An Overview of WHO's EMF Project and the Health Effects of EMF Exposure

The World Health Organization (WHO), through its International EMF Project, has conducted a number of reviews of possible health effects from exposure to fields from various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. These fields can be grouped into radiofrequencies (RF), intermediate frequencies (IF) and the static and extremely low frequencies (ELF). In addition, there have been substantial reviews published by other organizations, many of which WHO representatives have participated. This paper describes WHO's International EMF Project activities and their results so far, briefly reviews the biological effects from EMF exposure, identifies gaps in knowledge needing further research and overviews WHO's current published position on these issues. The main conclusion from the WHO reviews is that EMF exposures below the limits recommended in the guidelines by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) do not appear to have any known consequence on health. However, there are still some key gaps in knowledge needing further research before better health risk assessments can be made. These research needs are being promoted to funding agencies by WHO. Because of remaining uncertainties in the science database, there has been some pressure to introduce precautionary measures until gaps in knowledge are filled. If precautionary measures are introduced to reduce EMF levels, it is recommended that they are made voluntary, and that health-based exposure limits be mandated to protect public health.