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An Ordinance enacted by the Swiss Upper House sets a limit of 10 milliGauss (mG) for exposure from sources such as power lines and other 'sensitive use locations ' including any room regularly occupied for significant periods of time and children's playgrounds. The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, forestry and Agriculture, issued a report explaining that "precautionary" measures are now required as biological effects are known and documented at levels of EMF exposure below those accepted by ICNIRP in their determining the current limits (standards) of exposure. The report recognises the uncertainty about the possible harmful consequences of lower level EMF exposures. It also specifically points to the NIEHS Working Group recommendation that power frequency EMF should be considered as "possible carcinogenic" .

The new rules , which came into effect on February 1st 2000, are in line with those of China and Russia, which are the most stringent in the world.

"Magnetic fields from new power lines, substations or electric railway lines must not exceed 10 mG in places where people spend time. This is a level that is 100 times lower than that specified in most health standards, including ICNIRP's. "

The document, "Ordinance on Non -Ionizing Radiation Protection" can be found at the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape
www.admin.ch/buwal . An English translation is being prepared, to be posted on the Internet in late March.

SCHOOLS GIVE LESSONS IN MOBILE PHONE USE
"School children are now getting lessons on how to use mobile phones safely. They are being taught about the possible dangers of using the mobile phone."

Teachers in East Sussex are advising pupils to use the landline phone rather than the mobile. If use of mobile is absolutely necessary, to use it for as little time as possible with the phone held at a distance from the head.

400 schools in Edinborough. will be advised of the need for warnings on mobile phone use. Councillors are to issue guidelines for teachers to educate 60,000 pupils on the possible dangers of, and the use of mobile phones. Both Dr . Hyland of the UK and Dr Henry Lai of USA, both noted researchers in this field, commented on the advisability of this action.

Dr Hyland went so far as to say " It is totally irresponsible for parents to let their children use mobiles. It is the equivalent of giving a child a cyanide pill."

ON HIGH VOLTAGE POWER LINES
Professor Dennis Henshaw of Bristol University U.K. has determined that electromagnetic fields exposure from high voltage power lines has indeed an influence on the incidence of childhood leukemia. His findings of a complex interaction of electromagnetic fields and levels of radioactive breakdown products from naturally occurring radon gas and traffic exhaust pollutants are highly significant in the search for evidence of electromagnetic fields exposure and childhood leukemia. Dr Henshaw notes children are particularly vulnerable to radiation and pollution damage. His study was to be published in the International Journal of Radiation Biology.
[ Source; Sunday Times U.K. 28.11.1999 ]