In 1974 the International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) formed a working group that evaluated the problems raised in the field of protection against various types of Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR), at the IRPA congress in 1977. this working group became the International Committee for Non-Ionizing Radiation (INIRC).

IRPA/INIRC in cooperation with the environmental health sector of the World Health Organization (WHO) develops a series of documents related to health and NIR. At the eighth IRPA congress in 1992, ICNIRP was established as the successor organization to IRPA/INIRC. “The functions of the ICNIRP are to investigate the hazards that may be associated with the different forms of NIR, to develop international recommendations on exposure limits for NIR, and to address all aspects of protection against NIR” [1].

RECOMMENDED LEVELS

SALZBURG 2000

The levels of the Salzburg Convention (1000 µW/m2) of 1998, agreed on the basis of a study certifying the causal relationship between electromagnetic field levels and numerous adverse health effects, failed to set a real international precedent.

SWITZERLAND: ONIR 1999, Ordinance relating to protection from non-ionizing radiation.

• Magnetostatic Field: 40 mT;
• Low Frequency (50 Hz): 5 kV/m * 100 µT;
• High Frequency (300 GHz): 1000 µW/m2 (61 V/m) * 0.2 µT.

Salzburg Resolution on Mobile Telecommunication Base Stations - Salzburg, June 7-8, 2000.

BIOINITIATIVE

In the 2007 Bioinitiative Report, an exposure limit of up to 1000 µW/m2 outdoors was recommended, and 100 uW/m2 indoors.

In the updated 2012 Bioinitiative report, the Bioinitiative group proposes a reduction in the exposure limit to 3 µW/m2 indoors. However, in order to meet this requirement it would be necessary to dismantle most of the existing telephone facilities. Therefore, we do not consider it to be a reasonable limit.

ICNIRP

The ICNIRP document itself, which calculates the current legal levels, reports in its point "Long-Term Effects":

"As noted above, epidemiological studies have consistently found that daily chronic low-intensity (above 0.3 to 0.4 µT) exposure to a power frequency magnetic field is associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia. These fields have been classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic (cancer-causing). However, a causal relationship between magnetic fields and childhood leukemia has not been established, nor have other long-term effects been established. The absence of this causality means that this effect cannot be addressed in the calculation of Basic Restrictions. However, risk management advice, including Considerations on precautionary measures, has been given by WHO (2007 a and b) and others."

(*) Article: ICNIRP standards to limit exposure to variable electric and magnetic fields (1 Hz - 100 kHz). Page 830. Published in: HEALTH PHYSICS 99(6):818-836; 2010

References:

[1] ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric, Magnetic and Electromagnetic Fields (up tp 300 GHz).

[2] REAL DECRETO 1066/2001, de 28 de septiembre, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento que establece condiciones de protección del dominio público radioeléctrico, restricciones a las emisiones radioeléctricas y medidas de protección sanitaria frente a emisiones radioeléctricas.

[3] REAL DECRETO 299/2016, de 22 de julio, sobre la protección de la salud y la seguridad de los trabajadores contra los riesgos relacionados con la exposición a campos electromagnéticos.

[4] LEY 8/2001, de 28 de junio, para la Ordenación de las Instalaciones de Radiocomunicación en Castilla-La Mancha.

[5] Oficina Federal de Medioambiente de Suiza: Salzburgo 2000.

[6] Salzburg Resolution on Mobile Telecommunication Base Stations - Salzburg, June 7-8, 2000.

[7] Informe Bioinitiative 2012: Bioinitiative. org