#1151: The Porto Alegre Resolution
From Eileen O’Connor, Radiation Research Trust:
The Porto Alegre Resolution
http://www.icems.eu/docs/resolutions/Porto_Alegre_Resolution.pdf
We, the undersigned scientists, were honored to participate in a workshop organized by the
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul and the Public Ministry of Rio Grande do Sul and sponsored
by the Brazilian Health Ministry, the International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety, the Porto
Alegre Environmental Council (COMAM/PA), the Rio Grande do Sul Center for Health Vigilance
(CEVS/RS) and others, entitled, “International Workshop on Non-Ionizing Radiation, Health and
Environment” which took place on May 18 and 19, 2009, in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
This resolution follows several international resolutions agreed to by concerned scientists and
medical doctors over the past decade, including resolutions developed by the International Commission for
Electromagnetic Safety [1], based on evidence and consideration on documents such as the BioInitiative
Report [2] and a special issue of the journal Pathophysiology on electrical and magnetic fields, published
in August 2009 [3].
We agreed that the protection of health, well-being and the environment requires immediate adoption
of the Precautionary Principle, which states, “when there are indications of possible adverse effects,
though they remain uncertain, the risks from doing nothing may be far greater than the risks of taking
action to control these exposures. The Precautionary Principle shifts the burden of proof from those
suspecting a risk to those who discount it”, until new scientific discoveries are recognized as the only
criterion for the establishment or modification of non-ionizing radiation exposure standards;
We recognize that, in Brazil as well as all over the world, where there has been an unprecedented
explosion in the availability and use of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields for electrical and wireless
communications technologies (mobile and cordless phones, WiFi and WIMAX networks, RFID, etc,), as
well as major electrical grid and wireless broadband infrastructure changes, this assessment should inform
risk management to take proper steps to protect the public from long-term, low-level exposure to
extremely-low frequency as well as radiofrequency electromagnetic fields that have substantially increased
in the ambient environment in recent years.
We are concerned about the body of evidence that indicates that exposure to electromagnetic fields
interferes with basic human biology and may increase the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. The
exposure levels at which these effects have been observed are many times lower than the standards
promulgated by the International Commission for Non-Ionizing radiation Protection (ICNIRP) [4] and the
IEEE’s International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) [5]. These standards are obsolete and
were derived from biological effects of short-term high intensity exposures that cause health effects by
temperature elevation and nerve excitation discovered decades ago. Recent research indicates that
electromagnetic fields could cause detrimental health effects even at very low levels of exposure. The
ICNIRP and IEEE/ICES standards are being supported and promoted by interested parties to avoid
precautionary technical planning, precautionary laws, and precautionary advice to the public.
We are deeply concerned that current uses of non-ionizing radiation for mobile phones, wireless
computers and other technologies place at risk the health of children and teens, pregnant women, seniors
and others who are most vulnerable due to age or disability, including a health condition known as
electromagnetic hypersensitivity. We strongly recommend these precautionary practices:
1. Children under the age of 16 should not use mobile phones and cordless phones, except for
emergency calls;
2. The licensing and/or use of Wi-Fi, WIMAX, or any other forms of wireless communications
technology, indoors or outdoor, shall preferably not include siting or signal transmission in
residences, schools, day-care centers, senior centers, hospitals or any other buildings where people
spend considerable time;
3. The licensing for siting and installation of infrastructure related to electrical power and wireless
broadband telecommunications, particularly, cellular telephony, Wi-Fi and WIMAX, should only
be approved after open public hearings are held and approval granted with full consideration given
to the need to apply the Precautionary Principle. Sensitive areas should be avoided to protect
vulnerable populations;
4. Mankind shall be encouraged to continue to discover new means of harnessing non-ionizing
electromagnetic energy, aiming at bringing benefits to society, through definition of new standards
of human exposure, which are based on the biological realities of nature and not solely on the
consideration of economic and technological needs.
