Elektromagnetische velden: Jaarbericht 2005 / Electromagnetic Fields: Annual Update 2005

Recent years have seen a sharp rise in public concern over possible harmful effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields. This is due in part to the strong growth in mobile telephony. The Health Council is frequently confronted with questions on this topic, both from the general public and from government and parliament.

Committee

The membership of the Electromagnetic Fields Committee has undergone several changes in the period 2004/2005. After having been actively engaged in various Health Council committees relating to electromagnetic fields and health for a total of 14 years, Prof. EW Roubos has resigned his chairmanship and membership of the Committee owing to pressure of work. He was succeeded as Chairman on 11 February 2005 by Dr GC van Rhoon. Prof. WJ Wadman has joined the Committee in order to maintain its neurobiological expertise. Dr GMH Swaen resigned his membership of the Committee as of 21 December 2004 owing to a change of position. During the activities discussed in this Annual Update the membership of the Committee was therefore as follows:

• Prof. EW Roubos, professor of Zoology, neurobiologist; Catholic University of NijmegenChairman (until 11 February 2005)
• Dr GC van Rhoon, physicist; Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Chairman (from 11 February 2005)
• Dr LM van Aernsbergen, physicist; Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, The Hague, advisor
• Prof. G Brussaard, Emeritus Professor of Radiocommunications; Eindhoven University of Technology
• Dr J Havenaar, psychiatrist; Buitenamstel mental health service (GGZ), Amsterdam
• FBJ Koops, biologist; Arnhem
• Dr H Kromhout, occupational hygienist/epidemiologist, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University
• Prof. FE van Leeuwen, professor of Cancer Epidemiology; Free University, Amsterdam (VU), epidemiologist; Dutch Cancer Institute, Amsterdam
• Dr HK Leonhard, physicist; Ministry of Economic Affairs, Groningen, advisor
• Dr MM Sitskoorn, psychologist; University Medical Centre, Utrecht
• Dr GMH Swaen (until 31 December 2004), epidemiologist; Maastricht University
• Prof. WJ Wadman (from 15 April 2005), professor of Neurobiology, University of Amsterdam (UVA)
• DHJ van de Weerdt, physician, specialist in environmental medicine; Central Gelderland Health Service / GGD
• Prof. APM Zwamborn, professor of Electromagnetic Effects; Eindhoven University of Technology, physicist; TNO, The Hague
• Dr E van Rongen, radiobiologist; Health Council, The Hague, Secretary