MEPs calls for EU-wide action to reduce cancer risk from mobile phones

A conference in parliament heard that repeated exposure to electromagnetic fields from devices such as mobile phones can pose a cancer risk.

The seminar, 'Early warnings: the case of mobile phone and head tumours,' heard how the European institutions 'can act' to help counter the carcinogenic risk caused by mobile phones.

The event was co-hosted by MEPs Kriton Arsenis, Michèle Rivasi and Frédérique Ries.

Arsenis, a Greek deputy, said that 'past failures' to react to early warnings had led to 'public health tragedies'.

The Socialist member said, "Two scientific studies have indicated the first early warnings on the carcinogenic effects of the use of mobile phones particularly by children and pregnant women.

"In many cases in the past, our failure to react to early warnings led to public health tragedies.

"Based on the precautionary principle, the commission should immediately inform the public on ways to reduce exposure to mobile phone radiation, reduce the radiation exposure limits and encourage independent scientific studies to further examine these first warnings."

His demand was enthusiastically endorsed by Rivasi, a French Greens deputy, who said, "We are now beyond the alert phase regarding the abusive use of mobile phones.

"Brain tumours have been definitively, scientifically proved. From now on, this is no longer the principle of precaution that must be applied, but the prevention principle.

"It is now time to act. European recommendations have to be revised and research must be developed on the other effects of electromagnetic waves on living beings.

"In addition to cancer or childhood leukaemia, some studies show the link between exposure to these radiations and Alzheimer's disease, sleep disorders or psychological problems."

The conference also heard from Ries, a Belgian ALDE member and parliament's 2009 rapporteur on "concerns about the health effects of electromagnetic fields".

She said, "The limits of public exposure to electromagnetic fields haven't changed in Europe since 1999. At this time, wireless devices were not used everyday.

"We cannot wait or delay these decisions until later."

Elsewhere, Lennart Hardell, professor of oncology at the university hospital of Örebro in Sweden, told the conference, "Our studies showed an increased risk for malignant brain tumours and acoustic neuroma and use of mobile or cordless phones.

"The risk increased with latency time and cumulative use. Highest risk was found in the group with first use of a wireless phone before 20 years of age."

Further comment came from David Gee, European environment agency senior advisor on science, policy and emerging issues, who told the conference that mobile phones have "numerous social, economic and even environmental benefits".

He went on, "However, there is significant disagreement in the scientific community about whether mobile phone use increases the risk of head cancers.

"We recommend using the precautionary principle to guide policy decisions in cases like this.

"This means that although our understanding is incomplete, this should not prevent policymakers from taking preventative action."
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invite you to

"Early warnings : The case of Mobile Phone & Head Tumors"

Workshop at the EU Parliament
on Tuesday 11 October 2011
From 13:00 - 15:00 in Room P7C050

Draft Program & Invited Speakers
12:45 Reception
13:00 Welcome by MEPs Kriton Arsenis, Frédérique Ries, Michèle Rivasi
13:15 Mr Christopher Wild, IARC Director,
& nbsp; « Mobile phone 2B classification : How IARC evaluated the evidence »
13:30 Mr Mats-Olof Mattsson, SCENIHR Chairman
« EMF Risk Assessment : Outcomes of the 2007 and 2009 opinions »
13:45 Ms Elisabeth Cardis, CREAL Scientific Director Radiation Program
« Analysis and protective interpretation of the Interphone datas »
13:55 Mr Lennart Hardell, MD, UniversityHospital in Orebro
« Latest evid ence based risks about Mobile Phone Head Tumors »
14:05 Mr David Gee, European Environment Agency
« Towards Transparency about why Experts differ in Evaluating Evidence »
14:15 Discussion / Questions
14:55 Conclusion by Mrs Michele Rivasi MEP

For inscription send your personal information (name, date of birth and adress) to
michele.rivasi@europarl.europa.eu ( to recieve your accreditation).

Bureau de Michèle Rivasi:
Dépu tée au Parlement Européen
Groupe Verts/ALE
60 rue Wiertz, 1047 Bruxelles
Bureau 08G309
Tel: 00 32 2 284 73 97
Fax: 00 32 2 284 93 97
http://www.michele-rivasi.eu/