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YOU ARE HERE:

 1. Canada.ca
 2. Health
 3. Health risks and safety
 4. Radiation and your health
 5. Occupational radiation exposure


UNDERSTANDING SAFETY CODE 6: HEALTH CANADA'S RADIOFREQUENCY EXPOSURE GUIDELINES

Safety Code 6 is one of a series of safety codes that provides radiation
protection guidance for radiation emitting devices.


ON THIS PAGE

 * About Safety Code 6
 * Technical Guide for Safety Code 6
 * Safety Code 6 is based on scientific evidence
 * How Safety Code 6 protects you from radiofrequency EMF
 * International standards for exposure limits
 * What we do to keep you safe from radiofrequency EMF exposure
 * Factsheet to share


ABOUT SAFETY CODE 6

Safety Code 6 is a document that sets out recommended safety limits for human
exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the frequency range
from 3 kHz to 300 GHz. The safety code is complemented by recommended localized
human exposure limits for radiofrequency EMF in the range of 6 GHz to 300 GHz,
for scenarios where devices operating in this range are held close to the body.

This range covers the frequencies used by communications devices and equipment
that emit radiofrequency EMF such as:

 * Wi-Fi
 * cell phones
 * smart meters
 * those using 5G technology

The safety limits in the code:

 * are not device specific
 * protect against all established adverse health effects related to
   radiofrequency EMF, no matter the source
 * incorporate large safety margins to provide a significant level of protection
   for all Canadians, including those working near RF sources
 * provide protection for people of all ages and sizes, from exposure to all
   forms of radiofrequency EMF on a continuous (24 hours a day/7 days a week)
   basis

The exposure limits in Safety Code 6 are based on:

 * Health Canada research
 * an ongoing review of published scientific studies on potential adverse health
   effects

Safety Code 6 is reviewed on a regular basis to confirm that it continues to
provide protection against all known potentially adverse health effects.


SAFETY CODE 6

The Code is divided into 2 sections.

The first section provides:

 * an overview of the purpose of the code
 * a high level summary of the scientific literature showing:
   * the health effects of human exposure to radiofrequency EMFs
   * how these health effects have been used to establish the exposure limits
     within Safety Code 6

The second section of the Code provides:

 * details on what the exposure limits are and whether they are:
   * basic restrictions, that is, exposure limits within the body
   * reference levels, that is, exposure limits outside the body
 * a list of the key literature or reference materials used in the revisions to
   the code
 * definitions of key terms used throughout the code


TECHNICAL GUIDE FOR SAFETY CODE 6

The Technical Guide for Safety Code 6 is a companion publication intended for
professional and technical users. The Technical Guide:

 * contains information to help understand Safety Code 6
 * provides information about survey methods and examples of calculations for
   the basis of assessing exposure levels
 * provides recommended best practices for ensuring compliance with the maximum
   exposure levels for controlled and uncontrolled environments


SAFETY CODE 6 IS BASED ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

To establish the recommended exposure limits in Safety Code 6, we:

 * consider all peer-reviewed scientific studies
 * use a weight-of-evidence approach when reviewing scientific literature


SCIENTIFICALLY-ESTABLISHED HEALTH EFFECTS

We continuously review and consider all peer-reviewed scientific studies that
investigate potential biological and adverse health effects, including thermal
and non-thermal effects.

Biological effects are physiological responses that can happen for many reasons
and are not necessarily harmful. An adverse health effect results in harmful
conditions to the human body that might require medical attention.

There are 2 scientifically-established adverse health effects from exposures to
radiofrequency EMF:

 * At frequencies below 10 megahertz (MHz), peripheral nerve stimulation (a
   tingling sensation) can occur. The exposure limits in Safety Code 6 for
   frequencies below 10 MHz are set below the level (threshold) at which this
   effect could happen.
 * At frequencies above 100 kilohertz (kHz), tissue heating can occur. The
   exposure limits in Safety Code 6 for frequencies above 100 kHz are set below
   the level (threshold) at which this could happen.

No adverse health effects have been scientifically established at levels below
the limits in Safety Code 6.


WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE

The weight-of-evidence approach takes into account both the quantity of studies
and, more importantly, the quality of those studies.

Properly conducted studies receive more weight. These studies have:

 * appropriate statistics applied
 * all of the necessary controls included
 * complete evaluation of the radiofrequency source and exposure level

Poorly conducted studies receive little weight. These studies have limitations,
such as:

 * inadequate statistical analysis
 * lack of appropriate control samples
 * inadequate evaluation of the radiofrequency source and exposure level


HOW SAFETY CODE 6 PROTECTS YOU FROM RADIOFREQUENCY EMF

The exposure limits in Safety Code 6 are set to ensure the safety of all
Canadians from all adverse health effects.


