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CSIRO - June 1994

Status of Research on
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
AND SAFETY OF
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
Telecommunications Frequencies.

 

[CONTENTS PAGE]

OVERVIEW

This publication is also known as the "Barnett Report". It was officially 'published' in 1994 after Dr Stan Barnett of the Radiophysics Department of the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) delivered his final report to the (then) Spectrum Management Authority, which in turn delivered it to Michael Lee, the then Minister for Communications in the Australian Labor Government.

Nothing more was heard of it, despite government promises that it would be made public.

Like many Australian journalists I tried to get a copy, but after many futile attempts I gave up. However, nearly a year later in talking to a parliamentary librarian, I discovered that the library had a copy. It then transpired that the report had been "officially published" by the government and "made available to the press and public nearly six months before" ... probably on the office copy machine.

I then contacted the Minister's office, and the spokesman expressed surprise that I hadn't received a copy since it had "been made public"; he suggested I contact the Spectrum Management Authority since the Minister's office didn't have any. The SMA initially denied that the report had been publically released, then after checking with the Minister's office they informed me that, yes, it was a public document, but unfortunately there were no copies available. After a lot of pressure, they finally released a copy.

The report was then privately copied and circulated, and eventually when requests began to pile up the SMA did print and circulate some themselves. They've now run out, and don't have copies available. So once again, I've decided to assist them in their public duty of informing the Australian public by releasing this on-line. It has been costing me a fortune in photocopying.

Be warned. It has been scanned in and OCR'd, so there may be a few mistakes. We have diligently proof-read it, but we can't be sure every mistake has been corrected.

BACKGROUND

The CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) is Australia's premier government-funded research organisation. It has an autonomy, and protection from both political and commercial interference in most areas (perhaps not in agriculture) which is quite rare in scientific institutions of its kind, anywhere in the world.

This gives this report enormous standing in the scientific world; and this was enhanced by the selection of Dr Stan Barnett to research and prepare the overview. He had the scientific (both physics and biomedical) background, experience and knowledge -- but he came from a related research area (ultrasonics and health), and therefore had no direct personal interest either in raising fears about cellphones, or in supressing them.

The CSIRO conducts research of all kinds (like a super-university without teaching obligations) with emphasis on agriculture and mining (resource development) and other applied-science, environmental sciences, occupation health, etc. The organisation also works in areas of pure-science (mainly radio-physics and radio astronomy) -- and so it has skills in both the physics of these studies and in the biological aspects.

Australia also has a special defence research organisation and the NHMRC (National Health and Medical Reseach Council) which funds medical research at universities, hospitals, and various foundations and institutions under a grants scheme. The NHMRC does not conduct medical research itself.

In 1993, when concerns were first raised onto the public agenda about the safety of cellular phones, the Australian government wanted some quick answers -- and it was well aware that medical research institutions had a vested interest in promoting the 'Oliver' idea of 'always needing more money' and 'always needing more reseach'. They therefore decided to commission the CSIRO, through their Spectrum Management Authority, to conduct a survey around the world into the status of cellphone research and to report on whether this was a legitimate concern worth funding.

Dr Stan Barnett was chosen from the Division of Radiophysics (now the Div. of Telecommunications & Industrial Physics) because of his expertise and knowledge in the areas of radiation and biomedical research. He was at that time (and still now) one of the world's experts in Ultrasonics and had done a lot of similar work looking into potential health effects (especially pre-natal) in the use of ultrasound scans and similar medical devices.

The report that Barnett submitted was not one that the government expected or welcomed. Nor was the cellphone and telecommunications industry pleased with the findings.

But, in my opinion, it still remains the best independent, thorough overview of the state of research into EMF and possible health implications. It provides a most balanced outline of the problems yet published, and Barnett makes intelligent suggestions about where research is still needed (and that hasn't changed much since 1994). It is not easy reading for the lay-person, but it was written for politicians and policy advisors, not for the scientist, and it has a good glossary at the end to help you understand.


NOTE: I am going to add additional material to this document progressively, to try to bring it up-to-date with the latest research. My comments will be clearly identified in red.

Stewart Fist


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