TIG response to AGNIR

TIG response to AGNIR Report “Health Effects from Radiofrequency Magnetic Fields”

The TETRA Industry Group welcomes the publication of the Report of the Advisory Group on Non Ionising Radiation (AGNIR), which concludes that the research published since the Stewart Report (IEGMP) does not give cause for concern, and that the weight of evidence now available does not suggest that there are adverse health effects from exposures to radio frequency emissions at levels below the current safety guidelines.

In respect of TETRA we note that the report refers back to the comprehensive report published by AGNIR in 2001. This report said: “It is notable that the signals from TETRA base stations are not pulsed where as those from mobile terminals and repeaters are. Although areas of uncertainty remain about the biological effects of low level RF in general, including modulated signals, current evidence suggests that it is unlikely that the special features of the signal from TETRA terminals and repeaters pose a hazard to health.”

On the question of base stations, the 2001 report said: “there is no reason to believe that TETRA base station signals should be treated differently from those of other base stations”. AGNIR’s press release of 14 January 2003 says that “exposure levels are extremely low and the evidence indicates that they are unlikely to pose a health risk.”

The AGNIR press release published on 14 January 2004 notes that results of early studies which indicated effects of pulse modulated RF on the movement of calcium ions in cells and tissues of the nervous system “are not supported by recent, better conducted studies.”

We note that AGNIR concludes that mobile technologies have been in use for a relatively short period of time and that further research is needed. We accept and support the need for continuing good quality scientific research over the long term. We also look forward to a further review of the scientific evidence by AGNIR when the results from the research programmes that are currently running become available.

16 January 2004