As some of you may know, my main area of activism is electromagnetic fields and their effects on people and other living things. I thought I might give readers my opinion on what is happening [or in Canada's case, not happening] regarding health protection.

I'm presuming that people across the country and around the world want their governments to wake up and acknowledge that electromagnetic fields are harming them. From Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, activists are raising concerns about powerlines and transformers in residential areas. I know, because I hear it in the dozens of conversations I have daily.

The Canadian government has no regulations limiting our exposure to these fields. They use the ICNIRP [International Committee on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection, a subset of the World Health Organization] recommendations of 833 mG [milli Gauss, a reading of the magnetic field]. And that is what doesn't make sense. A pooling of data from nine major studies in five countries shows an association with childhood leukemia at readings over 200 times lower, at 4 mG. Congratulations are in order for the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment who is leading the way by applying a real precautionary policy by setting a 4 mG exposure limit for new transmission lines, and banning the construction of buildings and developments that would exposure people to prolonged magnetic fields above this reading.

Here's what the ELF [Extremely Low Frequency] Working Group of The Federal-Provincial-Territorial Radiation Protection Committee-Canada [FPTRPC] published in January 2005 regarding Canada's position:

"There have been increasing requests from some concerned citizens that the precautionary principle [PP] be used in a number of areas, including exposure to EMFs. It should be noted that the extent of PP covers a variety of measures ranging from moderate methods such as monitoring scientific developments and providing information, through participation in the process of acquiring new knowledge by carrying out research, to stronger measures such as lowering exposure limits. Since there is no conclusive evidence that exposure to EMFs at levels normally found in Canadian living and working environments is harmful, FPTRPC is of the opinion that moderate measures and participating in the process of acquiring new knowledge are sufficient. These types of activity are consistent with the Canadian government framework on precaution."

There you have it, folks. Until harm is conclusively proven, no precautions are necessary.

The World Health Organization is having a conference in Ottawa starting on July 11, 2005 to discuss EMF issues. It will be attended by industry and government, and a few consumer advocates such as myself. I feel it is imperative to have a presence to enable a safer, wiser, outcome, and it doesn't do any harm to hold some feet to the fire.

Milt Bowling is President of the Clean Energy Foundation, www.cleanenergycanada.com, which measures and makes recommendations to reduce electrical pollution in homes and offices.

Want to search for other articles that may interest you?

Readers of this article also enjoyed...