Electromagnetic Pollution

The electromagnetic Pollution (sometimes named smog electromagnetic ) is a physical phenomenon describing the exposure of living beings or apparatuses to a electromagnetic Champ emitted by electricals appliance. This phenomenon depends primarily on the power, the Fréquence, and the exposure time.

The question arises of knowing if these electromagnetic fields or not can, for certain species, being a factor of disturbance, to affect to them Santé or them reproduction, or to be an ecological factor of fragmentation. This question is the subject of controversy and is not distinct.

The exposure to these fields could according to certain authors have impacts on health, the Fertilité when they are important, with possible effects of a chronic exposure to less powerful fields. It is the latter point which is discussed.

The sources of pollution, the practical methods of calculations and measurements, the couplings as well as the levels being often quite different, it is preferable in order to facilitate comprehension to divide into two distinct parts the low frequencies and the radio frequencies.

The border is not impermeable, for example a radio frequencies source modulated by a low frequency (example GSM) will be able in a medium not perfectly linear being demodulated and to generate a signal low frequency.

Sources of pollution

Electromagnetic radiation and field

Low frequency sources

The artificial independent sources of electromagnetic field are the lines high voltage, of a frequency of 50-60 Hz, and the apparatuses electric household appliances using this tension.

Artificial sources in the field of the radio frequencies (10 Khz with 300 GHz)

The current electromagnetic independent sources of pollution are:

medical devices: Radiography, IRM, Nuclear medicine;
industrial devices of measurement, sterilization, electrical production;
telecommunication networks: public of Mobile telephony (GSM, UMTS), private (analogical, TETRA, ACROPOL), antennas relay, data-processing networks (Wi-Fi, CPL, UWB, WIMAX), radiophonic, audio-visual (analogical, TNT, satellite), identification (RFID);
the effect crowns on the lines with high voltage;
the Radar S (soldiers, air);
the apparatuses electric household appliances S and consumer electronics (microwawe ovens, cathode tubes of the Television set S, the Computer S).

For a few years, the electromagnetic level of pollution has increased in an exponential way for the radio frequencies , this is due to the development of the communications by radio operator generating a level of pollution without common measurement with the electricals appliance and electronic which yield them to standards of electromagnetic Compatibilité drastic relating to their level of emission.

The maximum level tolerated by the standards for a computer is of approximately 100 µV/m measured with 10 m, is 1 mV/m with 1 m, i.e. about the level which a basic station GSM with more 100 produces; km.

Effects

Ionizing effects

Photochemical effects

Heating effects

The electromagnetic radiation of the Microwave S and the waves radio has a heating effect on the matter, mainly on the surface. This principle is in particular used in the microwawe ovens. These radiations result primarily from artificial sources (telecommunications, radars, microwawe ovens, transmission of energy). Natural sources such as the cosmic Bruit also exist.

Electromagnetic Hyper sensitivity

Effects on the electronic devices

Dangers and risks of the electromagnetic fields of low power

Even if the regulations into force impose the use of the electronic devices in on this side known effects of electromagnetism, such as the heating effect for the radio waves and microwaves, the Danger S of an exposure for low powers are not to date shown scientifically. In spite of that, many studies of Risque were launched in order to determine a probability of health hazard or environmental electromagnetic fields. One distinguishes the studies on the electromagnetic danger carried out in laboratory from the epidemiological studies.

Biological dangers

Some fear that the chronic exposure of the individuals or the Fœtus to an electromagnetic smog crescent can affect the Santé, because in particular of the effect of the microwaves on the cells and of possible effects on the internal regulation of the exchanges will intra and intercellular, in particular controlled by exchanges of Ion S, which as the nerve impulse utilize electric phenomena (potential differences of energy through the cellular walls).

Genetic cancers and effects

The n°52 report/ratio of OPECST analyzes the result of the studies on the development of tumors in the animal following the exposure in laboratory to the signals of mobile telephony (exposure body-entirety over one long duration, 2 years) like negative. A positive study relates to genetically modified mice which present a high number of Lymphome S, but the study was criticized and retorted negatively. Studies on the cells in culture are negative for short exposures (< 2 hours), and show a possibility of effects Cytogénétique S and deteriorations of the expression of the proteins of thermal shock ( Heat Shock Protein or HSP) over longer exposure times (24 hours). The effect of radiation EM on cellular death by Apoptose appeared negative.

