The Malta Communications Authority yesterday hosted a half-day forum entitled “The Reality Behind Electromagnetic Fields” at the Westin Dragonara Resort. Aimed at industry stakeholders, the objective of the forum was to get a better understanding of what EMF emissions and their biological effects are as well as to gain insight into the on-going research in the area.

With the proliferation of wireless technologies, communities worldwide have become increasingly exposed to varying degrees of Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) resulting in anxiety and speculation amongst the general public. EMF exposure levels will continue to increase as technology advances. Naturally, Malta is no exception.

The imminent rollout of new wireless infrastructures such as Third Generation (3G) mobile telephony and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) will undoubtedly heighten public concerns in this regard.

Experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), University of Bordeaux, the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), Vodafone Group, the MCA, University of Malta and Vodafone Malta gave their views on the subject. Topics such as EMF and its health implications, the basis for the development of EMF standards and the WHO recommendations on EMF were discussed. Vodafone also gave their input from an operators’ perspective.

Over the past few years, the MCA has been conducting periodic random audits on mobile phone base stations across Malta and Gozo to ensure that they are operating in compliance with the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) standards. The MCA also introduced on-demand testing for the public whereby tests are carried out at any accessible location in any locality, be it a personal residence, office, place of work or school. All the sites audited to date were found to be well below the limits established by the ICNIRP standards. Initially the audits were focused on mobile phone base stations, however last year the scope of these audits was expanded to include emissions from any EMF source in the communications arena.

It is expected that these audits will continue on a regular basis in the coming years.

More information about electromagnetic fields, audit results as well as the presentations given at this forum can be obtained from the MCA website at www.mca.org.mt.