A3-0238/94

Resolution on combating the harmful effects of non-ionizing radiation

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution tabled by Mr Santos, Mr Vernier and Mr Pimenta on measures to reduce the harmful effects of non-ionizing radiation (B3-0280/92),

-having regard to Rule 45 of the Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the opinion of the Committee on Energy, Research and Technology (A3-0238/94),

A.having regard to the significant increase, in the environment, of the power density of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation in the various frequency ranges, associated with technological development over the last few decades,

B.having regard to the precautionary principle included in Article 130r of the Treaty establishing the European Community and the ALARA principle, according to which it is necessary, where appropriate, to maintain exposure to electromagnetic radiation at acceptable levels,

C.having regard to many, hitherto scientifically unconfirmed reports of the harmful effects of electromagnetic fields on human health,

D.whereas exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by high-tension and low-frequency transmission lines and household electrical appliances is attracting the public's attention because it has been implicated in an increase in the incidence of cancer,

E.whereas interpreting the results of epidemiological studies is a difficult task and deducing the relationship between cause and effect requires a vast body of scientific evidence, particularly when numerous synergic and distorting environmental factors cause random variations in the results,

F.whereas synergy phenomena must be expected between non-ionizing radiation and other physical or chemical agents,

G.whereas the use of domestic electrical appliances, display screens and communications equipment results in electromagnetic fields, often without the user realizing,

H.whereas the difficulty of demonstrating a relationship between dose and effect enabling the effect of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields to be quantified does not prevent the adoption of legislative measures designed to establish a system for limiting the exposure of workers and the public that would take into account the possibilities offered by treating the problem at source and using decentralized electricity generation,

I.whereas it is difficult to establish a relationship between dose and effect to quantify the effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields,

1.Calls on the Commission to propose measures for the various technologies generating electromagnetic fields, including regulations and standards and seeking to limit the exposure of workers and the public to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, taking account of current scientific results;

2.Calls in particular, as regards display screens, for the application of the standards in force in Sweden to be included in Council Directive 90/270/EEC on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment;

3.Calls on the Commission to submit a survey and assessment of current research in the Member States and relevant industrialized states dealing with the electromagnetic fields produced by various technologies and their possible effects on human health;

4.Calls, where necessary, for additional Community research into the effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on health, for the purpose of epidemiological studies at Community level, and research on the mechanisms of action of electromagnetic fields on living organisms;

5.Considers that corridors within which there would be a ban on all permanent activity and a fortiori all dwellings must be recommended for high tension electricity transmission lines;

6.Considers that any proposal to set up new transmission lines or new transformer substations must be subjected by the authorities of the Member States concerned to an environmental impact assessment and calls on the Commission to provide for this requirement in its next proposal for amendment of Directive 85/337/EEC on impact assessment;

7.Calls on the Commission to submit a draft amendment to Directive 92/75/EEC on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by household appliances so as to include an obligation to inform consumers about fields generated by electrical household appliances as a function of distance and type of use;

8.Calls on the Council to issue recommendations to the Member States with a view to the introduction, in areas crossed by high-tension lines, of measures to protect and inform, as well as systems of indemnification and compulsory purchase in favour of the population concerned;

9.Calls on the Commission to propose a harmonized system for measuring and calculating electromagnetic fields and power densities in dwellings and workplaces so as better to monitor the exposure of the public and of workers;

10.Calls for a specific research programme to be established on the effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields on health, so as to allow epidemiological studies to be carried out at Community level, in vivo and in vitro studies as part of European collaboration and research on the mechanisms of action of electromagnetic fields on living organisms;

11.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, Council and the Member States.