Reproduction and development

The n°52 report/ratio of OPECST.

Nervous system

The n°52 report/ratio of OPECST.

Cardiovascular system

According to the n°52 report/ratio of OPECST suggests an influence of the electric fields on the respiratory disease risks (Asthme) or infectious (allergens, bacterial or viral). The researchers think that an electric field could support the deposition of the microparticles of the ambient air in the lungs and the hair by electrostatic effect. This study is on standby of validation, in particular on the human organisms.

Health hazards

June 2001: The the World Health Organization (WHO), in load of the world coordination of research on the effects of the electromagnetic fields (EMF), publishes in June 2001 an evaluation of its agency CIRC, classifying the electromagnetic fields of very low frequencies like “perhaps cancerogenic for the man” (2B group). The specialists based themselves on epidemiological studies indicating a rate from 1.7 to 2 times higher of Leucémie of the child in the case of long exposure to an average magnetic field higher than a threshold of 0,3 to 0,4 µ T, without to exclude the possibility of other explanations.

In November 2002, the Parliamentary office of evaluation of the scientific and technological choices (OPECST) publishes the report n° 52 on the possible incidence of mobile telephony on health. The first results (2004-2006) do not conclude with a bond between the cellphone and the development from gliomes. A doubt was however emitted concerning the long-term results (> 10 years).

In spring 2003 then in June 2007, the Swiss federal Office of the environment (OFEV, ex OFEFP) publishes an inventory of fixtures of the research undertaken on the high frequency nonionizing radiations of low intensity. The report/ratio is based on 200 scientific studies, and classifies the biological effects according to their existence and their importance for health. The analysis shows an insufficiency of the scientific data in the field of the low intensities. However provisional results emerge: the possibility of an increased risk of brain tumors by the use of mobile phones (power of 20 MW-2 W/kg), although no conclusive study relates to the basic stations of mobile telephony, the possibility of a momentary or durable modification of the genetic material of certain cells (power of 0,3 W/kg, unknown consequences for the operation of the cells). The analysis insists on the problems inherent in the epidemiological studies launched until 2007: absence of establishment of a causal bond between the effects observed and the radiations EM, choice of the samples of the population and the methods of research, not of evaluation of the daily exposure of the population, few long-term studies. The conclusion of the study indicates that no scientific element can call into question the limiting values of ICNIRP, nor that these values constitute a protection sufficient for the population. The OFEV recommends the maintenance of the Precaution principle and to accentuate research.

Risks related to the dysfunctions of electronic devices

Electromagnetic pollution has effects on operation of the electronic devices. Rules and techniques make it possible to ensure the good performance of the apparatuses in their medium: the electromagnetic Compatibility.

This risk is mentioned by official organizations since November 2006 in France: the foundation Health and Radio frequency, and by the members of Parliament of the OPECST in a report/ratio of July 2006.

To use the apparatuses in an environment exceeding their level of immunity makes incur a great risk.

Environmental risks

Some Poisson S are sensitive to the electric fields, many a migratory birds seems sensitive to the magnetic fields which seem to play a part in their capacity of orientation . The American epidemiologist George Carlo, member of the initiative Safe Wireless Initiative and others, fear that the artificial electromagnetic fields have been - to some extent at least - at the origin of the disappearance of the bees noted simultaneously on several continents and for a few years (of other assumptions, which are not incompatible with this one were evoked; Pesticide S, Virus, Pollen S of plants GMO secreting LT which would affect to the immunity bees, etc). The “ Syndrome of collapse of the colonies of bees ” seems to correspond to an incapacity of the bees to find their colony and not directly related to the importance of the exposure to pesticides. It developed with the same rate/rhythm as that of mobile telephony.

Indirect impacts

Thousands of birds are killed each year on the antennas or their superstructures , but attraction due to the light (“ luminous Pollution ”) and the presence of the cables could be enough to explain this mortality, without the electromagnetic fields being concerned.

Economic and legal risks

One distinguishes already some legal risks: for the pollutants, administrations, mayors and organizations of control which would have forgotten these risks and the usual means to protect itself some.

