**2.1 ICNIRP reports (2009)**

*Statement on the "Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz)".The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Health Physics 97(3):257-259 (2009).* 

*Juutilainen J, Lagroye I, Miyakoshi J, van Rongen E, Saunders R,de Seze R, Tenforde T, Verschaeve L, Veyret B and Xu Z (2009) Exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields, biological effects and health consequences (100 kHz – 300 GHz). In: Vecchia P., Matthes R., Ziegelberger G., Lin J., Saunders R., Swerdlow A., eds., Review of Experimental Studies of RF Biological Effects (100 kHz – 300 GHz), ICNIRP 16/2009, ISBN 978-3-934994-10-2 pp. 94-319.* 

The International Committee on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) consists of a main commission (12 members) and 4 subcommittee's: epidemiology (5 members), biology (8 members), physics (7 members) and Optics (7 members). Information on ICNIRP can be obtained at http://www.icnirp.de. ICNIRP works in close collaboration with WHO and publishes guidelines and statements (see above) as well as literature reviews that are prepared by their (subcommittee) members. The most recent review on biological effects of radiofrequency radiation is from 2009 (see above). It is a consensus report that was approved by all (sub) committee members and peer reviewed by other experts that do not belong to ICNIRP. The report took all peer-reviewed publications into consideration. It was later on updated and published as single review papers in the scientific literature (van Rongen et al., 2009; Verschaeve et al., 2010; Juutilainen et al., 2011). Recommendations (guidelines) are exclusively based on scientific grounds. Although many countries in the world do adopt the ICNIRP recommendations they are sometimes criticized for insufficient implementation of the precautionary principle. Yet, on pure scientific grounds the ICNIRP papers, recommendations and reviews may be considered of high quality.

Above mentioned ICNIRP documents indicate that it is not possible to deny the existence of non thermal effects following RF-exposure but they consider evidence in favour of such (adverse) effects very weak. Recent *in vitro* and *in vivo* cancer studies show that these effects are unlikely. Also recent epidemiological investigations (e.g., in 2009 already available results from the interphone study) were considered as being indicative for the absence of

high exposure levels cells or tissues can heat and thermal effects can be observed that are not obtained by normal environmental exposure levels as for example. when exposure is to radiation from a mobile phone base station antenna or when using the handset. Thermal effects are well known but experiments where thermal exposure levels were studied are not relevant in the discussion of "mobile phones and health". Yet, often thermal exposure levels were used, even when the authors of the study claimed that they investigated non thermal exposure levels (wrong experimental set up and dosimetry). It is therefore also important to

The purpose of the present chapter is to give an overview of the conclusions of different

We found 33 expert group reports that were devoted to health effects of radiofrequency

*Statement on the "Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz)".The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation* 

*Juutilainen J, Lagroye I, Miyakoshi J, van Rongen E, Saunders R,de Seze R, Tenforde T, Verschaeve L, Veyret B and Xu Z (2009) Exposure to high frequency electromagnetic fields, biological effects and health consequences (100 kHz – 300 GHz). In: Vecchia P., Matthes R., Ziegelberger G., Lin J., Saunders R., Swerdlow A., eds., Review of Experimental Studies of RF Biological Effects (100 kHz –* 

The International Committee on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) consists of a main commission (12 members) and 4 subcommittee's: epidemiology (5 members), biology (8 members), physics (7 members) and Optics (7 members). Information on ICNIRP can be obtained at http://www.icnirp.de. ICNIRP works in close collaboration with WHO and publishes guidelines and statements (see above) as well as literature reviews that are prepared by their (subcommittee) members. The most recent review on biological effects of radiofrequency radiation is from 2009 (see above). It is a consensus report that was approved by all (sub) committee members and peer reviewed by other experts that do not belong to ICNIRP. The report took all peer-reviewed publications into consideration. It was later on updated and published as single review papers in the scientific literature (van Rongen et al., 2009; Verschaeve et al., 2010; Juutilainen et al., 2011). Recommendations (guidelines) are exclusively based on scientific grounds. Although many countries in the world do adopt the ICNIRP recommendations they are sometimes criticized for insufficient implementation of the precautionary principle. Yet, on pure scientific grounds the ICNIRP

Above mentioned ICNIRP documents indicate that it is not possible to deny the existence of non thermal effects following RF-exposure but they consider evidence in favour of such (adverse) effects very weak. Recent *in vitro* and *in vivo* cancer studies show that these effects are unlikely. Also recent epidemiological investigations (e.g., in 2009 already available results from the interphone study) were considered as being indicative for the absence of

evaluate not only the biology but also the dosimetric aspects of an investigation.

**2. Evaluation of different expert group reports (2009-2011)** 

(inter)national expert groups based on their analyses.

fields and that were published in the period 2009-2011.

*Protection (ICNIRP). Health Physics 97(3):257-259 (2009).* 

*300 GHz), ICNIRP 16/2009, ISBN 978-3-934994-10-2 pp. 94-319.* 

papers, recommendations and reviews may be considered of high quality.

**2.1 ICNIRP reports (2009)** 

cancer risk from mobile phones. Other studies that allowed a sufficient 'weight of evidence' evaluation did also not show any indication of health-related biological effects. ICNIRP therefore concluded that there are no indications of non thermal adverse health effects and that their recommendations from 1998 (ICNIRP, 1998) do not need to be adapted.
