SCHEER - Public consultation on the Preliminary Opinion on potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) - Update with regard to frequencies between 1Hz and 100 kHz

Public health community

Developments in the use of new technologies, e.g., induction hobs and wireless charging, require updates to the assessment of how exposure to electromagnetic fields might impact our health, as well as the scientific guidelines that underpin restrictions and reference levels. In October 2023, following a request from the European Commission, the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) adopted the preliminary Opinion on the potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF): Update with regard to frequencies between 1Hz and 100 kHz. 

The SCHEER Committee found that the exposure to low frequency EMF of the general population in Europe remains below the exposure limits recommended in Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC. There is also no convincing evidence for a causal relationship between low frequency EMF exposure within the limits indicated in the Recommendation and self-reported symptoms. However, more research is needed on the interaction mechanism between EMF exposure and human health.

In line with the Stakeholder Dialogue Procedures (Annex V to the Rules of Procedures of the Scientific Committees), the Scientific Committee was seeking feedback from the scientific community and stakeholders on this Preliminary Opinion.

The response period for this consultation has ended. Thank you for your input.

Final Opinion on potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF): Update with regard to frequencies between 1 Hz and 100 kHz

The European Commission and its Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) published its final Opinion on potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF): Update with regard to frequencies between 1 Hz and 100 kHz.

• Final Opinion
• Publications considered as sources of evidence and their weight
• Results of the public consultation

 The exposure of the general population in Europe, as reported in the published literature reviews, remains below the exposure limits recommended in Council Recommendation 1999/519/EC. There are no systematic reviews and meta-analysis available for melatonin hypothesis, radical pair mechanisms, oxidative stress or epigenetic effects in connection with exposure low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF). There is weak evidence regarding the involvement of interaction mechanisms (oxidative stress, genetic/epigenetic effects) in health risks from extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields (MF) that were observed in epidemiological and in vivo studies.

More research is needed to establish interaction mechanisms between low frequency EMF and living matter, making use of standardised exposure conditions and optimised in vitro cell lines, with the possibility to extrapolate to in vivo models where the metabolic processes play an important role for the interpretation of the biological responses relevant to human health.

The SCHEER could not identify recent (post 2015) systematic reviews or meta-analyses on low frequency EMF exposure and self-reported symptoms to update the previous SCENIHR assessment in the current Opinion. It is noted that in the SCENIHR Opinion (2015) it was concluded there was no convincing evidence for a causal relationship between ELF-MF exposure and self-reported symptoms.

Published systematic reviews concerning leukaemia and ELF-EMF exposure, based mainly on case-control studies, revealed that ELF-MF exposure showed consistent but moderate risk estimates, but there was too little evidence to establish a dose-response curve. With respect to childhood leukaemia, there is weak to moderate weight of evidence from epidemiological studies (the primary line of evidence). However, the animal models used in the majority of studies were not appropriate for studying childhood leukaemia, therefore there is weak evidence from this line of evidence. Moreover, there is weak evidence from interaction mechanisms on the induction of neoplasia by ELF-MF exposure. Consequently, overall, there is weak evidence concerning the association of ELF-MF exposure with childhood leukaemia.

Overall, there is moderate evidence (mainly from human studies) on the association between occupational exposure to ELF-EMF and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, weak evidence for the association of occupational ELF-EMF exposure with Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia, but only uncertain to weak evidence for residential exposure and these neurodegenerative diseases. No significant association can be established between EMF exposure and Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis disease.

No systematic reviews or meta-analyses could be identified on exposure to ELF-EMF and neurophysiological outcomes. Therefore, it is still not possible to draw a definite conclusion on potential effects.
The available systematic reviews and meta-analyses have not shown an association between ELF-EMF exposure and pregnancy or reproductive outcomes.

The weight of evidence on the health effects of IF-EMF exposure is uncertain due to contradictory information from different lines of evidence. No conclusive results can be reached based on human studies, either.
The exposure of animals and plants to ELF-EMFs may reach higher levels than that of humans if they are close to anthropogenic sources in the environment. Moreover, animals and plants possess receptors and structures not existing in humans, which could give rise to species-specific biological effects.