Before any caused damage

In the event of dissimulation of risked effects, and precautions to be taken concerning the electromagnetic waves, the persons in charge are liable to be continued for fraud, even for worsened fraud. There is moreover no regulation for these offenses. They can also be judged guilty misleading advertizing, if they “would have published documents comprising of the presentations likely to induce in error on the evaluation of the risks and the results which can awaited beings of the exposure to the electromagnetic waves”.

In the most serious cases, in the event of the going beyond of the level of 3 V/m, the dysfunctions of the apparatuses can kill. The persons in charge are then liable to continuations for setting in danger of the person of others, even endangered of the life of others.

Once a noted damage

abnormal Disorder of the vicinity for a material damage
Involuntary injuries in the event of wounds
Manslaughter in the event of death.

Article 121-3 of the penal code indicates the conditions of these two offenses, one can read there: “There is also offense, when the law provides it, in the event of fault of imprudence, negligence or failure to an obligation of prudence or safety provided for by the law or the regulation, if it is established that the author of the facts did not achieve normal diligences taking into account, if necessary, of the nature of its missions or its functions, its competences as well as capacity and means it had. ”

“In the case envisaged by the subparagraph which precedes, the natural persons who did not cause the damage directly, but which created or contributed to create the situation which allowed the realization of the damage or which did not take measurements making it possible to avoid it, are responsible penally if it is established that they have, either violated in a way obviously deliberated a particular obligation on prudence or safety provided for by the law or the regulation, or made a characterized fault and who exposed others at the risk of a particular gravity which they could not be unaware of. ”

The non-validity of evidence in all kinds of fields:

the measurements carried out using electronic devices cannot be used any more as proof if they were not used under the environmental conditions envisaged by the manufacturer: example, velocity measurements by the radars.

Cancellation of elections:

votes carried out with machines of E-voting which have a level of immunity of 10 V/m.

Polemics on the taking into account of the risks

According to many militant associations, the environmental or medical risks to which the populations are exposed would be very seldom anticipated, the exposure often precedes the studies as in the case by the dissemination of chemicals or the exposure to the electromagnetic waves. When economic interests are concerned and that it is question of risks, the qualification level of the official experts would not be a sufficient guarantee with the quality of delivered information.

According to these associations, the adoption of a precaution principle as regards environment adopted in multiple legislations, would hardly have changed the practices.

Certain organizations would be discredited from businesses made public:

SCPRI, following the business of the cloud of Tchernobyl in France
AFSSET, according to a report/ratio of the IGE and IGAS

The precaution principle

In the absence of scientific evidence concerning the effects of the electromagnetic fields, of the organizations, such WHO recommends the Precaution principle in this field:

to respect the security standards;
to use barriers of protection around the electromagnetic sources;
to found the dialog between the authorities and the local populations concerning the decisions of establishments of electric lines or stations of telephony.

By precaution sometimes, but especially to limit the parasitic which can disturb electronic materials (TV, computers, radio, etc), the manufacturers use protections and shielded cables to reduce this phenomenon. Authors as George Carlo propose, while waiting for independent studies who would prove an absence of risk, a return to the technology of the Fiberoptic allowing - almost equivalent comfort - to strongly reduce the recourse to the modes without wire.
Des cities as Paris in France tries to control by a Charte the installations of antennas and to decrease the exposure of the inhabitants by imposing schedules of conditions to the operators.

Certain practices, such as the use of auricles for the cellphones in the case of an intensive use, would also make it possible to limit the exposure of the cells of the brain to the microwaves.

Regulation and its actors

Implied actors

Industries

Industries are regarded as potential pollutants which are at the origin of the emission of waves being able to present various effects and unspecified risks: operators of electronic communications, fitters and owners of data-processing networks, manufacturers of apparatuses.

