§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent the work and advice of the NRPB is independent of Government. [41185]
§ Yvette CooperThe National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) was set up in 1970 under the Radiological Protection Act as a corporate body with functions concerning the protection of people from radiation hazards. It is a non-departmental public body. The chairman and members of the statutory board are appointed by Health Ministers, following Nolan/Neill principles, to ensure an appropriate mix of independent experts. Responsibility for setting the overall strategic direction of the work of NRPB, for monitoring the programme and ensuring that advice is impartial, authoritative and independent of Government and others bodies, rests with the chairman and the appointed members.
The board benefits from the advice of three independent advisory groups composed of non-NRPB experts. The Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation and the Advisory Group on Ionising Radiation review the evidence on the biological and medical effects of radiation. They also advise the board on future research priorities. A new advisory group—the Radiation, Risk and Society Advisory Group—has been set up to help NRPB to improve its communication in a practical way.
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§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence underlay the NRPB"s judgment that a magnetic field exposure of 1600uT is unsafe. [41187]
§ Yvette CooperThe considerations underlying the National Radiological Protection Board"s guidance on exposure to electromagnetic fields is contained in Documents of the NRPB Volume 4 Number 5, 1993 and Documents of the NRPB Volume 10 Number 2, 1999.
Insofar as magnetic fields are concerned, the exposure guidelines are developed to prevent adverse effects of induced current in the body. The current density level given in the above NRPB advice to avoid adverse biological effects on the central nervous system is 10 milliamperes per square metre.
Calculations were made to relate the external magnetic field to the induced current density using a dosimetric model. The model chosen was considered to be conservative hence exceeding the investigation level (1600T) does not necessarily imply an "unsafe" level.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is within the remit of the NRPB to present to the public a statement of the effects of(a) ionising and (b) non-ionising radiation. [41186]
§ Yvette CooperThe Radiological Protection Act 1970 provided for the establishment of a National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) with functions concerning the protection of people from radiation hazards; and for connected purposes. The Act defines "radiation hazards" as the dangers of ionising radiations emitted by radioactive substances or other sources and radiations which are electromagnetic but not ionising. The reference to non-ionising radiation was added by Statutory Instrument 1974 No. 1230.
It is, therefore, within NRPB"s remit to comment on ionising and non-ionising radiation; NRPB"s website www.nrpb.org contains much material on both types of radiological hazard.
§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what decision the NRPB has made with respect to its magnetic field exposure threshold. [41188]
§ Yvette CooperThe National Radiological Protection Board advice on electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure guidelines is contained in Documents of the NRPB Volume 4 Number 5, 1993 and Documents of the NRPB Volume 10 Number 2, 1998.
A further review of the scientific basis for the EMF exposure guidelines is currently in progress. The terms of reference for the review are:
To produce a comprehensive assessment of the science covering the areas of biology, epidemiology and dosimetry and provide guidance on limiting exposure of people to electromagnetic fields in the range of 0 Hz to 300 GHz.To consider where information may be lacking, discuss any need to invoke a precautionary approach and what that might be.The results of the review will be published as a consultative document in 2002.