Working Group - Public Education Needs and Public Policy Recommendations

FINAL DRAFT - November 3, 2009

Public Education Needs:
·    As an urgent matter, the U.S. government, preferentially the U.S. Surgeon General should issue a precautionary statement advising that young people under age 16 not use cell phones.
·    A general public EMF safety information program is required, especially to ensure the protection of young children and teens, the unborn, those who are vulnerable due to age, infirmity or disability, including hypersensitivity, against nonionizing electromagnetic field hazards. 
·    Target information and education programs specifically to young people and pregnant women on safer use of wireless devices due to their higher risk.
·    Prohibit marketing to children under the age of 16.
·    Include radiofrequency radiation and extremely low frequency fields (EMF) in the National Children’s Health Study. This study is designed as a random sampling of US children that would follow these children from conception to age 21 to investigate many factors (SES, home environment, chemical exposures, etc.) related to health.  To date, efforts to include exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) have not been successful.

Public Policy Recommendations

·    Require EPA to develop standards for ambient radiofrequency radiation exposure based on the precautionary principle.
 
·    Ask Congress and the Administration to fully fund and ensure adequate staff resources for a sustained, independent Federal program on nonionizing electromagnetic fields that incorporates fundamental and applied research (as outlined in the accompanying working group reports) with the overall goal of developing a framework of EMF exposure standards that are biologically based and, that take an interdisciplinary, coordinated approach to protect health and the environment from all EMF sources. This coordinated approach would include premarket surveillance, risk assessment, early intervention, ongoing monitoring and investigations, especially of sensitive areas at schools and residential neighborhoods and institute remedial action when called for, to regulate exposure conditions from all man-made EMF sources. Individual contributions by the cognizant Federal agencies, including FDA, EPA, NIEHS, NIOSH, OSHA, FCC and NTIA, and other federal agencies, and would be overseen by a high level interagency committee, advised by independent scientists, medical doctors and public advocates.

·    Ask Congress for legislation to repeal Section 704 of the Federal Telecommunications Act that preempts state and local control over the siting and management of wireless facilities and does not permit them to consider “environmental” (defined as human health) concerns.

·    Ask Congress to grant the FCC and U.S. states more flexibility in siting antennas, to include a policy that requires that consideration be given to how radiofrequency/microwave radiation emissions from proposed antennas and towers affect background radiation levels so existing background radiation levels are not exceeded.

·    Ask Congress to direct the Federal public health agencies to revise current radiofrequency human exposure guidelines for precautionary reasons while the research needed to determine a framework of biologically based standards continues, with the overall goal to protect health and the environment without impeding the provision of wireless services.

·    Ask Congress to review the eligibility requirements of the Americans for Disability Act and medical diagnostic coding as they apply to persons who are functionally impaired or in need of medical treatment due to EMF related health conditions to ensure and that they are recognized and can access to health and welfare services provided through federally funded or insured programs.

·    Mandate broadband infrastructure design and applications that uses a fiber-optic infrastructure wherever possible instead of wireless signals for transmission of voice and data communications and encourages the wireless industry to design and manufacture safer wireless devices.

·    Mandate a national electric grid infrastructure design and implementation that prohibits chronic EMF exposure above 3 millegauss and requires adherence to nonionizing electromagnetic field safety exposure guidelines for workers and the general public.  Encourage the electrical power and wireless industry to manufacture and distribute low heat lighting products that conserve energy but do not cause adverse health effects by introducing higher frequencies into electrical transmission wires. Also, encourage the development of new technologies to replace wireless sensors and meters used for monitoring electrical power consumption rates and other purposes.    

·    Require the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Communications Commission, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and  other federal agencies to adopt “cleaner environment” standards for EMF protection, especially for persons who are electrically hypersensitive, as directed in part by the National Institute of Building Sciences guidelines on public facility access for persons with electrical hypersensitivity and to encourage the Green Building industry, the LEED standard setting agency and other sustainability and green design builders, to ensure preventive measures are used in the design, manufacturing, construction and rehabilitation of the built environment. 

·    Require that the public health agencies and the FCC require pre-market approval of all EMF devices, conduct pre-market environmental assessments and post marketing surveillance of exposure; conduct ongoing monitoring and publically disclose the findings, especially in urban areas, public school classrooms, workplaces and other public places, or upon request.

·    Following the precautionary approach modeled by some other nations, establish EMF safe zones as a matter of zoning for people who want to live in a cleaner environment as a matter of preference, due to hypersensitivity to electromagnetic fields or, other health conditions or functional impairments. If EMF hazards are detected, the EPA or Department of Energy should ensure safety standards are met by requiring the monitoring and disclosure of emissions, reduction of  power levels and/or eliminate the source to protect health, if needed.

Advocacy

·    Public education and information programs on EMF health and safety should be incorporated into federal state and local public health programs and referred to by providers of electrical power and wireless services, to include Ombudsmen services to assist the public and workers in resolving questions and concerns.

·    There are numerous unmet needs for increased public advocacy and education in this field that can be addressed as part of K-12 educational curriculums, nonprofit organizations, corporate leaders, health care practitioners, health care institutions, environmental groups, human and disability rights groups, trade associations, unions, citizens groups and individuals. 

·    Examples of public advocacy and education needs are: speakers bureaus, educational seminars and conferences for experts in the EMF field, professions, patients, industry representatives, government leaders, etc., exhibits at health fairs, support groups for persons with EMF related diseases and disabilities, resource library of print and multi-media materials, capacity building, leadership development, training kits and more. As advocates become more familiar with government and corporate processes and learn how to advocate for priority policy proposals, their increased participation will be carry more influence on policy decision-making. Informed public advocates are essential to the public debates that need to take place in order to find the mutually beneficial solutions that public officials, corporate leaders and individuals can agree upon as being  important to ensure the serious and growing unmet needs for public health and welfare protection from potentially hazardous nonionizing electromagnetic radiation sources are met.

Estimated budgetary requirements:

Public education
$25 million annually for public information and education, including direct federal oversight and participation nationally and grants to nonprofit agencies and organizations.

Federal oversight and coordination
$5 million annually to ensure an interdisciplinary, cross agency approach, the White House Office of Science and Technology would handle oversight and coordination among Federal agencies. These monies would be used to hire staff and for monitoring activities, meetings and report preparation.

Additional Resources:

[1]    EMF resolutions signed by concerned scientist and medical doctors, including the 2009 Porto Alegre Resolution, www.icems.eu.
[2]    BioInitiative Report, www.bioinitiative.org
          [3]    Special issue of Pathophysiology on EMF science and public
                  health/policy issues, published March 2009, 
                  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09284680