Organisms in charge to apply the regulation

France

The French organizations in load of the application of the regulations of the electronic communications are:

CSSPpce: charged with supervising the application of the laws
ARCEP: the Regulatory agency of the Electronic communications and the Stations (ex ART) is an administrative authority of regulation of competition concerning telecommunications. It is not only in charge of the application of the laws, but proposes texts more and more and delivers opinions on other organizations, such as the ANFR. In fact, the ARCEP is the person in charge of the regulation and its application.
ANFR
JRC
CCRST

Organizations in load of the prevention and information on the health hazards

International institutions

Three international institutions are interested in the problems of the electromagnetic radiations:

WHO
ICNIRP
URSI and the CNRFS

European institutions

Two European institutions are interested in the problems of the electromagnetic radiations:

EMF-NET
COST 281

French institutions

Eight French institutions are interested in the problems of the electromagnetic radiations:

OPECST: the Parliamentary office of Evaluation of the Scientific and Technological Choices is a parliamentary structure of evaluation of the technological risks.
ANFR
AFSSET : the French Agency of Public health of the Environment and Work is charged to evaluate the health hazards related to the environment. She was in particular requested in September 2007 by the ministry for Health and Ecology to carry out an official investigation into the risks of the Wi-Fi networks on health.
AFSSAPS: the French Agency of Public health of the Health products, in charge in other of the public health related to the use of the electro-medical devices.
FSR: the Foundation Health and Radio frequency whose role is to encourage research on the effects of the electromagnetic waves and to inform the public.
MFA
LNE
Academy of Science
Academy of technologies
Euro-BOX
organizations of control of the administration : the IGAS for the medical questions, the IGE for what concerns the environment.
organizations treating of the safety of the consumers : the DGCCRF in charge of the repression of the frauds and the safety of the consumers, the CSC charged to give opinions and to inform the consumers as regards risks.

National institutions

Most of the European countries present their own organizations concerning the study of the electromagnetic fields:

Germany

FGF
EMF PORTAL
BFS
DMF

Denmark

FORSKNINGSSTYRELSEN

Finland

HERMO

Hungary

NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR RADIOBIOLOGY AND RADIATION HYGIENE

Italy

ISIB Institute of higher learning Of BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Portugal

HEAD OFFICE OF HEALTH
MONIT

the United Kingdom

TELECOMMUNICATIONS HEALTH RESEARCH
HEALTH Swiss PROTECTION AGENCY

FORSCHUNGSSTIFTUNG MOBILKOMMUNIKATION
FEDERAL OFFICE OF HEALTH, DIVISION PROTECTION AGAINST RADIATION
FEDERAL OFFICE OF the ENVIRONMENT

Legal requirements and limits allowing to satisfy them

For Europe, the equipment of communication by radio concerns the directive 1999/5/CE known as “RTTE” whose essential requirements are mentioned in article 3.

For France this directive is transposed in the L32 article of the code of the Stations and Electronic communications of which 12th mentions the principal requirements which all must be respected.

One thus finds two limits distinct to respect to satisfy these requirements:

limit of 3 V/m for the frequencies higher than 80 MHz, alone average known to respect electromagnetic compatibility with the electronic devices by maintaining a margin of immunity higher than 0.
variable limits according to the frequency until 61 V/m of decree 2002-775 supplementing the L32 article for certain direct biological risks.

Regulation CEM

The electromagnetic Compatibilité made it possible to ensure the perenniality of the operation of all the electronic devices and communication systems in their normal environment, it is not any more the case.

The basic principles of this discipline, the legislative texts and techniques (standards) are respected scrupulously by the industrialists conceiving of the electronic devices what allowed the development of the modern electronic communications.

It is noted that the provisions envisaged are reduced today to nothing because of electromagnetic pollution generated mainly by the communication systems by radio.

Electromagnetic pollution can cause dysfunctions, are concerned hundreds of million electronic devices used for all kinds of applications with dramatic consequences in certain cases.

Some sources mentioning the increase in the risk:

Memory of Accreditation to supervise research: Michel Ground page 23
Report management 2003/2006 of the CNFRS commission E page 51.
Supélec introduction to the course on electromagnetic compatibility.

Stroke of immunity to the radiated electromagnetic fields, this margin must be positive to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (the level of pollution of the medium must be lower than the level of immunity).

The measurements carried out with electronic devices cannot be supposed any more valid because the level of pollution of the tolerated environment of 61 V/m and asserted by the pollutants is incompatible with the normal functioning of electronic devices of measurements whose immunity is of 3 V/m or 10 V/m.

Regulation of the medical devices

Several European standards regulate these risks.

In France, the electronic devices with medical use are indicated under the name of medical devices in the public health code, they are included in the same category as the gloves of surgeons or the beds themselves drowned in the health products. They must however guarantee an immunity against the electromagnetic disturbances making it possible to function in accordance with their destination.

