EMF FAQs
Are EMFs a danger to health?
The possible effects of power frequency EMF on health have been the subject of thousands of studies worldwide over more than 25 years. The major scientific health reviews of these studies conducted have concluded that adverse health effects from EMFs have not been established but there remains a lack of scientific consensus about whether or not they can occur, particularly in the area of childhood leukemia.
Are there standards for exposure to EMFs in Australia?
There are currently no Australian standards for exposure to power frequency (50Hz) EMFs. However the National Health and Medical Research Council issued “Interim Guidelines for the limits of exposure to 50/60Hz electric and magnetic fields” in 1989 which provided some guideline limits for public and occupational exposures. A copy of these may be viewed on the ARPANSA web site – see below. ARPANSA are currently developing an Australian radiation standard for 0 to 3 kHz EMF. For more detail see the ARPANSA web site given below.
What is the position of the Australian electricity industry in relation to the EMF issue?
The industry follows a prudent approach in relation to the EMF issue and the operation of the electricity supply system. The position is summarized in the EMF Policy statement given above.
Some other EMF websites
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
- EMF site in the UK
- Health Protection Agency in the UK (including the former National Radiation Protection Board which dealt with EMF)
- National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in the USA (including their EMF Rapid Research Program)
- World Health Organization (WHO) EMF Project
- International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
- International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
