Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1019. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views regarding persons who have an acute sensitivity to mobile phone radiation; if he is aware of this condition; if there are many sufferers of same; the solutions to this problem; his views on the negative health effects this condition causes to sufferers. [37861/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The term “electromagnetic hypersensitivity” (EHS) is often used where individuals report a variety of physical and mental health problems, including fatigue, headaches, depression, dizziness and problems with sleeping, after exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF), including those associated with mobile telecommunications. EHS was one of the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) examined by an Expert Group Report commissioned by the Government and published in March 2007. The Expert Group reported that the majority scientific opinion was that no adverse short or long-term effects have been demonstrated from exposure to electromagnetic fields at levels below the limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). There is specific reference to EHS in the Report which concludes, at page 35, that EHS has no scientific basis to link its symptoms to EMF exposure. This remains my Department’s position based on the considerable scientific evidence available.

The report, entitled Health Effects of Electromagnetic Fields, is available for download on my Department’s website at:

.

A substantial volume of research is being carried out internationally by bodies with responsibility for monitoring the health effects of electromagnetic fields, including the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR). This Committee published a Final Opinion on Potential Health Effects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fieldsin January 2015, updating its previous opinions from 2009 and taking account of the many studies undertaken in the intervening years. In relation to EMF hypersensitivity, the Final Opinion stated “Concerning EMF hypersensitivity research consistently shows that there is no causal link between self-reported symptoms and EMF exposure.”

My Department will continue to monitor the extensive international research on the issue which continues to be undertaken in this area by bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).