KUALA LUMPUR – In a move that would impact Malaysians from all walks of life, the government is looking into adjusting the permitted level of electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from radiocommunications infrastructures that are essential to operate a wide range of everyday devices.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is currently working to revise all relevant regulations and standards, particularly for the 100kHz to 300GHz range.
This range covers radio frequencies emitted for television and radio broadcasts, mobile phones, as well as microwaves and satellites – affecting millions of consumers across the country.
MCMC’s purpose is to also take into account evolving wireless technology such as 5G, as well as consider latest international guidelines with regard to EMF exposure to humans.
In view of the revision, MCMC is currently holding a public inquiry between July 19 until September 17 for feedback on the matter.
EMF emissions usually caused by moving electric charges that form magnetic fields, and where the current is greater, the same applies to the magnetic field.
Generally, EMF emissions are everywhere and even come from natural sources, such as the earth’s magnetic field itself. However, there are also manmade sources that include any electronic items, including those using higher-frequency radio waves to transmit information such as telecommunications networks.
In Malaysia, currently, EMF emissions by such communications networks are regulated by the Mandatory Standard for Electromagnetic Field Emission from Radiocommunications Infrastructure (MSEFRI).
Presently, MSEFRI abides by the guidelines laid out under Determination No.1 of 2010, which came into force in 2011.
The international guideline of concern to MCMC is the one released by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) – which is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Further, the ICNIRP released new guidelines last year to limit EMF exposure.
Thus, according to the MCMC, among the changes being to MSEFRI, includes revision of current EMF exposure limits to what was recommended by ICNIRP last year.
MCMC’s rationale behind this proposed modification is that the updated ICNIRP guidelines provide protection against all scientifically substantiated adverse health effects due to exposure in the 100kHz to 300GHz range.
To understand how these guidelines work and whether it does protect the public from any dangers posed by EMF, WHO provided an explanation as to the mechanisms of ICNIRP guidelines.
WHO said the ICNIRP applies a safety factor of 50 for the public with regards to EMF emissions.
In other words, the maximum level a person is exposed to, at home or in any general environment, is 50 times below the threshold where physiological changes can occur to the body.
But this does not mean that EMF emissions or radio frequencies would not affect the human body.
WHO explained that these low-frequency electric fields do induce circulating currents within the human body, and if sufficiently large, could stimulate nerves, muscles or affect other biological processes.
Heating, WHO says, is another biological effect of radiofrequency EMF, but the levels at which humans are exposed are “very much lower than those needed to produce significant heating”.
In summary, WHO acknowledges that there are expected biological effects caused by EMF emissions, but these are not necessarily harmful.
“It is not disputed that EMF emissions above certain levels can trigger biological effects.
“Experiments with healthy volunteers indicate that short-term exposure at the levels present in the environment or in the home does not cause any apparent detrimental effects.
“Exposures to higher levels that might be harmful are restricted by national and international guidelines,” WHO added. – The Vibes, July 21, 2021
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