A working group assembled by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has unanimously concluded that power-frequency magnetic fields are possible human carcinogens. This finding, announced on June 27 in Lyon, France, is based on the consistent association between childhood leukemia and residential exposure to extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs).
The makeup of the IARC panel spanned all sides of the EMF controversy —from those who openly believe that EMFs promote cancer to industry consultants who are skeptical of any such connection.“We all agreed,” said Dr. Larry Anderson. EMFs have now been formally designated “2B Possible Carcinogens.” (For a list of the members of the working group and their affiliations, and examples of each type of IARC carcinogens, see p.2.)
“There was a unanimous feeling about it,” said Dr. Jan Stolwijk. Dr. Maria Stuchly, who remains unconvinced that magnetic fields are responsible for promoting leukemia in children, nevertheless joined the others in voting for the 2B designation. “The epidemiological data are there and it is hard to dismiss them,” she said. |