements taken in homes and
workplaces. The data is thoroughly annotated and can be downloaded
in various forms.
Worker Notification Program
Through the NIOSH Worker Notification Program, NIOSH notifies workers and other stakeholders about the findings of past research studies related to a wide variety of exposures. The links below present archival materials sent to participants in studies related to EMF from video display terminals.
Links to Other EMF Sites
EMF RAPID (Research and public information dissemination) program
External Link: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/emfrapid/home.htm
EMF RAPID was a federal program administered by NIEHS and the Department
of Energy, which conducted health effects research and wrote public information
documents from 1994-1999.
OSHA: Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Radiation
External Link: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/elfradiation/index.html
Information on the recognition, evauation, and control of ELF radiation.
OSHA: Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation
External Link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation/index.html
Information on the recognition, evauation, and control of RF/MW radiation.
OSHA: Computer Workstations
External Link: http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/videodisplayterminals/index.html
This page briefly examines the potential hazards and interventions employers can use to prevent or reduce the potential harmful effects of working with computers.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC): Health Standards and RF Information
External Link: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/
Information and health standards for consumers and broadcasters on wireless communications, including cellular telephones and amateur radios.
Food and Drug
Administration (FDA): Electronic Products Which Emit Radiation
(FDA Web site)
External Link: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/comp/eprc.html
Information for consumers and manufacturers on microwave ovens, video
display terminals, etc.
FDA/FCC: Consumer
Update on Mobile Phones
External Link: http://www.fda.gov/cellphones/
FDA site with answers to frequently-asked questions about potential health risks from using mobile telephones and research on this question.
National Radiation Protection Board in Great Britain: A Summary of Recent Reports on Mobile Phones and Health (2000–2004)
NRPB-W65 (2005)
External Link: http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/w_series_reports/2005/nrpb_w65.htm
This British report reviews studies of brain cancer and neurological effects from the use of cell phones health and highlights any commonality or differences in opinion.
National Radiation Protection Board in Great Britain: Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields: Report of an independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation
NRPB Documents Volume 14, No. 2 (2004)
External Link: http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/documents_of_nrpb/abstracts/absd14-2.htm
This report examines possible health effects of exposure to RF fields, with an emphasis on studies conducted since the report Mobile Phones and Health by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones, Chair Sir William Stewart (2000). The Stewart report was one of the first government reviews on possible health effects from cell phones. It recommended precautionary measures to protect the public health.
World Health Organization (WHO):
International EMF Project
External Link: http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en/
Provides a collection of fact sheets and other resources concerning health effects of exposure to RF and ELF electromagnetic fields.
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