Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR)
Establishment and terms of reference
The Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) was set up by the Director of the NRPB in 1990. The terms of reference were:
to review work on the biological effects of non-ionising radiation relevant to human health and to advise on research priorities.
The AGNIR was reconstituted in 1999 as an independent advisory group; it now reports to the sub-committee of the board of the HPA that deals with radiation, chemical and environmental hazards. In addition to the work of the Advisory Group, subgroups address specific issues.
The Advisory Group has issued ten major reports in the Documents of the NRPB, a number of statements, and two reports in the Documents of the Health Protection Agency: Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards. These publications, listed in the bibliography, have mainly covered reviews of experimental and epidemiological studies, together with exposure data relevant to assessing possible health effects from exposures to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and ultraviolet radiation (UVR). They have been a valuable input to NRPB, and now HPA, advice and have been used in the development of exposure guidelines as well as being widely circulated and used by Government and the devolved assemblies.
The most recent report, entitled Static magnetic fields, was published in the Documents of the Health Protection Agency: Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards in May 2008.
The on-going programme of work of the AGNIR is summarised below.
If there are published papers on the topics under consideration that readers consider should be reviewed by the AGNIR as an input to its work, references should be submitted through the AGNIR secretariat.
Relevant references can be sent by post to the AGNIR Secretary, HPA Radiation Protection Division, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, UK, or by e-mail to AGNIR.Secretariat@hpa.org.uk.
The present members of the AGNIR are listed and short curricula vitae are provided.
Programme of work of the AGNIR and its subgroups
Exposure to static magnetic fields
The biological basis for developing guidance on occupational and public exposure limits for static magnetic fields is very limited. This is largely due to the paucity of studies. The AGNIR had been asked by the board of the NRPB to consider the need for a review of any hazards from exposures of patients during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures, which can involve exposures to high levels of static magnetic fields. There are now around thirty-five machines of 3 tesla (T) in the UK and two more of up to 7 T, and there is little published information available on potential effects of whole body exposures at these levels. Patients can also receive partial body exposures to magnetic fields, for example to the hands, of up to 20 T. Staff can also be exposed to high static fields.
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the then NRPB held an international workshop on 26/27 April 2004 at Chilton to consider health effects of exposure to intense static magnetic fields. The published proceedings review current evidence on short- and long-term health effects of exposure to static fields and are a valuable input to the work of the AGNIR. The AGNIR report was published as Static magnetic fields in the Documents of the Health Protection Agency: Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards in May 2008.
Ultrasound and infrasound
The Radiation Protection Division (RPD) of the HPA now has a responsibility to provide advice on exposures to both ultrasound and infrasound. There are no specific regulations in the UK for controlling such exposure. However, medical products are required to comply with the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (SI 618/2002) which are based on limits specified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) although these do not appear to have a solid scientific basis. Guidance is also issued by the professional and membership bodies: the British Medical Ultrasound Society; the European Committee for Medical Ultrasound Safety; the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. Concern has been expressed about 'souvenir' exposures (scanning for the provision of images not required for clinical reasons).
In September 2004 the AGNIR was asked to undertake a review of ultrasound (frequencies greater than 20 kHz) and infrasound (frequencies less than 20 Hz) relevant to any possible health effects. A scoping group met in December 2004 in order to consider the possible content and shape of the required report and an AGNIR subgroup was set up in 2005. In addition the board of the NRPB proposed that the NRPB should host a workshop on ultrasound and infrasound safety. The workshop was held at Chilton from 24 to 26 October 2005. Members of the subgroup attended the meeting and the proceedings are available as an input to the AGNIR review.
The AGNIR report is expected to cover physical principles; sources and applications; cellular, human and animal studies; and existing guidelines. The reviews of effects will cover heating and cavitation as well as any other observed effects. The report will also summarise current advice on exposure guidelines but will not make recommendations for the UK.
Membership of the AGNIR subgroup is available. The chairman is Professor Denis Noble, who chaired the scoping group meeting. Professor Francis Duck has acted as deputy chairman. The subgroup is working toward a detailed report, which is currently expected to be presented to the AGNIR in the autumn of 2008 and published in 2009.
Radiofrequency radiation
The Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) drew attention to concerns on this topic in its 2000 report and called for more research. Similar calls were raised in other countries around the same time, and also within Europe and the WHO. The result has been a substantial programme of research supported by governments, industry and the European Union (EU). It is also clear from enquiries to the RPD of the HPA and media coverage that there is continuing public interest in this issue and in topics such as mobile and cordless phones, base stations, and wireless computer networking. It is therefore appropriate for the AGNIR to keep new publications under review and to issue comments/statements on specific papers where appropriate.
In recognising that research would proceed apace, the IEGMP recommended that a further review of the science should be carried out within three years of its own report and the AGNIR prepared such a review in 2003. At this time, many studies were in progress and, in particular, epidemiological research of mobile phone users was at an early stage. Hence, it was agreed in 2003 that the AGNIR should produce a further review of studies relevant to concerns about health for publication in a few years' time.
