Independent reports
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Since 2001, a significant number of reports and reviews of scientific research studies into mobiles, base stations and health have been published by independent expert panels around the world.
We have provided a short, factual outline of each organisation and their report, with links to the various publications and the evidence they contain; these are grouped into international and national publications. The national publications are provided for Australia, Canada, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the UK.
International reports
The reports produced by a range of global or regional institutions are shown in reverse chronology, with the latest publication shown first.
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Feb 2020 Oct 2014 Fact sheet No. 193
Electromagnetic fields and public health: mobile phonesProvides an assessment of the exposure levels associated with mobiles phones and their health effects and outlines exposure limit guidelines. Also contains WHO’s response to public and government concern.
Jul 2011 CEFALO is an international case-control study examining the association between mobile phone use and the risk of brain tumours in children and adolescents. The study was conducted in Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden and the main results were published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute in July 2011 (Aydin et al., JNCI, 2011).
Oct 2010 Prepared for WHO by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and the University of Basel. Aims to present a systematic review of the scientific literature concerning all the health effects of mobile phone base station radiation that have been investigated to date.
May 2006 Backgrounder: base stations and wireless technologies
Reviews the scientific evidence on the health effects from continuous low-level human exposure to base stations and other local wireless networks. Outlines protection standards and includes a summary of associated WHO initiatives.
Dec 2005 Backgrounder: electromagnetic hypersensitivity
Describes what is known about the condition of electromagnetic hypersensitivity and provides information for helping people with such symptoms.
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Apr 2013 IARC Monographs Volume 102
Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency Electromagnetic FieldsContains evaluations of the carcinogenic hazard to humans (30 kHz to 300 GHz). Does not specifically or exclusively consider mobile phones, but rather the type of radiation emitted by mobile phones and various other sources (press release published a summary at the conclusion of the IARC meeting May 2011).
Feb 2012 Interphone study reports on mobile phone use and brain cancer risk
Interphone study, a major piece of research into the possible health effects of mobile devices.
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Mar 2020 ICNIRP Guidelines on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields Jul 2011 ICNIRP Sci Review
Mobile phones, brain tumours and the Interphone study: where are we now?Review of evidence on whether mobile phone use raises a risk of the main types of brain tumour (glioma and meningioma), with a particular focus on the recent publication of the largest epidemiological study yet conducted, the 13-country Interphone study.
Jul 2009 Review of evidence concerning exposure with the aim of providing input to the respective health risk assessment being conducted by WHO. Together with a similar review into the static and low frequency fields published by ICNIRP in 2003, these form the basis for a thorough re-evaluation of ICNIRP's science-based guidance on limiting exposure.
Dec 2004 Epidemiology of health effects of radiofrequency exposure Dec 2001 ICNIRP SCI Review
Epidemiology of health effects of radiofrequency exposureA comprehensive review of epidemiologic studies about the effects of radio frequency (RF) fields on human health in order to summarise the current state of knowledge, explain the methodologic issues that are involved and aid in the planning of future studies.
Apr 1998 The main objective of this publication is to establish guidelines for limiting electromagnetic fields exposure in order to provide protection against known adverse health effects.
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Jan 2015 Opinion on potential health effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF)
Updates to previous reports from the SCENIHR, known as Opinions (19 January 2009 and 6 July 2009), giving consideration to areas where important knowledge gaps were identified. Discusses biophysical interaction mechanisms and the potential role of co-exposures to environmental stressors.
Jan 2009 Health Effects of Exposure to EMF
The purpose of this Opinion is to update the SCENIHR Opinion of 21 March 2007 in the light of newly available information, and to provide a methodological framework and corresponding guidelines to evaluate available scientific evidence in order to ensure the best possible quality for risk assessment.
Mar 2007 Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) on Human Health
Provides the SCENIHR’s update of their 2001 report, Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Toxicity, Ecotoxicity and the Environment on ‘Possible effects of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF), Radio Frequency Fields (RF) and Microwave Radiation on human health’.
National reports
These national research institutions are presented in alphabetical order by country
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May 2002 Radiation Protection Standard
Maximum exposure levels to radiofrequency fields 3 kHz to 300 GHzSpecifically devised to include children, the limits specified are based on the ICNIRP’s 1998 Guidelines.
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Jun 2015
Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Energy in the Frequency Range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz
These safety codes specify the requirements for the safe use of, or exposure to, radiation emitting devices. This revision replaces the previous version of Safety Code 6 (2009).
Apr 2015 A Review of Safety Code 6 (2013): Health Canada’s Safety Limits for Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields
At the request of Health Canada, the Royal Society of Canada has assembled this expert panel to conduct a review of Safety Code 6, which concerns the potential health risks of radio frequency fields from wireless telecommunication devices.
Feb 2013 Research on Radiofrequency Energy and Health
For more than two decades, Health Canada has conducted its own research on the biological effects of radio frequency (RF) energy.
Apr 2009 Recent advances in research on radiofrequency fields and health: 2004–2007
This report is one of a series of updates to the original report of the Royal Society of Canada(1999) and covers the period 2004–2007.