SAFETY CODE 6 PROTECTS EVERYONE EXPOSED TO RADIOFREQUENCY EMF

Safety Code 6 exposure limits provide protection against all known adverse
health effects for all people including:

 * adults
 * vulnerable populations such as children
 * people who work near radiofrequency EMF sources

Based on current scientific data, we have concluded that you will not experience
adverse health effects from exposure to radiofrequency EMFs at the levels
permitted by Safety Code 6. This includes exposure from equipment that uses 5G
technology.

A number of people have described an assortment of health symptoms that they
attribute to exposure to electromagnetic fields. This collection of symptoms is
often referred to as Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS). It is not a
recognized medical diagnosis. While the symptoms attributed to EHS are real,
scientific evidence has failed to show they are caused by exposure to
electromagnetic fields.


SAFETY CODE 6 PROTECTS YOU FROM COMBINED EXPOSURES OF RADIOFREQUENCY EMF

You are protected from the combined exposure of radiofrequency EMFs from
multiple sources with Safety Code 6 exposure limits in place. Safety Code 6
takes into account the total exposure from all sources of radiofrequency EMF in
the range of 3kHz to 300 GHz. This includes those that may be used in 5G
technology.

This means that if someone, even a small child, had continuous exposure to
multiple sources of radiofrequency EMF within the Safety Code 6 limits, they
would not experience adverse health effects.


MOST RESEARCH DOES NOT SUPPORT A LINK BETWEEN RADIOFREQUENCY EMF AND CANCER

In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part
of the World Health Organization, classified radiofrequency EMFs as possibly
carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). This decision was based on limited evidence
showing an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer,
associated with wireless phone use.

However:

 * IARC did not find a direct link between radiofrequency EMF exposure and
   cancer
 * the vast majority of research to date does not support a link between
   radiofrequency EMF exposure and cancers in humans

We agree with the World Health Organization that additional research in this
area is warranted.


INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR EXPOSURE LIMITS

The exposure limits in Safety Code 6 are consistent with the standards used in
other parts of the world, including:

 * Japan
 * Australia
 * New Zealand
 * the United States
 * the European Union

Internationally, a few jurisdictions (cities, provinces or countries) have
applied more restrictive limits for radiofrequency EMF exposure from cell
towers.

These more restrictive limits:

 * have no scientific basis to support them
 * are not consistently applied to other wireless devices within these same
   jurisdictions


WHAT WE DO TO KEEP YOU SAFE FROM RADIOFREQUENCY EMF EXPOSURE

To protect your health and safety, Health Canada scientists:

 * develop human exposure guidelines (Safety Code 6) to radiofrequency EMF
 * conduct research on the potential health effects of radiofrequency EMF
   exposure
 * continuously monitor and analyze all domestic and international scientific
   literature related to the health effects of radiofrequency EMF exposure
 * contribute to international efforts such as those of the World Health
   Organization EMF Project to assess potential health risks from radiofrequency
   EMF

Health Canada has also funded scientific research on radiofrequency EMF and
health through the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR).

While Health Canada recommends limits for safe human exposure, the department
does not regulate your exposure to radiofrequency EMFs.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) regulates wireless
communication equipment such as:

 * Wi-Fi
 * cell phones
 * cell phone towers

ISED also:

 * oversees the licensing and placement of cell phone towers
 * ensures that these towers comply with regulatory standards for human exposure
   limits outlined in Safety Code 6
 * considers the effects on the environment and local land use before towers are
   installed
 * develops regulatory standards that require compliance with the human exposure
   limits outlines in Safety Code 6
 * ensures that exposure to radiofrequency EMFs from cell phones and cell phone
   towers do not exceed the specified limits
 * maintains a market surveillance program and routinely audits antenna
   installations and devices to verify compliance

If new scientific evidence were to show that exposure to radiofrequency EMF
below the levels found in Safety Code 6 poses a risk, the Government of Canada
would take steps to protect the health of Canadians.


FACTSHEET TO SHARE


UNDERSTANDING SAFETY CODE 6 (PDF)

About Safety Code 6, about the safety limits and how devices are regulated


RELATED LINKS

 * Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (EMF)
 * Radiofrequency energy and safety
 * Everyday things that emit radiation
 * IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans
 * Weight of Evidence: General Principles and Current Applications at Health
   Canada
 * Technical Guide for Safety Code 6: Health Canada's Radiofrequency Exposure
   Guidelines
 * Safety Code 6 - Limits of Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic
   Energy in the Frequency Range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz (2015)


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Date modified: 2023-12-14





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