We, therefore, urge all nations to join Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Russia China, the U.S. (for the
FCC standard for partial exposure of the head) and other countries and regions that have chosen to adopt a
more precautionary strategy, aiming to assure more safety to the public while maintaining good service
quality.
We make an urgent call to all nations to convene a panel of experts, selected from candidates
recommended by civil society groups (not only those preferred by the affected industries) to discuss
precautionary technology, laws and advice in order to develop policies that reconcile public health
concerns with further development of wireless communications technology such as mobile phones as well
as electric power transmission and distribution systems.
Citations:
[1] ICEM”™s Benevento Resolution (2006) and Venice Resolution (2008)
www.icems.eu.
[2] BioInitiative Report www.bioinitiative.org
[3] A Special Issue of Pathophysiology on the science and public
health/policy issues regarding Electromagnetic Fields was
published March 2009, and is the only peer reviewed scientific journal
referenced on this list. It is now available online at
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09284680
[4] International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection www.icnirp.de
[5] Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. www.ieee.org.
For further information, please contact info@icems.eu.
Signed by:
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Franz Adlkofer, Prof. Dr. Med., Verum Foundation, Germany
Carl Blackman, PhD., CFB, USA
Martin Blank, PhD. Prof. Columbia Univ., USA
Devra L. Davis, PhD , MPA , Founder, Environmental Health Trust, USA
Om P. Gandhi, Sc.D. , Univ. of Utah, USA
Elizabeth Kelley, M.A., Electromagnetic Safety Alliance, USA
Michael Kundi, PhD. , Medical Univ. of Vienna, Austria
Henry Lai, PhD., Univ. of Washington, USA
Leif Salford, MD, PhD., Lund Univ., Sweden
Carlos E. C. Abrahão, M.D. , Campinas, SP, Brazil
Adilza C. Dode, M. Sc., MRE, MG, Brazil
Claudio R. Fernández, M. Sc., IFSUL, Pelotas, RS, Brazil
Robson Spinelli Gomes, Dr., MP/RJ, Brazil
Sergio Koifman, M. D., ENSP/Fiocruz, RJ, Brazil
Renato R. Lieber, Dr., UNESP, Guaratinguetá, SP, Brazil
Anaiza H. M. Miranda, Public Official, Ministerio Publicia, Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Ana Maria M. Marchesan, Public Official, Ministerio Publica, Rio do Sul, Brazil
Alvaro A. de Salles, Ph.D., UFRGS, RS, Brazil
Solange R. Schaffer, M.Sc., Fundacentro, SP, Brazil
Cintia Schmidt, environmental lawyer, OAB/RS, Brazil
Helio A. da Silva, Dr., UFJF, MG, Brazil
Francisco de A. Tejo, Dr. , UFCG, Pb, Brazil
Geila R. Vieira, M.D., CGVS/SMS, P. Alegre, RS, Brazil
Additional scientists signing on to the Porto Alegre Resolution after September 15, 2009:
Rodrigo Jaimes Abril, Vice Dean, Electrical Engineer, National University of Colombia, Bogota, Col.
Betânia Bussinger, M.D., Biological Effects of Non Ionizing Radiation, UFF, RJ, Brazil
Simona Carrubba, PhD, Louisiana State Univ. Health Science Center, Shreveport, La, USA.
Christos Georgiou, PhD., ICEMS, Prof. Biochemistry, University of Patras, Greece
Magda Havas, PhD. Prof. Environmental Science, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
L. Lloyd Morgan, Electronics Engineer (retired), USA.
Wilhelm Mosgoeller, MD, Prof. Medical University of Vienna, Austria
Jerry L. Phillips, PhD. Prof. Dir. Science Learning Ctr. Univ. Colorado, Colorado Springs, USA.