Jun 2007 Recent advances in research on radiofrequency fields and health 2001–2003
This report is one of a series of updates to the original report of the Royal Society of Canada(1999) and covers the period 2001–2003.
Feb 2001 A Review of the Potential Health Risks of Radiofrequency Fields from Wireless Telecommunication Devices
Review by the Royal Society of Canada expert panel on radio frequency (RF) fields into the potential biological and health effects from RF fields, in order to review the adequacy of Canada’s Safety Code 6, which lays out guidelines for safe exposure limits.
Feb 2001 Recent advances in research on radiofrequency fields and health
This article provides a summary of scientific research on the potential health effects of radiofrequency fields that has been reported since the original Royal Society report was published in 1999.
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Feb 2005 Téléphonie mobile et santé (2004–2005 edition)
This is the second ANSES report on mobile telephone technology. It evaluates the health risk consequences that could be drawn from a Dutch study (TNO Institute) on the relay antennas of universal mobile telephone systems (UMTS) (3G). It also takes into account the new technologies developed since the first review.
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Mar 2007 Health effects of electromagnetic fields
This report provides the conclusions from the review of the scientific literature, addresses key topic of concern, and makes recommendations.
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Jun 2013 Mobile phones and cancer
Part 1: Epidemiology of tumours in the headAn advisory report by HCN’s Electromagnetic Fields committee investigating whether there are indications for a causal relationship between exposure to radiofrequency fields from mobile phones and tumours in the brain and various other tissues in the head (e.g. meninges, acoustic nerve, parotid glands).
Oct 2011 Influence of radiofrequency telecommunication signals on children’s brains
An advisory report by HCN’s Electromagnetic Fields committee, examining the effects of exposure to radiofrequency EMF on the development and function of the brains of children aged 0 to 16 years. Also answers the question of whether there is reason to use different exposure limits for children than for adults.
Mar 2009 Electromagnetic Fields: Annual Update 2001 – 2009
Update from HCN’s Electromagnetic Fields committee. Gives a brief overview of the advisory reports published in the period under review, elaborates on the approach and methods and discusses the relationships between EMF, brain activity and health symptoms. Updates from 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2009.
Jan 2004 Mobile phones and children: Is precaution warranted?
This study considers whether developmental arguments might be found for recommending that children limit their use of mobile phones. It concludes that no major changes in head development occur after the second year of life that might point at a difference in electromagnetic susceptibility between children and adults.
Jan 2002 Mobile telephones: An evaluation of health effects
This advisory report provides, on the basis of the scientific literature, an overview of various aspects that may play a role.
Jun 2000 This advisory report discusses the construction of a base station and the electromagnetic fields in its vicinity. The field strengths are compared to the exposure limits proposed by the Health Council’s Electromagnetic Fields committee, which are based on a survey of the scientific literature.
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May 2015 Trends in incidence of primary brain cancer in New Zealand, 1995 to 2010
Case-control studies have linked mobile phone use to an increased risk of glioma in the most exposed brain areas, although inconsistently. This study by scientists at the University of Auckland (Stella J-H Kim, Sally J Ioannides and J Mark Elwood) examined time trends in incidence rates and was published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
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2019 Recent research on EMF and health risk - Fourteenth report from SSM’s Scientific Council on Electromagnetic Fields, 2019 2018
Recent research on EMF and health Risk - Thirteenth report from SSM's Scientific Council on Electromagnetic Fields, 2018 2017 Recent research on EMF and health Risk Twelfth report from SSM's Scientific Council on Electromagnetic Fields, 2017 May 2016 This covers the previous year’s research on EMF, gives an overview and provides an important basis for risk assessment. It describes the different areas of EMF (static, low frequency intermediate, and radio frequent fields) and includes different types of studies conducted, including biological, human and epidemiological.
Mar 2015 This covers the previous year’s research on EMF, gives an overview and provides an important basis for risk assessment. It describes the different areas of EMF (static, low frequency intermediate, and radio frequent fields) and includes different types of studies conducted, including biological, human and epidemiological.
May 2014 This covers the previous year’s research on EMF, gives an overview and provides an important basis for risk assessment. It includes the different areas of EMF (static, low frequency intermediate, and radio frequent fields) and different types of studies conducted including biological, human and epidemiological.
2006-2013 Research from SSI’s independent Expert Group on Electromagnetic Fields are published annually 2006 - 2013 -
Jan 2005 Provides further advice to address remaining public concerns about mobile phone technology as well as related technological developments. It also reviews progress on implementing the recommendations in the Stewart Report (May 2000).
Dec 2004 Review of the Scientific Evidence for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (0–300 GHz)
Reviews the scientific evidence relating to possible adverse health effects, provides the basis of NRPB advice on quantitative restrictions on exposure and other measures to avoid adverse effects, and explores recent evidence on the possibility of variations in sensitivity between different groups in the population.
Feb 2001 Documents of the NRPB: Volume 14, No. 2 - Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields: Report of an independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation