APPENDIX 2
Memorandum from the Health Protection
Agency
MRI EQUIPMENT: THE
EU PHYSICAL AGENTS
(ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS)
DIRECTIVE
I understand the Scientific and Technology Committee
is to review scientific advice and policy related to the use of
MRI equipment and the EU Physical Agents (Electromagnetic Fields)
Directive. I am writing to you as I have Directorate responsibility
within HPA for work on non-ionising radiation. This includes exposures
to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).
We are aware of the concern that has been raised
by the medical community about the Physical Agents Directive and
its implications for the use of MRI equipment. The issues raised
related to the high level static fields and also time-varying
electromagnetic fields that medical staff could be exposed to
when using the equipment. The concerns relate to the guidelines
in the Directive, which largely derive from those recommended
by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
(ICNIRP). The lead departments for UK input to the Directive were
the Department of Health (DH) and the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE).
In May last year, NRPB (now the Radiation Protection
Division of the HPA) recommended the application of the ICNIRP
guidelines across the UK for EMFs in the range 0-300 GHz. This
followed an extensive review of the scientific information underpinning
the guidelines and a consultation exercise on our web site. The
advice and a review of the main issues raised during the collaboration
are available on the HPA web site:
Advice—http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/documents_of_nrpb/abstracts/absd15-2.htm
Scientific Review—http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/documents_of_nrpb/abstracts/absd15
-3.htm
Consultation Response—http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/publications/w_series_reports/2004/nrpb_w
59.htm
As a result of the concerns raised by the medical
community about the use of MRI and questions raised by Ministers,
HPA posted on its web site an Information Sheet on MRI-EC Physical
Agents Directive. This summarised the issues that had been raised
and the requirements of the EC Directive. It also detailed exposure
limit values, covered MRI exposures and recent work on exposure
guidelines by ICNIRP and HPA as well as the roles of the HSE and
the Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency. We received
comments that the Information Sheet had been helpful to officials
in Government Departments in briefing Ministers.
Responsibility for controls on occupational
exposure to EMFs lies with the HSE and we received information
on 23 October 2005 that the organisation was to set up a Forum
to discuss the issues raised by the medical community on the use
of MRI and the implications of the Directive. The meeting will
be on 6 January 2006. We will be represented by Dr Alastair
McKinlay, Head of the Physical Dosimetry Department, who led the
development of NRPB/RPD advice on EMF exposure guidelines as well
as being Chair of ICNIRP up to May 2004. He will be accompanied
by Mr Steve Ebdon-Jackson who is responsible for the Intentional
Medical and Environmental Exposure Department (IMEEx) and Dr Rick
Saunders, the Group Leader in Radiation Effects Department, who
has been responsible for much of the work we have done reviewing
health effects of exposure to non-ionising radiation. Mr Arwel
Barrett has the lead for HSE.
I give below the link to the Information Sheet
on our web site and also attach a Word file.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/radiation/understand/information_sheets/mri_ec_directive_2004_40_ec.htm
If you need any further information or copies
of the reports referred to in the Information Sheet, I will be
able to provide them for you.
November 2005
REFERENCES
McKinlay AF, Allen SG, Cox R, Dimbylow PJ, Mann SM,
Muirhead CR, Saunders RD, Sienkiewicz ZJ, Stather JW and Wainwright
PR (2004). Advice on Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields
(0-300 GHz). Doc NRPB, 15(2).
McKinlay AF, Allen SG, Cox R, Dimbylow PJ, Mann SM,
Muirhead CR, Saunders RD, Sienkiewicz ZJ, Stather JW and Wainwright
PR (2004). Review of the Scientific Evidence for Limiting Exposure
to Electromagnetic Fields (0-300 GHz). Doc NRPB, 15(3).
McKinlay AF, Allen SG, Cox R, Dimbylow PJ, Mann SM,
Meara JR, Muirhead CR, Saunders RD, Sienkiewicz ZJ, Stather JW
and Wainwright PR (2004). Proposals for Limiting Exposure to
Electromagnetic Fields (0 to 300 GHz). Summary of comments received
on the May 2003 Consultation Document and responses from NRPB.
NRPB-W59.
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