23 March 2020
You also state that the Ministry and the Committee form conclusions on the safety of
millimetre wave frequencies based on small group studies which are small-scale and have
not been replicated. A recent review of in-vivo and in-vitro research at frequencies between 5
and 100GHz found that there was no clear evidence of health effects at exposure levels
below those allowed by the current limits. For your reference, this study can be found at the
following link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31540320/.
The 2019 edition of the "IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure
to Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields, 0 Hz to 300 GHz" developed by the IEEE
International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety, includes an appendix that briefly reviews
millimetre wave research and cites approximately the same number of studies. This
includes research on eye damage and concludes that there is no evidence of ocular disorder
due to radiofrequency exposure below the present international guidelines. This standard
can be found at the following link: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/browse/standards/get-
prog ram/page.
You can find references to these studies in the IEEE Standard. No novel interaction
mechanisms have been identified that would invalidate current thinking on health effects.
I trust this information fulfils your request. Under section 28 of the Act, you may ask the
Ombudsman to review any decisions made under this request.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website.
Yours sincerely
o/alvvd£;
Deborah Woodley
Deputy Director-General
Population Health and Prevention