EMF Research Activities Completed Under The Energy Policy Act of 1992 (1995) / Chapter Skim
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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However, the scientific literature has not clearly demonstrated mechanisms by which power frequency EMF might induce changes that would lead to detrimental health effects. Research findings in this area are characterized by large uncertainties and, until recently, relatively few efforts have been made to replicate results in independent 1
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These uncertainties have led to a continuing controversy within the scientific community regarding the potential for 60 Hz EMF to harm human health and to a public outcry for resolving the uncertainties. Because of the increasing public concerns, several workshops were held between 1990 and 1992 to review the state of knowledge and to discuss strategies for future research work to illuminate the issues.
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D program; to review continuing research projects for scientific content and suitability to meet the goals of the EMFRAPID research plan; to recommend modifications to the EMF-RAPID program, as appropriate, based on information the committee acquires about new research findings not available when the national research agenda was developed; and to assess the scientific and technical content, and recommend changes as necessary, for activities initiated under the EMF-RAPID program to promote the transfer of information derived from research projects. The results of the NRC committee review and evaluations are to be reported to DOE and to lAC and NEMFAC annually.
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A major difficulty in assessing the ability of the research agenda to meet its risk assessment goal is the lack of a specific, defined methodology for undertaking risk assessment for any agent that interacts similarly to EMF exposure in contributing to adverse health effects. Without such a methodology, it is difficult to set a research agenda that will maximize the probability of success.
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Some areas of hypothetical importance to explaining a possible link between exposure to power frequency EMF and as yet unidentified adverse health effects are not included in the program; however, the program's emphasis on the health end point of cancer and on exposures to standard sinusoidal 60 Hz EM is the only reasonable research agenda in view of cost limitations and the unlimited number of co-promotor and other feasible health end point effects, and the only way to ever bring the program to a conclusion that will satisfy most reasonable concerns. STUDIES rNITIATED Several studies have begun under the EMF-RAPID program in the areas of engineering, managed by DOE, and in vitro and in viva biology, managed by NIEHS.
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From page 6... ...
Even then, the EMF measurements taken might fail to capture the appropriate attribute or combination of attributes, and therefore it is possible that some of the accumulated data will be irrelevant. Consequently, it is difficult to understand the urgency of extensive statistical sampling projects to fill data bases that will be needed only if adverse health effects are confinned.
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From page 7... ...
In Viva Studies About one-third of the filnds available in the initial grants of the EMF-RAPID program for the study of biologic response to 60 Hz magnetic field exposure was applied to the study of possible in viva effects. Six studies begun in 1994 were split between exploring the role of 60 Hz magnetic fields on the modulation of melatonin and on the role of 60 Hz magnetic fields as a cocarcinogen in three tumor systems.
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From page 8... ...
RECOMMENDATIONS RISK ASSESSMENT A major weakness in the ability to design an appropriate research agenda for the EMFRAPID program is the lack of a defined methodology to be used for the risk assessment task to be fulfilled at the conclusion of the program. Existing risk assessment methodologies are developed to quantify the human health risk under low environmental exposures from a compound known to be carcinogenic at high doses.
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From page 9... ...
Investigators now must balance the need to characterize environmental electric and/or magnetic field exposures to guide studies in biology and epidemiology with the desire to know "all" about the characteristics of EMF. A sequential and conservative approach must be applied to identify the range of EMF parameters encountered in residential and occupational exposure and simultaneously to avoid large statistical surveys that might precisely quantify irrelevant parameters.
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From page 10... ...
Moreover, the emphasis is almost exclusively on cancer as the end point. Effects from the combination of alternating current fields from power lines or electrical devices with the static components of the geomagnetic field, or from transients that involve relatively large and rapid changes in the electric or magnetic field, could be important in initiating biologic response.
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From page 11... ...
This could be accomplished within the formalities of the risk assessment process, or it could be a separate process of review of the risk assessment. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION The information booklet, Questions and Answers About Electric and Magnetic Fields Associated with the Use of Electric Power, is a commendable effort of exceptional value for providing information to the lay public.
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