BackgroundElectromagnetic Fields and Health Research

The use of wireless communications and the transfer of digital information has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Besides developments in radio and television services, another source of this increase has been the growth in mobile communications infrastructure and services. Mobile telecommunications have seen particularly strong growth. This trend seems set to continue, bringing us all into more and more frequent contact with wireless applications.

As a result of these developments, the number of masts has also increased sharply. The visible presence of sources of electromagnetic fields, often referred to as ‘radiation’, has given rise to concern among some people regarding the possible negative impact on the health and well-being of those exposed to these fields.

Concerns have also been expressed by people who work in wireless communications, including staff of the Dutch emergency services (police, fire and ambulance). This is particularly relevant in view of the introduction of TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio), in the form of the C2000 digital radio communication system for all the emergency services.

Communications applications are not the only source of public concern, however. There has also been strong growth in the biomedical use of electromagnetic fields, for example. The availability and power of MRI equipment are on the increase, as is  the exposure of staff working with this technology. In other sectors, such as security, staff are also increasingly exposed to relatively strong fields on a daily basis, mainly as a result of working in proximity to anti-theft and metal detector gates, and of the increase in electricity consumption.

Scientific research into the health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields and the impact of new technology on well-being have not kept pace with the technological developments. Scientists are therefore unable  to respond adequately to the public’s questions. More and better targeted research is therefore needed in the Netherlands. This work must tie in closely with research being conducted in other countries, to allow us to derive maximum benefit from the knowledge already developed worldwide.