DocumentCode
1152343
Title
Electromagnetics - the uncertain health risks
Author
Habash, Riadh W Y
Author_Institution
Sch. of Inf. Technol. & Eng., Ottawa Univ., Ont., Canada
Volume
22
Issue
1
fYear
2003
Firstpage
23
Lastpage
26
Abstract
Considering all the evidences to date in the scientific literature, an association between EM fields at the environmental levels and harmful effects to human is inconclusive or uncertain. However, the available evidences are enough to raise concern by certain segments of the public. In order to manage health risk in the face of scientific uncertainty, authorities may be persuaded to consider precautionary approaches while establishing safety standards and protection guidelines for EM fields. The precautionary principle is another management tool that could be adopted to deal with the health risks associated with EM exposure. It is an extremely conservative decision making principle that leads to prudent actions in the face of uncertainty. Where there is reasonable risk to the public, a prudent action to reduce the risk should be carried out. This procedure should hold even when the scientific proof is inconclusive as long, as the balance of quantitative and qualitative risk, benefit and cost of action justifies it.
Keywords
ANSI standards; IEEE standards; biological effects of fields; electromagnetic fields; health hazards; safety; ANSI standard; American National Standards Institute; EM exposure; EM fields; IEEE standard; cost-benefit analysis; decision making; electromagnetics; environmental levels; harmful effects; health risks; precautionary approaches; protection guidelines; safety standards; scientific literature; scientific uncertainty; Animals; Brain; Breast cancer; Frequency; Geophysical measurement techniques; Government; Ground penetrating radar; Humans; Laboratories; Protection;
fLanguage
English
Journal_Title
Potentials, IEEE
Publisher
ieee
ISSN
0278-6648
Type
jour
DOI
10.1109/MP.2003.1180937
Filename
1180937
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