The first phase of the UK Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme is now drawing to a close and a report on the bulk of the work has been published. The MTHR website is at www.mthr.org.uk The initial phases of work funded in other countries and by the EU are also largely complete, meaning that the time is right for the AGNIR to begin its review. The AGNIR has therefore been asked to carry out a review of exposure to radiofrequency radiation and human health focusing particularly on those areas of the science where knowledge has been added since its last review. This work is expected to take two to three years and will become the main activity for the AGNIR once the work on ultrasound and infrasound is concluded.
Results of a large international pooling study of brain tumour and other cancer risks in relation to mobile phone use (the INTERPHONE study) are awaited, and are likely to be of particular importance. This study will bring together the data from a number of smaller national studies, several of which have recently been published. The AGNIR stands ready to respond to the results of the INTERPHONE study when published.
Power frequency electromagnetic fields
In 2001 the AGNIR published a report on ELF electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer. In the report it was concluded that laboratory experiments had provided no good evidence that extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are capable of producing cancer, nor do human epidemiological studies suggest that they cause cancer in general. There is, however, some epidemiological evidence that prolonged exposure to higher levels of power frequency magnetic fields (50 hertz (Hz) in the UK) is associated with a raised risk of leukaemia in children (relative risk of approximately two).
The AGNIR continues to keep under review published research related to health concerns arising from exposure to power frequency electromagnetic fields. At present there is insufficient new information to justify the development of an update to the 2001 report, although it will be needed at some point in the future.
Ultraviolet radiation
In 2002 the AGNIR published a review of experimental and epidemiological studies relevant to an assessment of the health effects of UVR and that had been published since its 1995 report. As requested by the board of the NRPB, an executive summary was published separately. The key elements of the advice by the AGNIR were included in a poster, Sunsense - protecting yourself from UVR; this is available as a dynamic version.
The report was also a key input to the formal advice from the NRPB to Government on exposure guidelines for UVR.
The AGNIR has a watching brief on publications relevant to UVR-related health concerns. At present insufficient new research has been published that would suggest the need for a full review document in the near future.
Bibliography
NRPB (1992). Electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer. Report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 3 (1), 1-138.
NRPB (1993a). Electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer. Summary of the views of the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation on epidemiological studies published since its 1992 report (23 March 1993). Doc NRPB, 4 (5), 65-69.
NRPB (1993b). Electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer. Supplementary report by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Radiol Prot Bull, No. 142.
NRPB (1994a). Electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer. Supplementary report by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (12 April 1994). Doc NRPB, 5 (2), 77-81.
NRPB (1994b). Health effects related to the use of visual display units. Report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 5 (2), 1-75.
NRPB (1995).Health effects from ultraviolet radiation. Report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 6 (2), 7-190.
NRPB (1999a). The solar eclipse. Statement by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. NRPB press release P8/99.
NRPB (1999b). Use of sunbeds and cosmetic tanning. Statement by the Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Radiol Prot Bull, No. 218, 11-5 .
NRPB (2001a). ELF electromagnetic fields and neurodegenerative disease. Report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 12 (4), 5-24 (2001).
NRPB (2001b). ELF electromagnetic fields and the risk of cancer. Report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 12 (1), 1-179.
NRPB (2001c). Possible health effects from terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA). Report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 12 (2), 1-80.
NRPB (2002a). Effects of ultraviolet radiation on human health. Executive summary of a report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation.
NRPB (2002b). Health effects from ultraviolet radiation. Report of an Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 13 (1), 5-282.
NRPB (2003). Health effects from radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. Report of an independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 14 (2), 5-177.
NRPB (2004). Particle deposition in the vicinity of power lines and possible effects on health. Report of the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc NRPB, 15 (1), 5-55.
HPA (2006). Power frequency electromagnetic fields, melatonin and the risk of breast cancer. Report of an independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc HPA, RCE-1.
HPA (2008). Static Magnetic Fields. Report of an independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation. Doc HPA, RCE-6.
Membership of the AGNIR
Chairman
Professor A J Swerdlow, Institute of Cancer Research, London
Members
Professor L J Challis, University of Nottingham
Professor D N M Coggon, MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton
Dr L A Coulton, Division of Clinical Services (North), University of Sheffield
Professor S C Darby, Clinical Trials Service Unit, University of Oxford
Professor P A Gowland, University of Nottingham
Professor P Haggard, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College, London
Professor D J Lomas, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
Professor D Noble, University of Oxford
Secretariat
Dr S M Mann, HPA
Observer
Dr H Walker, Department of Health
HPA representatives
Dr A F McKinlay
Dr J R Meara
Dr C R Muirhead
Dr Z J Sienkiewicz
Membership of the AGNIR Subgroup on Ultrasound and Infrasound
Chairman
Professor D Noble, University of Oxford
Members
Professor S C Darby, Clinical Trials Service Unit, University of Oxford
Professor F Duck, Royal United Hospital, Bath
Professor M Hanson, Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton
Dr G Leventhall, Consultant in Noise, Vibration and Acoustics, Surrey
Dr Z J Sienkiewicz, HPA
Professor G ter Haar, the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey
Dr B Zeqiri, National Physical Laboratory, Middlesex
Secretariat
Dr J B O'Hagan, HPA
HPA representatives
Mr S Ebdon-Jackson
Dr A F McKinlay
Observers
Mr G Hooker, Department of Health
Mr G Smith, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
Last reviewed: 21 October 2008