Workshop on electromagnetic fields (EMF)and potential health effects

Workshop on electromagnetic fields (EMF) and health effects: From science to policy and public awareness

Date: 28 March 2014
Venue: Cotsen Hall, Athens, Greece

The presentations below were produced for a meeting organized by DG Health & Consumers in cooperation with GAEC (Greek Atomic Energy Commission).
Apart from the ones prepared by the Commission, they represent the views of their author on the subject. These views have not been adopted or in any way approved by the Commission and should not be relied upon as a statement of
the Commission's or Health & Consumers DG's views. The European Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in these presentations, nor does it accept responsibility for any use made thereof.

Session 1: The current scientific evidence and knowledge gaps on EMF and health effects

• SCENIHR’s new opinion: Synopsis and research recommendations
  Mats-Olof Mattsson
  Rapporteur EMF Working Group
• EU-funded research on EMF and health
  Tuomo Karjalainen
  DG RTD
• Facts and gaps in EMF risk assessment
  Norbert Leitgeb
  Graz University of Technology and SCENIHR Member
• Are electromagnetic fields associated with cancer? What evidence exists, what are the knowledge gaps
  Joachim Schüz
  IARC

Session 2: Management of EMF at EU and national level

• New rules on the protection of workers from electromagnetic fields: the new Directive on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields)
  Zinta Podniece
  DG EMPL

Implementation of the Council Recommendation at national level:

• Belgium
  Marina Lukovnikova
  Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Belgium
• Germany
  Birgit Keller
  Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, Germany

Session 3: Risk perception and risk communication: Interfaces among risk communication and policy making; effective public information activities

• Risk perception and risk communication
  Emilie van Deventer
  WHO
• The role of social media in risk communication
  Peter Wiedemann
  Science Forum EMF

Presentation of national examples on best practices on risk communication:

• Italy
  Paolo Rossi
  Italian Ministry of Health
• France
  Jean-Benoît Agnani
  Agence Nationale des Frequences (ANFR), France
• Sweden
  Jimmy Estenberg
  Swedish Radiation Safety Authority

Presentation of risk communication activities in Europe:

• International EMF Alliance
  Sissel Halmøy
• Radiation Research Trust
  Eileen O'Connor
• GSM Association (GSMA)
  Jack Rowley
• Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF)
  Thomas Barmueller