Date of review by ARPANSA
February 2025
Article publication date
February 2025
Summary
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) have published a new document that outlines gaps in scientific knowledge that are relevant to setting limiting values for exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). To maintain relevance to exposure guidelines, the ICNIRP specifically highlighted gaps in knowledge where there exists sufficient support in the scientific literature for a link between RF-EMF exposure and an endpoint and between that endpoint and health. These gaps were identified during the development of the 2020 guidelines for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz) and with consideration of literature that has been published since.
The identified research gaps cover shortfalls in knowledge in various areas of dosimetry and on adverse effect exposure thresholds for eye damage, contact currents and heat-induced pain. The document also provides brief analyses on other topical areas of research related to RF-EMF and health outcomes while additionally providing justifications for why they are not prioritised in the identified research gaps.
Commentary by ARPANSA
Although research into health outcomes related to RF-EMF covers an extremely broad cross-section of various aspects of health, currently there are only a few effects that have been substantiated by the scientific literature. ICNIRP’s statement does not aim to establish new links between RF-EMF exposure and health outcomes but to further inform the numerical levels and exposure assessment methodology of the existing guidelines. Additional research investigating other health outcomes is ongoing and such research is warranted but it is not of immediate relevance to setting exposure guidelines. The state of the science in these other areas is best summarised by the set of systematic reviews that have been recently published as part of an ongoing World Health Organization project reviewing the topic.
The Australian radiofrequency standard RPS-S1 outlines limit values for RF-EMF exposure in Australia. RPS-S1 is aligned with the ICNRIP 2020 guidelines mentioned above. ARPANSA continues to monitor and evaluate research developments to ensure that the limits outlined in RPS-S1 remain fit for purpose and are aligned with international best practice. ARPANSA has research recommendations, and a research framework that informs how and what research should be conducted in Australia. These recommendations are part of the ARPANSA EME action plan that aims to promote health and safety and address misinformation about EME emissions.
