6th International NIR Workshop

Scope:

Electromagnetic fields of all frequencies represent one of the most common and fastest growing environmental influences, about which anxiety and speculation are spreading. All populations are now exposed to varying degrees of electromagnetic fields, and the levels will continue to increase as technology advances. The social relevance of such non-ionizing radiation cannot be underestimated and the analysis and discussion of scientific findings are of the utmost importance.

Non-ionizing radiation protection is a broad field demanding knowledge of many scientific disciplines including epidemiology, medicine, biology and physics and engineering. Every four years, an international workshop is organized by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation (ICNIRP) to present an up-to-date overview of the advancement of science and protection in different areas of non-ionizing radiation.

Acknowledgements: ICNIRP thanks the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology for co-promoting the event, the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro for co-organizing, and the following organizations for the institutional support granted to the organization of the ICNIRP NIR Workshop 2008: World Health Organization, Brazilian Government, Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brazilian Ministry of Communications, Brazilian Ministry of Labour, and Brazilian Ministry of Environment.

Session 1

The Role Of International Institutions - Chair M. Hietanen
History and role of ICNIRP P. Vecchia
International partners of ICNIRP A. Peralta
Scientific uncertainty in developing exposure guidelines A. McKinlay

Session 2
Non-Ionizing Radiation In The Human Environment - Chair B. Veyret
Static and ELF sources - MRI, Power lines, etc R. Matthes
RF sources - why are cell phones special? J. Lin
New EMF technologies - a challenge for radiation protection? J. Lin
Lasers - sources of optical radiation only at the workplace? K. Schulmeister
Mobile phones and cancer - how does epidemiology investigate this? A. Swerdlow
Power lines and cancer - what has epidemiology found ? A. Ahlbom
Mobile phones and risk of cancer - what has epidemiology found? M. Feychting
Laboratory studies on static and ELF fields R. Saunders

Session 3
The Scientific Evidence – Basis For The Health Risk Assessment - Chair M. Repacholi
Laboratory studies on RF fields B. Veyret
UV: from molecular effects to immunologic and cancerous impact F. de Gruijl
Needs and possibilities to protect workers from UV radiation M. Hietanen
Ocular effects of optical radiation - cataract P. Söderberg
Laser radiation : bioeffects and protection K. Schulmeister

Session 4
Protection Measures And Recommendations - Chair R. Saunders
WHO health risk assessment process E. van Deventer
Basis for the development of standard P. Vecchia
Recommendations for static and ELF fields R. Matthes
Protection policies for RF fields B. Veyret
Recommendations for optical radiation M. Hietanen

Session 5
The Latin American Approach - Chair P. Vecchia
Overview of EMF standards in Latin America J. Skvarka
Standards for ELF fields: the experience of Argentina Part1, Part2, Part 3 P. Arnera
ELF fields and health: activities in Brazil H. Moss de Souza
RF fields and health: activities in Brazil M. A. Muniz Fidelis da Silva
Mobile telephony and health: the experience of Peru V. Cruz
Role and activities of CIER J.C. Belza
Role and activities of CITEL R. Terán
The Latin American Scientific Expert Panel R. Sabbatini
The Epidemiological Project EMF-SP F. Barbieri

Closing Session
New challenges in NIR protection P. Vecchia