Electric and magnetic fields

ISSUE SUMMARY

Power-frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) exist wherever electricity is present. Everyone is exposed to a full spectrum of EMF frequencies, including both natural and manmade sources. The latter include radio waves and the frequencies used in medical imaging technologies.

For several decades, the scientific community has been exploring the hypothesis that EMF could affect human health. Scientific evidence to date has not established adverse health effects resulting from exposure to power-frequency EMF at levels normally encountered in homes, schools and offices. The scientific community does recognize that some questions remain about the possible relationship between EMF at extremely low frequency (ELF) and certain human diseases.

INDUSTRY RESPONSE

Power-frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) are found everywhere electricity is used – from toasters and computers to electric power facilities such as substations and electrical lines.?Since 1972, the scientific community has been studying the potential health effects of EMF. Scientific evidence to date has not established a causal link between adverse health effects and EMF. However, questions remain about the possible relationship between EMF and certain human diseases.??CEA recognizes the public concern over potential adverse health effects from EMF. CEA and its member companies are committed to the health, safety and welfare of the public and our employees. We take seriously our responsibility to work with all stakeholders – including regulatory agencies, the government and the public – to develop and implement appropriate EMF policies. The CEA and its member utilities are committed to communicating balanced, accurate and up-to-date information about EMF to the public, to employees and to regulatory agencies.??CEA continues to monitor world-wide research, standards and policy developments through its EMF Task Group, and its member companies support further research to answer remaining questions on potential health effects.

ISSUE MANAGEMENT

At CEA, the issue of electric and magnetic fields is managed by the CEA Transmission Council, which maintains an EMF Task Group.

Key Contact:

Julien Wu
Manager, Transmission
(613)-688-2957
wu@electricity.ca 
 

Resource library

• CEA Perspectives on Electric and Magnetic Fields (pdf)

World Health Organization

• Environmental Health Criteria, Extremely Low Frequency Fields, World Health Organization, Monograph no. 238 (2007).
• Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health: Exposure to extremely low frequency fields, World Health, Fact sheet 322 (June 2007).
• Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health: Effects of EMF on the Environment, World Health Organization, Information Sheet (February 2005).

Health Canada

• Environmental and Workplace Health: Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity, Health Canada (2009).
• It’s Your Health: Electric and Magnetic Fields at Extremely Low Frequencies, Health Canada (April 2004).

Federal-Provincial-Territorial Radiation Protection Committee

• Response Statement to Public Concerns Regarding Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) from Electrical Power Transmission and Distribution Lines, FPTRPC (November 2008).
• Health Effects and Exposure Guidelines Related to Extremely Low Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields: An Overview, FPTRPC (January 2005).