"This is the first annual report by an international independent expert group for electromagnetic fields and health appointed by SSI. The scope of this first report is radio frequency fields of the type used by mobile telephony. The group decided to focus on epidemiological research on cancer and exposure from mobile phones and transmitters as well as experimental cancer research In addition three selected topics were also discussed, namely blood-brain barrier, heat shock proteins, and precautionary framework. A review (IEGMP 2000) commissioned by the UK government was used as starting point.
The focus of this report is on epidemiological and experimental cancer research, blood-brain barrier and heat shock proteins. In none of these areas have there been breakthrough results that have warranted firm conclusions in one way or the other. It is worth noting, however, that intense research is currently ongoing in several countries and new data will gradually become available. Given the complexity of the research area it is essential that both positive and negative results be replicated before accepted. Given the increase of new technologies, it is essential to follow various possible health effects from the very beginning, particularly since such effects may be detected only after a long duration, due to the prolonged latency period of many chronic diseases. Thus, more research is needed to address long-term exposure, as well as diseases other than those included in the ongoing case-control studies."

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