The majority of the information memoranda on the risks are still to make as if the only medical devices existing are the cardiac pacemakers (it was true 30 years ago), of immunity 10 V/m and often more, established thus profiting from the attenuation of the skin, and accounting for approximately 1% of the medical devices used currently. This example cannot thus in no case to represent the risks of dysfunctions.

The totality of the apparatuses must have a reliable operation that cannot guarantee a level of electromagnetic pollution higher than their level of immunity, the dysfunctions can have serious consequences for health and to lead to deaths, it is thus about an indirect health hazard .

The ANFR does not only take account of this risk in its comparisons with limiting thermics on the site cartoradio .

Security distances to be respected

One finds them on the Web and the site of the FDA, and especially in tables 204 and 206 of the standard EN60601-1-2 which one finds personalized by the manufacturers, they indicate the distance to be respected according to the power of the sources of pollution in order not to exceed the level of immunity of their apparatuses.

Données by Welchallyn for an electrocardiograph of immunity 3 V/m annexes B pages 75 and 76.
Données by Emerson for a device of immunity 1 V/m.

The security distance to use the apparatuses results from the formula seen higher d= 5,5 root (worse)/E limiting

for an apparatus of immunity 1 V/m d = 5,5*racine (Worse)

for an apparatus of immunity 3 V/m d = 1,83*racine (Worse), one obtains the following graph:

the distance read in the note of the apparatuses seems more severe because it takes for base of calculation the electric output of the transmitter and the use of a more or less omnidirectional antenna of profit 2,15 dB (identical to a doublet 1/2 wave), is a WORSE = 1,64 * P electric

A gathering pylon of the basic stations of mobile telephony easily being able to gather three transmitters, the worst can reach 6 000 W if the person is exposed to the principal lobe.

The security distances to be respected in the event of exposure to the principal lobe of basic stations GSM making it possible to use the apparatuses in the environment where it was envisaged to use them by their manufacturer find in this table:

These security distances to be respected are not specific to the medical devices but could apply to all the electronic devices according to their level of immunity whose dysfunction could present a health risk or an abnormal disorder of the vicinity or any other damage since the respect of electromagnetic compatibility is a legal requirement.

Interpretations of the law

Certain interpretations of the law advance that the respect of the limits of decree 2002-775 is the only legal requirement, which could tend to dissimulate certain effects, risks, precautions to be taken and the obligation of the respect of all the principal requirements of the L32 article.

The decree 2002-775

This decree is the transposition of the recommendation 1999/519/CE, itself resulting from recommendations of the ICNIRP, gold in the guide for the establishment of limits the precise ICNIRP: “the respect of this guide does not allow ipso facto to avoid any disturbance of the medical devices such as metal, stimulative prostheses or défibrillateurs cardiac, implants cochléaires. The cardiac pacemakers can be disturbed by fields not reaching the reference levels. The prevention of these problems does not enter the applicability of this guide but is treated in other documents. ”

coupling of electromagnetic fields to medical equipment carried by, or established on, a person (this case is not considered in this guide)

the risks related to electromagnetic compatibility are thus not covered by these limits according to the ICNIRP, what contradicts the diversion of its recommendations by some.

Because of dissimulation of effects, risks and means of protection related to electromagnetic compatibility, to claim that the respect of the thermal limits is enough to protect from all the risks due to the exposure to the electromagnetic waves would be an act of fraud.

Associated markets

Measuring instruments

The analyzers of electromagnetic field constitute an important market for the companies of instrumentation. This market is intended for professional environment (companies of consultation, research laboratories in biology, the environment, etc), but also more recently in the medium general public (companies of sale of consumer electronics).

Companies of analysis and certification

These companies are numerous because the market of certification is important: the majority of the electronic systems intended to be used in industry or at the private individuals requires an approval CEM (Marquage THIS, medical standards, etc). These measurements can require important investments (anechoic Chambre).

The sensitive equipment

This market seems to develop with the miniaturization of the electronic sensors. This equipment related on the body or clothing could lead to various applications:

navigation in interior
detection of obstacles for the people having eye trouble or auditive; this technology belongs to the field called
detection under conditions of bad visibility, or through a partition; these applications can be interesting in the field of safety or the soldier
medical supervision, monitoring of the sportsmen.

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