International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC)
Classification of Radio
Frequency (RF)
Summary – May 2011
International Agency for
Research on Cancer (IARC)
An agency of the World Health Organization (WHO)
EMF & Health Research Timeline
In 2011 IARC is scheduled to review the scientific
evidence for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.
International Agency for Research
on Cancer (IARC)
What does IARC do?
• IARC's mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of
human cancer, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer prevention and
control.
• IARC classifies agents that humans may be exposed to based on the
strength of evidence of their potential as human cancer hazards.
• A cancer 'hazard' is an agent that is capable of causing cancer under some
circumstances, while a cancer 'risk' is an estimate of the carcinogenic effects
expected from exposure to a cancer hazard.
• IARC does not consider ‘risk’ or likelihood of harm to humans. It only
considers the strength of the scientific evidence for a cancer association.
• Importantly, risk may not be present at everyday levels of exposure to the
agent being assessed.
IARC Working Groups
• Working groups of expert scientists review the published
studies and evaluate the weight of the evidence that an agent
can increase the risk of cancer.
• Working Group members aim to achieve consensus
regarding the adequacy of the evidence and how to classify
the agent(s) under consideration.
• The objective of the programme is to prepare and publish in
the form of Monographs, critical reviews and evaluations of
evidence on the carcinogenicity of a wide range of human
exposures.
• Click here for IARC overview
• Click here for IARC General Principles and Procedures
What are the IARC Classifications?
For each agent reviewed, the IARC uses five classifications for
the strength of the scientific evidence that an exposure may be a
cancer hazard.
Since 1971, more than 900 agents have
been evaluated, of which more than 400
have been identified as carcinogenic,
probably carcinogenic, or possibly
carcinogenic to humans.
The agents include chemicals, complex
mixtures, processes, occupational or
environmental exposures, cultural or
behavioural practices, biological
organisms, and physical substances.
Click below for the IARC classifications;
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/index.php
IARC Classifications & Examples
Next Steps
•
The IARC evaluation is the first step in assessing if an agent is a
cancer hazard. The next step is assessing cancer risk. An agent
may be classed as a cancer hazard by IARC even though the
cancer risk is low at current human exposures.
•
Industry relies on expert agencies, such as the World Health
Organization (WHO), to inform governments and public health
agencies on the outcome and implications of any new analysis
such as the IARC classification.
•
The IARC findings add to the existing body of science and will be
reviewed by the WHO as part of a risk assessment to consider if
there is any public risk at current levels of exposure to radio
frequency fields from mobile phones, wireless devices,
microwaves, radar and radio and television broadcasts radio
signals.
Current WHO and IARC views on risk
•
In the past decade, more than 30 authoritative, independent
expert scientific reviews undertaken around the world,
including by the WHO, have not found adverse health effects
cause by mobile phones or base stations operating within the
scientific-based public exposure guidelines.
•
The WHO stated in May 2010:
“A large number of studies have been performed over the last
two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a
potential health risk. To date, no adverse health effects have
been established for mobile phone use.”
•
IARC stated in the 2008 World Cancer Report (pg 461):
"With reference to radio frequency, available data do not show
any excess risk of brain cancer and other neoplasms
associated with the use of mobile phones”.
Useful References
• IARC - home page
• IARC - classification preamble
• IARC - list of classifications
• IARC - Evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans
• World Health Organization – Electromagnetic Fields
• World Health Organization – IARC Classification summary
• EMF Explained Series
Note: Hyperlinks active when viewed in slide show