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Electromagnetic Fields Discussion Group (EMFDG)

Establishment and terms of reference

The HPA, through its Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards, has a responsibility to give advice on protection standards for EMFs. It also needs to ensure that when information is presented to the public, it should be informative and address any concerns. It was intended that the Electromagnetic Fields Discussion Group (EMFDG) set up by the HPA and chaired by Professor Colin Blakemore, should contribute to how such advice is formulated and presented.

The terms of reference of the EMFDG were:

to provide a forum for considering possible health concerns related to exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and to provide an input to the development of HPA advice.

Notes of the meetings held are provided below.

The work of the EMFDG is now continuing via standing groups which convene when the HPA is preparing advice on specific areas of work concerning EMFs. Information on the work will be provided in due course. The details of the first standing group, the ELF EMF Communication Working Group (EWG), are expected to be available in September 2011.

Membership

Chairman

Professor Colin Blakemore (University of Oxford)

Secretariat

Dr Myron Maslanyj (HPA)
Dr Jill Meara (HPA)

Members

Mr Mike Bell (Chairman, EM Radiation Research Trust)
Dr Mike Clark (HPA)
Mr Andy Davidson (Tetrawatch)
Mr Michael Dolan (Mobile Operators Association)
Professor Denis Henshaw (University of Bristol)
Mr George Hooker (Department of Health)
Mr Alan Meyer (Mast Action UK Services)
Professor Mike O'Carroll (Chairman, Revolt)
Mrs Eileen O'Connor (EM Radiation Research Trust)
Mr Alasdair Philips (Powerwatch)
Professor Alan Preece (University of Bristol)
Dr Zenon Sienkiewicz (HPA)
Mrs Anne Silk
Dr John Swanson (National Grid Transco)
Mr Chris Woollams (CANCERactive)  

Meetings

Notes of meetings held are made available here.

Meeting of 11 September 2007 (PDF, 31 KB)

Meeting of 14 March 2007 (PDF, 83 KB)

Meeting of 16 October 2006 (PDF, 109 KB)

Meeting of 2 March 2006 (PDF, 91 KB)

Melatonin

The following links are provided to support discussions in the minutes of the meetings.

The independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) report on Power Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, Melatonin and the Risk of Breast Cancer.

 FAQs on melatonin

Critique by Professor Denis Henshaw on the FAQs (PDF, 154 KB)

HPA response to Professor Henshaw's critique (PDF, 18 KB)


Last reviewed: 18 August 2011