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Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)

The problem of conflict of interest & commercial influence in WHO agencies and the need for public interest representation
Don Maisch PhD May 5, 2011

Conflict of interest exists when an author (or the author’s institution), reviewer, or editor has financial or personal relationships that inappropriately influence (bias) his or her actions . . .

The potential for conflict of interest can exist whether or not an individual believes that the relationship affects his or her scientific judgement. Financial relationships . . . are the most easily identifiable conflicts of interest and the most likely to undermine the credibility of the journal, the authors, and of science itself."

Abstract
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), was established in 1965 as an agency of the World Health Organization (WHO) with a mission to develop strategies for cancer prevention and control. One of its prime roles is to evaluate and classify the carcinogenicity of chemicals and other substances (including electromagnetic radiation) through published monographs that will then be used by international and national health and regulatory agencies to protect public health. In order to block undue commercial influence in its assessment process the IARC has stipulated that in order to participate in its working groups, members must have no real or apparent conflicts of interests – meaning that they cannot be working for the affected industry. This does not eliminate the potential for commercial influence, however, as industry representatives, with an obvious bias to protect their commercial sector, can still be directly involved in IARC meetings. This is exampled by the May 24-30, 2011 IARC meeting that will be discussing the carcinogenicity of radio-frequency and microwave radiation. Other examples of the problems created by allowing industry involvement in WHO advisory groups, namely the Chernobyl Forum and the Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Task Group (2005) are examined with a warning on forgetting the hard lessons learned by the WHO from its past experience with the tobacco industry.

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International EMF Alliance
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