The level of electromagnetic radiation at the student lodgings called Vildanden is up to ten times higher than the Socialstyrelsen (The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare) deems to be harmless. The housing agency for students in Lund, AFB, has been aware of the radiation for almost two years, but chosen not to notify its tenants. One tenant says, “Of course it is worrying.”
As far back as January 2005, AF Bostäder (AFB, the student housing agency in Lund) measured electromagnetic radiation levels in a flat in the students’ lodgings of Vildanden after one of the tenants discovered that levels were unusually high.
The tenant, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells Lundagård: “I had a very simple instrument that only indicates results in green, orange or red. When I measured, the colour red appeared instantly.”
Three times higher than level deemed safe
AFB’s measurement showed magnetic fields as high as 1.2 micro Tesla, which is three times higher than the level deemed to be safe, by Socialstyrelsen, 0.4 micro Tesla. Following this, AFB has carried out three new measurements in the house, and all measurements have indicated higher radiation levels than at the first measurement, the highest level being 4 micro Tesla.
The area with the highest level of radiation is found on the middle floor, inside the apartments at floor level along the outer wall.
“It feels like paying for an area you can’t use” says one tenant at Vildanden. Even if the danger of this is unclear, of course it is worrying. Living or working in an area where levels are 0.4 micro Tesla is thought to increase the risk of contracting leukaemia. According to Strålskyddslagen (the Swedish radiation laws), it is the responsibility of the owner to inform those who live or work in environments where there is radiation about the risks involved.
Tenants were not informed
AFB’s very own eco policy states that the company is to spread knowledge of relevant environmental issues. Despite this, the AFB has not notified the tenants of the houses concerned, (W and U) about the risks involved with living there. Neither were the tenants informed about why the electricity supply was turned off when levels were measured.
“I don’t think that it is appropriate to talk about it at this stage. You run the risk of worrying many tenants for no reason at all. It is more important to establish what the situation is and to consider the risks before spreading information” says Rolf Svensson, the managing director of AFB.
”There is little justification for spending money on this”
According to Swedish law, the owner must avoid risking people’s health as far as is economically reasonable. AFB’s eco policy also states that the aim is to be one step ahead of relevant legislation and other demands. But AFB has chosen not to go through with any of the steps suggested by the firm of consultants who carried out the measurements. Instead, they have stated to the local authorities that “it is difficult under the present circumstances to justify the costs and interferences that the proposal would involve”.
“I have made a rough estimation of the costs, and some parts would involve six-figure sums. Following this, we have considered the situation and decided that there is little justification for spending large amounts of money on this. If we were to carry out these steps we would probably be accused of spending our money unwisely”, Rolf Svensson says.
Recommended for families
Another case of electromagnetic radiation, in the western part of Lund, has received attention. When levels at the school called Gråsparvsskolan reached 0.25 micro Tesla indoors and 1.67 micro Tesla outdoors on the lawn, children under the age of six were no longer allowed outside in the school area. In the houses marked with the letters W and U at Vildanden, radiation levels are double this. Still, AFB states on their home page that Vildanden is an ideal place to live for families.
“We are not experts. It is difficult when there are no guidelines to go by. But this is not enough reason to recommend that families should not live there”, Rolf Svensson says. Miljöförvaltningen (the environmental administration unit of the municipality) is now analysing AFB’s reluctance to lower radiation levels at Vildanden. The decision of the municipality is not yet known. AFB is currently measuring electromagnetic fields in another house as there are further suspicions of high levels. But these levels have not been disclosed.
DANGEROUS OR NOT
It is a disputed question whether electromagnetic radiation in low doses is dangerous or not, and likewise when it comes to radiation from cell phones and cell phone transmission facilities.
The WHO organization International Agency for Research on Cancer believes that low magnetic fields should be classified as “possibly causing cancer.” Other substances which received the same classification are for example lead, petrol and coffee. A number of investigations indicate that there is a slight connection between electromagnetic radiation and children contracting leukaemia. In miljöbalken, ellagen and strålskyddslagen (which roughly translates as the Swedish environmental act, the electricity act and the act of protection against radiation), there are therefore no guidelines for acceptable levels.
Principle of carefulness
Instead, a principle of carefulness applies. Socialstyrelsen uses the level of 0.4 micro Tesla as a level of reference. This means that with certainty that anything below this level is harmless. But it is unknown if levels above 0.4 micro Tesla are harmless if exposed to during a longer time.
A normal vacuum cleaner produces op to 35 micro Tesla, but the level decreases quickly as the distance to the source increases.
Translation: Carolina Wickander