Nesrin Seyhan, PhD., ICEMS, Prof. Medical Faculty of Gazi University, Chair, Biophysics Dept. –
Turkey Rep/WHO EMF IAC, Panel member, NATO RTO, HFM, Turkey
David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD. Clinical Professor, Psychiatry, Univ. Pittsburgh USA
Stanislaw Smigielski, MD, ICEMS, Military Institute of Hygiene & Epidemiology, Poland
Stelios A Zinelis MD, ICEMS, Hellenic Cancer Society, Cefallonia, Greece
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Other signers who are advocates, organizations or members of the general public:
Dea Emilia Carneiro de Andrade, Sou Presidente do Comitê de Cidadania Comissão Justiça e Paz
– da Arquidiocese de Juiz de Fora “” MG, Brazil
Jose Maria Tiburcio Barroso, engineer, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil
Elizabeth Barris, Director, The Peoples Initiative Foundation, USA
Elaine S. A. Cabral, M. Sc., Education, Environmental Law; member, Human Rights Commission –
of Attorney Association-OAB, J. de Fora, MG, Brazil
Kerry Crofton, PhD, Health Educator, Canada
Sergio A. Pereira De Borja, Prof. Direito Constituciona, PUC/RS e da Instituicones de Direito, UFRGS
Bill Curry, PhD. Physics, ret. Argonne National Labs, Board Member, EMR Network, USA
Frances Fox, Psychic Counselor, Florida, USA
Cristiano M. Gallep, Prof. Dr., DTT, Unicamp, Brazil
Carol C. Georges, PhD. Psychologist, Italy
Margaret M. Glaser, USA
Andrew Goldsworthy BSc PhD, Lecturer in Biology (retired) Imperial College, London, UK
Sissel Halmøy, Principal advisor electromagnetic radiation, Norges Miljøvernforbund, Norway
Dr. Carrie Hyman, L.Ac., O.M.D, USA.
John Kristensen P. Biol., VP Technical, RETA (Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans),
– Alberta, Canada
Ellen Marks, Lafayette, California, USA
Zack Marks, CEO, The California Brain Tumor Association, USA
Sandi Maurer, EMF Safety Network, California, USA
Luiz Roberto Santos Moraes, Professor Titular em Saneamento, Universidade Federal da
– Bahia, Brazil
Eileen O’Connor, Director, Electromagnetic Radiation Research Trust, UK
Jorge Panazio. Telecommunications Engineer, MCT (retired), Brazil
Luiz Jacques Lüderitz Saldanha, Porto Alegre, RS/Brasil.
Rodrigo Borsu de Salles, Economist, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Fanny Helena Martins Salles, psychologist, public official, Prof. University of Bage, RS, Brazil.
Judi Shils, Teens Turning Green, Marin County, California, USA
Sarah J. Starkey, PhD. Neuroscientist, UK
Carmen Ruth Stangenhaus, Arquiteta MSc, Associação Brasileira de Materiais e Tecnologias – –
Ṇo Convencionais РRio de Janeiro РBrasil
Alex Swinkels, National Platform on Radiation Risks, Netherlands
Alex W. Thomas, Ph.D, CIHR University-Industry, Chair, Bioelectromagnetics, Lawson Health Research
– Institute, University of Western Ontario.
Ana Maria Daitx Valls Atz, Farmacêutica,Porto Alegre/RS, Brasil
Cesar Nicolau Vargas, Tecg° Eletroeletrônica, Federação Nacional dos Urbanitários – FNU/CUT, Brazil
Isabel Wilke, Dipl.-Biologin, KATALYSE Institut für Angewandte Umweltforschung e.V., Köln, DE
Sandra H. Wilkinson, Hamilton Township Residents against Pensyll Creek Tower, PA, USA
_______________________________________
To request that your name be added to this Resolution as a scientist, advocate, organization or
member of the general public, we welcome you to notify ICEMS at info@icems.eu.
Please indicate your name, title, affiliation, city and country (1-2 lines at most.)
Kind Regards,
Eileen O’Connor
Director
Radiation Research Trust
http://www.radiationresearch.org
& Rewire Magazine
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