The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Radiofrequency Radiation and Electromagnetic Fields
Experts of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have been involved in several research studies and have issues multiple statements in regards to electromagnetic radiation. Please see a list of resources below.
- Turner 2014 looked at cases of adult primary glioma and meningioma in seven countries between 2000 and 2004 and estimated cumulative exposur to ELF-EMF. they found positive associations between cumulative ELF 1 to 4 years before diagnosis/reference date and glioma and concludes that “occupational ELF exposure may play a role in the later stages (promotion and progression) of brain tumorigenesis.”
- Vila 2018 examined the relation between occupational RF and intermediate frequency (IF) EMF exposure and brain tumor (glioma and meningioma) risk in the INTEROCC multinational population-based case-control study and although “no clear associations were identified” “the results obtained for recent exposure to RF electric and magnetic fields are suggestive of a potential role in brain tumor promotion/progression and should be further investigated.”
2016: Precautionary Strategies to Reduce Worker Exposures to Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) Magnetic Fields, a Possible Carcinogen
by Joseph D. Bowman, PhD, of the Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch at the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH)
Slide presentation to the Collaborative on Health and the Environment
Dr. Joseph Bowman is a senior research chemist with NIOSH and is currently assessing occupational EMF exposures for the seven-country INTEROCC study of brain cancer. He is also developing NIOSH publications on strategies for managing workplace exposures to lower frequency EMF. Three of his 60 publications have received honorable mentions for NIOSH and CDC awards. Starting with a 1986 epidemiologic study of childhood leukemia risks from electric and magnetic fields in Los Angeles, he has focused on assessing exposure to EMF from power lines, cell phones, and other sources in workplaces and the environment. He received a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin in 1971 and was a Certified Industrial Hygienist from 1982 – 2011.
Managing the Health Risks from Workplace Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) St. Louis ASSE/AIHA Professional Development Professional Development Development Conference Conference March 7, 2016 Joseph D. Bowman, PhD Engineering and Physical Hazards Branch National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Cincinnati, OH
[pdf-embedder url=”https://ehtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/Handout-on-Managing-Health-Risks-from-Workplace-EMF-JD-Bowman-St-Louis-PDC-2016.pdf” title=”Handout on Managing Health Risks from Workplace EMF — JD Bowman– St Louis PDC 2016″]In a 2012 Meeting UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CONSTRUCTION SAFETY AND HEALTH (ACCSH) ANNUAL MEETING
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Greg Lotz of NIOSH was the next speaker. He
was accompanied by Joe Bowman of NIOSH, and they
participated by a bridge line from Cincinnati. Greg
took issue with Rick Burnheimer’s characterization of
potential health effects from low and single exposure
levels. He said the science is not yet clear on
long-term memory and sleep effects from these type of
exposures. He did report that the International Agency
for Research on Cancer, IARC, had recently rated RF and
cell phones as group 2B, which is possibly carcinogenic.
Regarding worst case exposures, Greg Lotz
indicated that TV and radio broadcast antennas emitted
higher levels than cell phone antennas, and he related
a case involving the former Sears Tower where a worker
was involved with that and there was leg burns
involved. In some there was some difference of opinion
on health effects.
There was general agreement from the speakers
that construction workers could experience inadvertent
RF exposures from working around disguised antennas.
Two additional handouts were provided with information
on one, the federal web page, resources on RF; and,
two, existing guidance from FCC and IEEE, which is the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
8 Greg Lotz told the group that NIOSH can
9 perform health hazard evaluations — HHEs — for RF to
10 help determine potential exposures and risks.
