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Other issues

 

How Does the HPA Take Account of Public Concerns in Developing its Guidance?


Listening to public concerns
The HPA receives and answers many thousands of enquiries from members of the public each year. Extensive information aimed at the public is published on this website and in leaflets freely available to the public.

The HPA, following on from NRPB, also carries out public consultation on some of its key advice. These consultations have been published on this website, as are press releases issued to national and specialist media. NRPB held a public open meeting on power lines and health while a consultation document on EMF exposure guidelines was being prepared. The meeting was advertised through local press and on the NRPB website. Personal invitations were sent to everyone who had recently contacted NRPB with a question about health and the distribution and use of electricity. NRPB listened to public concerns and posted a summary of the meeting. NRPB was also involved in the public consultation meetings about mobile phones and health that were held as part of the work of the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) which led to the Stewart report.

In developing its advice on limiting exposure NRPB listened to concerns raised at the open meeting and was aware of the issues raised at the open meetings held around the country by IEGMP. Information is included on the way guidelines are set and how the scientific evidence is reviewed and used to set guidelines. The documents deal specifically with areas of scientific uncertainty and recommends where further research needs to be done. There is discussion on aspects of further caution and the precautionary principle.

The public open meeting on power lines and health was evaluated by an advisory group of experts in risk communication, the Radiation, Risk and Society Advisory Group (R,RSAG), so that NRPB could learn how to improve the way in which it listens to public concerns. R,RSAG was set up in 2001, following a strategic review, to help NRPB improve the ways its hears and communicates with the public.

R,RSAG was tracking how the guidelines change as a result of input from the public.

Are there any further precautionary measures to be taken if guidelines are complied with?


NRPB noted the association between EMFs and childhood leukaemia in its advice on exposure guidelines, and recommended that government should consider further precautionary measures in respect of exposure of people to EMFs. SAGE, the Stakeholder Advisory Group on ELF EMFs, is exploring the implications of a precautionary approach to EMFs and will make practical recommendations. The SAGE website can be found at www.sagedialogue.org.uk/.

How Does the HPA Support Research Into the Health Effects of NIR?


The Health Protection Agency attaches considerable importance to addressing the health effects of NIR. It currently allocates around £1.4 million to this work, most of which comes from the Department of Health. Its work includes: research into the biological effects of NIR and collaborative studies in universities; the measurement of electromagnetic fields and hazard assessments; theoretical dosimetry; publication of reports and articles on possible health effects of EMF; promulgation of formal advice on safety; provision of information to the public and others; participation in the work of several international organisations, including WHO, and ICNIRP; and contributions to the development of international guidelines.

How Can I Find Out More Information?


The full report from AGNIR is available and can be downloaded.


Last reviewed: 8 June 2010