A happy new year from ARPANSA’s Radiation Research and Advice team.
Welcome to the seventh issue of ARPANSA’s Electromagnetic Energy (EME) newsletter where we update you on the progress of our 2020-2024 EME Action Plan.
In this issue we will be highlighting our work leading two World Health Organization commissioned systematic reviews. I will also update you on some of our activities providing information to the public on radio wave exposure, and our work engaging with international experts.
While our action plan has now concluded, our EME program activities remain business-as-usual. A review of our EME program is now underway and will help guide our future work and activities in this space.
To keep updated on our work throughout the year, please follow us on social media.
Yours sincerely,
Sarah Loughran
EME Program Director
On behalf of the EME program team:
Associate Professor Ken Karipidis, Assistant Director Health Impact Assessment
Dr Stuart Henderson, Assistant Director EMR Exposure Assessment
Dr Chhavi Bhatt, Science Officer (Measurement)
Rohan Mate, Science Officer (Research)
Dr Sean Hewson, Science Officer (Research)
David Sibenaler, Science Communications Officer
Research on EME and health
To ensure that our evidence-based public health policies and advice are founded on the most up-to-date information, ARPANSA’s EME program leads and contributes to research into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure. Below are some highlights of our research activities over the last 6 months.
Mobile phones and cancer
Ken presenting his research at the ARPS 2024 conference in Coffs Harbour.
Our Health Impact Assessment Assistant Director, Associate Professor Ken Karipidis, has led two World Health Organization commissioned systematic reviews on cancer risk from radio wave exposure.
Published in September 2024, the first systematic review found no association between mobile phone use and brain cancers. It provides the strongest evidence to date that radio waves from mobile phones are not associated with brain cancer or other head and neck cancers.
Following a press conference and embargoed media release, the research results reached over 9 million Australians and was published in almost 1500 media outlets worldwide. It was the most media coverage a research paper involving ARPANSA has received. Additionally, Ken presented this work and was the recipient of the best presentation award at the recent Australasian Radiation Protection Society conference in Coffs Harbour in October.
The most recent systematic review focused on various other cancers including leukemia, lymphoma, thyroid and oral cavity cancer. In exciting news, it has now also been accepted for publication, with the final full version of the paper to be available on February 4.
Occupational exposure to radio waves
Rohan onboard the MV Sycamore to measure occupational exposure to radio waves.
Rohan is investigating occupational exposure to radio waves as part of his PhD and recently spent two days on the Royal Australian Navy’s MV Sycamore to collect data. While onboard he collected the personal radio wave exposure of Navy crew members resulting from communications and navigation equipment. Military personnel are thought to have some of the highest occupational exposures to radio waves, and this unique data will provide important new information on occupational exposures.
Quality research shows no effect
Meanwhile, in other research news, ARPANSA and Swinburne University published a paper that showed the quality of a study matters when it comes to research outcomes: good quality studies showed no effect from radio wave exposure on plants and animals, while poor-quality studies showed an effect.
BioEM Conference 2026
In 2026, ARPANSA and the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association will be hosting the eminent international conference on health effects from electromagnetic energy – BioEM. We’re excited for BioEM 2026 in Cairns as it will give more local research scientists and industry experts the opportunity to engage with the latest electromagnetic energy research and protection practices for the benefit of all Australians. I’ll continue to use this newsletter to provide further updates as planning for this event progresses.
Environmental EME report
Since 2022, we’ve been collaborating with the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, the Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network to update the Environmental EME Report. We completed this update in November 2024. The new report is available on our website and is now being used by telecommunications providers. The EME report provides information to the community on their exposure to RF EME from wireless technology infrastructure to demonstrate that it is below the exposure limit in ARPANSA’s safety standard.
Provide information on EME and health
Rohan and I joined a discussion panel at Telstra’s Melbourne offices for National Science Week 2024.
Science Week
In August, the EME program organised and participated in public engagement activities to coincide with National Science Week – a highlight of our year. Staff went to schools, gave lectures, engaged with the public, and participated in a panel discussion to provide health and safety information about exposure to radio waves and other types of radiation.
Talk to a Scientist
EME enquiries to ARPANSA's Talk to a Scientist from 2019 - 2024
Talk to a Scientist is ARPANSA’s key public engagement program. It provides a unique opportunity for members of the public to speak to a scientist either over the phone or via email to address any questions or concerns they have relating to radiation.
In 2024, we had 687 enquiries. Our top three topics were questions related to:
- Mobile phone towers
- Powerlines
- Ionising radiation exposure
Since our EME action plan commenced in 2020, enquiries about radio waves have more than halved. This downward trend can likely be attributed to a combination of our communications efforts with external factors such as societal acceptance of the technology and infrastructure siting.
Engage with international health authorities
Stuart and I attended the 2024 World Health Organization International Advisory Committee Meeting on Non-Ionizing Radiation.
World Health Organization
In August we announced that we are continuing our almost 40-year-old partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) by extending our formal agreement as a radiation protection collaborating centre for another 4 years.
Our EME program team has contributed and continues to contribute substantially to the WHO’s radiation protection work.
Partnering with organisations such as the WHO supports our work and ensures that we are aligned with best international practice to protect Australians from any harmful effects of radiation.
Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority visit
The EME team hosted the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority at ARPANSA’s Yallambie offices
In September, we hosted the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority at ARPANSA’s Yallambie offices. The visit was an opportunity to share knowledge. Engaging with international stakeholders and authorities allows us to build new knowledge as well as sharing our own expert advice on EME and health.
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
Our engagement with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is another example of our work with leading international health authorities. Ken has officially commenced his tenure as the ICNIRP Vice Chair and Rohan, Sean and David will join ICNIRP as collaborators in different working groups.
