Printable VersionDuring the six years project time of the programme, open questions on health risks through radiofrequent electromagnetic fields were investigated in more than 50 individual projects and the public perception of mobile communication was recorded. At the conclusive conference on June 17 and 18, the final results of the programme are currently presented.
The programme was carried out by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU). The existing limits were sufficient to protect the public properly against the known risks of mobile radiaton, so the BMU’s conclusion.
In his inaugural address, the Federal Minister for the Environment, Sigmar Gabriel, said: "This wide-ranging research programme has not confirmed existing fears about potential health risks of mobile radio, held in large parts of the population. We now know a lot more about the protection of limits. We will, nevertheless, continue to do specific research where we still need more information. This is especially the case for children, who are very sensitive, and it concerns the long-term effects for children and adults.
At the conference in Berlin, the detailed DMF results and their review with reference to the current international state of knowledge on the effect of radiofrequent electromagnetic fields on man are presented. Furthermore, the participants get an overview of the national and international research and its results regarding radiofrequent electromagnetic fields.
The Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMU) will provide 0.5 million Euros each year for the research about the risks of electromagnetic fields of modern communication technologies. In a measurement catalogue for the continuation of the self-commitment from 2001, the four German mobile network providers announce measurements to further improve the safety and the protection of consumers, of the environment and of health, information and confidence-building measurments for mobile radio. It also includes the support of further research projects that investigate the health effect of electromagnetic fields and signals of public mobile radio with funds at an amount of one million Euros. Besides, the network providers commit themselves to continue the dialogue with different interest groups started within the context of the Round Table on DMF. Under the heading „Geltende Grenzwerte schützen ausreichend vor Gefahren der Mobilfunkstrahlen“ (Existing limits sufficiently protect against the risks of mobile radiation) the Federal Ministry for the Environment informs about the conclusion of DMF. Additionally, the following papers with background information are available for download at the BMU website (all in German):
http://www.bmu.de
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, BfS) has published the press release “Research need for children and longterm users: Not all questions are finally answered” (in German only) for the conclusion of the programme. In this document BfS points out that the research programme could not give complete answers to all questions. Further research need especially exists with regard to questions of possible longterm use for durations of more than ten years. Besides, it was still not clear if children react more sensitive to mobile radiation than adults. BfS therefore recommends to take care of a precautionary radiation reduction.
http://www.bfs.de
But there are also critical voices on the review of the DMF results. For Bernd-Rainer Müller from BUND the DMF results are mixed. It was high time that the risks and side effects of mobile radio were finally investigated and the effects were exposed. On the other side, remarks about such side effects made by people concerned and by doctors were not taken serious and often brushed aside as illusions. There was now urgent need for a qualified and open debate with environmental associations and people concerned to discuss the height of the allowed radiation exposure as well as appropriate consequences. This process should in the end lead to binding results.
Press release of BUND of 17/06/2008 (In German)
Lutz Heilmann of DIE LINKE said: "The research on health risks through mobile radio must continue and the limits must be reduced.” Therefore the party DIE LINKE will propose the motion in parliament “Mobilfunkstrahlung minimieren – Vorsorge stärken” (Minimize radiation – improve precaution) (Bundestagsdrucksache 16/ 9485). Besides the continuation of the German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme by independent scientists and doctors, they request stricter limits, radiation free zones in and around hospitals, schools, kindergardens and old people’s homes as well as stricter approval procedures for mobile base stations.
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http://www.pressrelations.de, Bundestagsdrucksache 16/ 9485
The FDP faction in the Bundestag supports a participation of the Federal Government in the research of mobile radio risks for children and adolescents. But they also request a participation of the network providers and especially of the manufacturers of mobile phones and cordless DECT phones, that have so far kept in the background regarding research and risk communication (Blue Angel label).
http://www.fdp-fraktion.de
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