Monday, April 30, 2012

False Report used by HPA


False Report used by HPA

The AGNIR (Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation) has produced a report on behalf of the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA).  The document is entitled ' Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields ', April 2012 .

The misleading nature of the report can be illustrated by the example of male fertility. A full description can be found on http://wifiinschools.org.uk/27.html

Of the studies listed in the present report, 18 found decreased measures of male fertility or damage to sperm (78%) and 5 found no effect.   

If the omitted studies are included in the data then 32 found damaging effects (80%) and 8 didn't (20%).  Astonishingly, the conclusion was that there remains no convincing evidence that radiofrequency fields below current guidelines have any effect on male fertility.  The word 'convincing' is a very subjective one and is mentioned a lot throughout the report.  The authors were not convinced by the 18 papers finding measures of decreased male fertility, but were more convinced by the 5 which had found no effect.  It isn't just about numbers, considering the quality of the studies is also important.  But it is hard to understand how an honest assessment of the scientific literature could possibly conclude that there remains no (convincing) evidence that radiofrequency radiation can decrease male fertility.
 

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