March 22, 2012 - Switzerland: Physicians for the Environment (MfE)
Founded 25
years ago, the association of Physicians for the Environment (MfE) joins
together around 1,500 physicians in Switzerland.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC) considers the waves emitted by wireless communication “possibly
carcinogenic”. According to the IARC,
the risk of cancer for this type of radiation is thus similar to that of the
insecticide DDT, rightly banned. Physicians for the Environment (MfE) is
concerned that the limit values expected to protect the Swiss population, notably
vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women, constitute insufficient
protection. In a communication sent to
the Federal Assembly, MfE thus requests strict application of the principle of
precaution and – in view of the risk of cancer – lower limit values.
Children’s
rooms, housing, trams or offices are experiencing a growing exposure to
radiation from diverse sources:
babyphones, mobile telephony, wifi, etc., yet more and more studies warn
against the serious health consequences of electromagnetic pollution for human
beings and animals.
Cataracts in calves, Alzheimer’s Disease,
cancer …
Since 2001,
the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considered that magnetic
fields emitted notably from current lines could be carcinogenic. A 2008 Swiss study postulates increased risk
of contracting Alzheimer’s Disease for residents living near power lines. Other studies on the risk of brain tumors establish
a higher risk for this pathology in the case of mobile phone use. This is why the IARC, part of the United
Nations, considered in 2011 that waves from mobile telephony are “possibly
carcinogenic”. In 2012, the University of
Zürich noted a 10 times higher prevalence of blindness from birth (cataracts)
in calves during the duration of operation of a relay antenna [i.e cellphone tower] installed on a
stable.
Strict application of the precautionary principle,
lowering of limit values
“From
the medical point of view, it is urgent to apply the precautionary principle for
mobile telephony, wifi, power lines, etc.” states Dr. Peter Kälin, President of
Physicians for the Environment. The
Austrian Medical Chamber has moreover just formulated the same requirement in
regard to smart meters. In a
communication dated 16 March 2012 to the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly,
Physicians for the Environment requested to divide the value limits by 10. Dr. Yvonne Gilli, National Councillor, has
repeated the demands of the MfE in requesting the Federal Council, if it has to
protect the population, to apply the precautionary principle and to lower limit
values.
Contact:
Dr Martin Forter, Bâle, directeur MfE 061 691 55 83
Dr en médecine Peter Kälin, Leukerbad, président Mfe 027 470
21 77
The communication to the Federal Assembly and
parlementary intervention of Yvonne Gilli are available in German on www.aefu.ch.
Note that Switzerland currrently has an exposure limit 100 times LOWER than Health Canada's. This new call by the Swiss doctors is to further lower it to 1/1000 times of Health Canada's, which is way below what wireless tablets and phones emit.
