Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
PERCEPTION OF RISKS FROM
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS:
LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE
Paolo Vecchia
National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
PERCEPTION OF RISKS OF EMF
The Commission adopted a programme of
Community
action
on
pollution-related
diseases which takes account of the fact that
health risks, including those associated with
electromagnetic fields, are often perceived by
the public very differently from what is
established by scientific evidence.
Council of the European Union, Recommendation 12
July 1999.
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
National Institute of Health
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
WHAT IS “RISCHIO”, “RISQUE”, “RIESGO”?

The pure possiblity for a negative event to
occur
(English: hazard)

Some mathematical combination of the
impact of a possible negative effect and the
probability of its occurrence
(English: risk)
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
MATHEMATICAL DEFINITION OF RISK
It is generally assumed (explicitly or
implicitly) that risk is the product of the
possible detriment times the probability, i.e.:
R = D .P
In the case of health risks (rather than
accidents), also the “credibility” of a hazard
to actually exist (e.g. the IARC classification)
should be taken into account:
R = D .P .C
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
SUBJECTIVE EFFECTS AND RISK PERCEPTION
Subjective effects of electromagnetic fields
have been reported both within workers and
the general public.
The following questions arise:
 Effects are real or due to suggestion?
 In the case they are real, they are due to:
Exposure (hypersensitivity)?
Psychosomatic mechanisms?
Other factors?



THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
ARE SCIENTIFIC ANSWERS POSSIBLE?
Yes
Reported disturbances, are, at least partially, due
to suggestion or psychosomatic effects.
Scientific bases:

Provocation tests

Controlled statistical studies

Effects in the absence of exposure
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
PROVOCATION TESTS
“Hypersensitive” subjects are exposed to a
source that may be on/off with no awareness.

High
correlation
between
guess
and
symptoms

No correlation between guess and status
of the source
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
FURTHER QUESTIONS

To what extent are these pseudo-effects due
to a distorted risk perception?

What causes distortion?

What is the role of (bad) risk communication?
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
FACTORS INFLUENCING RISK PERCEPTION
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Catastrophic potential
Familiarity with the agent
Understanding of
mechanisms
Uncertainty of knowledge
Controllability of risk
Voluntarity of exposure
Effects on children
Effects on future
generations
Indentificability of victims
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Relevance of effects
Trust in institutions
Attention of media
Previous accidents
Equity of risks and benefits
Clarity of benefits
Irreversibility of effects
Personal involvement
Scientific evidence
Human or natural origin
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
THE ROLE OF INFORMATION
Distorted information:
 Doll Report
Partial information:
 Laterality effect of mobile phones
 Animal studies on RF fields
Missing information (good news is no news):
 Epidemiological studies on mobile phones
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
DIFFICULTIES OF SCIENTIFIC COMMUNICATION
The public requires communication of scientific
findings to be timely and understandable

Simplification conflicts with rigour (science
can never say “safe”)

Transparency conflicts with quality assurance
(peer review)
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
EFFECTS OF RISK PERCEPTION
A distorted risk perception has both social and
health implications:



Anxiety and psychosomatic disturbances
are an objective health detriment.
A priori attribution of real effects to EMF
exposure may prevent investigation of true
causes.
Social tension is also a health damage.
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
RISK PERCEPTION AND WORRY
Less worried
More worried
No symptoms
50%
31%
At least one symptom
50%
69%
McMahan S., Meyer J. (1995). Symptom prevalence and worry about high
voltage transmission lines. Environ. Reas. 70: 114-118.
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
National Institute of Health
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
WHICH LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE?
New technologies are likely to face problems of
risk perception due to:

Lack of familiarity with the agent

Lack of understanding of mechanisms

Uncertainty of knowledge
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
EXTREMELY HIGH FREQUENCY EMF
Technologies based on EHF EMFs are a frontier.

They are new to engineers, biologists, and health
scientists, and this can create fear of the
unknown

They are likely to spread out before their
consequences are fully understood and that can
create uncertainty
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002
Istituto Superiore di Sanità
National Institute of Health
AVOIDING DISTORSION OF RISK PERCEPTION

Promote specific research on biological
and health effects

Ensure correct transfer of scientific data

Establish an effective dialogue between the
scientific community and the public
THz-BRIDGE Workshop
Capri, September 29 - October 2, 2002