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BfS Topics in the Bundestag
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Answers to parliamentary inquiries referring to the fields of responsibility of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection have been compiled here.
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Digital Radio of Security Authorities and Organisations
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Security authorities and organisations as, for example, police forces, fire brigades and rescue services operate a radio network of their own which is strictly separated from other radio networks. BfS concluded an agreement with the Federal Agency for Digital Radio of Security Authorities and Organisations (BDBOS). Read up online about basic principles of the Digital Radio of Security Authorities and Organisations, the co-operation of BfS with BDBOS and examinations on health effects of TETRA.
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Using compact fluorescent lamps (energy saving lamps) is of no concern from a radiation protection point of view
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 Using compact fluorescent lamps for general lighting purposes in households is of no concern from a radiation protection point of view. Available studies demonstrate, that the levels of emitted optical radiation and electric and magnetic fields comply with international recommended limit values. Several characteristics of compact fluorescent lamps, which are important for risk assessment from a radiation protection point of view, differ only slightly from those of incandescent lamps.
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Radiation protection aspects regarding full-body scanners
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The implementation of novel full-body scanners is planned for security control mainly at airports. Such devices are tested or already routinely used at some airports. The images being produced exhibit with more or less details the body surface and visualise objects worn directly at the body. The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has assessed available data (full text in German only).
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Electromagnetic Fields and the biotic environment
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Frequently, questions are posed to the Federal Office for Radiation Protection relating to possible damaging effects of high-frequency electromagnetic fields – especially of mobile telecommunication – but also of low-frequency electric and magnetic fields on animals and plants. Many questions relate to a possible influence of the electromagnetic fields on productive livestock but also on birds, bats, and trees. The scientific state of knowledge of the possible effects of electromagnetic fields on significant groups of animals and plants is summarised and evaluated (full text in German only).
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Bioinitiative Report
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The „Bioinitiative Working Group“, a group of critical scientists from Europe and USA published its report on 31 August 2007. Since then it is intensely discussed. The authors of the “Bioinitiative Report” conclude that the current limit values do not sufficiently protect the public from health risks due to high- and low-frequency electromagnetic fields. By contrast the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) states that at the moment there is no reason to question the protective effect of current limit values. This statement is, among others, based on the results of the German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme (DMF), carried out by the BfS from 2002 to 2008. The programme was one of the largest programmes worldwide relating to open scientific questions in connection with high-frequency elec-tromagnetic fields (full text in German only).
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Comments on electrosmog shielding mats
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It is frequently postulated that electromagnetic fields can cause adverse health effects at very low intensities. Because of doubtful shielding efficiency electrosmog shielding mats are neither necessary for the protection against such adverse health effects nor does the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) recommend them as a precautionary measure for reducing exposures (full text in German only).
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Statement on the Test of DECT Phones in the Journal ÖKO-TEST "Hier geht der Funk ab" (February 2004)
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In its February 2004 issue, the journal ÖKO-Test tested wireless phones according to the DECT Standard. Two previous articles on this subject (ed 11/1999 and 09/ 2002) have already warned against DECT Phones. The article of February 2004 was aimed at assessing whether these phones differ in radiation intensity, whether there are now any appliances with safe radiation values, and at assessing their material properties. The BfS has issued a statement on this article (full text in German only).
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BfS statement to the article "The Babysitter's daily dose" published in the November issue of ÖKO-TEST 2002
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In its November 2002 issue, the journal ÖKO-TEST repeated tests of baby monitors which are also known as nursery monitors. Exposure to low and high frequency electro-magnetic fields played a prominent role in testing the various devices. Though both ÖKO-TEST and the BfS recommend precautionary measures related to electromagnetic fields, BfS does not agree with the statement of ÖKO-TEST that electromagnetic fields can have a negative impact on human health even at low intensities and that pulsed ra-diation is particularly harmful. There is no scientifical prove for these assertions (full text in German only).
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BfS statement on the Article on DECT Phones “Ganz schön sendebewusst”, ÖKO-TEST September 2002
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The pulsed, permanent signals of DECT phone base stations are frequently classified in the general public as being a hazard to health. Already in the ÖKO-Test edition of November 1999 warning against digital cordless phones according to the DECT standard was expressed. In the ÖKO-Test article “Ganz schön sendebewusst” of September 2002 the topic of DECT phones was readdressed. BfS provides a statement on this article (full text in German only).
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Electronic Article Surveillance
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Electronic article surveillance systems (EAS) are deployed in retail stores to protect against theft. Special tags which are attached to the products interact with the electromagnetic field of detectors mounted at the entrance/exits of the stores. They can cause an alarm. Devices currently in use operate over a wide range of frequencies, using continuous wave or different pulse modalities. No health hazard from EAS is expected for the general public, since time of exposure is usually very short, but precautionary measures might be necessary for patients wearing medical devices (full text in German only).
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Special Eurobarometer: Electromagnetic fields - Report 347
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The Eurobarometer is a series of surveys among EU citizens periodically funded by the European Commission since 1973. In a recent Eurobarometer poll in 2010 (Report 347) the public perception on possible health effects of electromagnetic fields was assessed in the 27 Member States of the European Union and compared to a preceding survey conducted in 2006. The results for the German respondents show that there is only little concern about possible health effects from electromagnetic fields among German citizens. At present, German respondents are more concerned about high-voltage power lines than about mobile phones or mobile phone base stations. About one third of the German respondents informed themselves on electromagnetic fields using different sources of information. 50 percent of the interested persons were satisfied with the quality of the material, which is a significant increase compared to the last survey in 2006. German citizens still prefer television as an information medium, followed by print media. In Germany, thirty percent of the respondents feel to be effectively protected against health risks from electromagnetic fields by the authorities. The Eurobarometer largely supports the results obtained within the research projects commissioned by BfS (full text in German only).
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