PRINTER'S NO. 916
No. 38 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY LASHINGER, BUNT, KOSINSKI, ANGSTADT, TRELLO,
ITKIN, VEON, GEIST, FOX, BELARDI, HECKLER, BATTISTO, SERAFINI
AND WOGAN, MARCH 14, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, MARCH 14, 1989
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Providing for a committee to investigate the public health
2 effects of nonionizing electromagnetic radiation.
3 WHEREAS, It has been suspected and recent preliminary studies
4 have indicated that exposure to nonionizing electromagnetic
5 radiation or radio frequency radiation has certain harmful,
6 irreversible effects on living organisms; and
7 WHEREAS, It is recognized that such exposure can affect the
8 normal function of the cells of the body, including reproductive
9 and neural cells, the immune system and the growth process; and
10 WHEREAS, It is known that such radiation is produced by
11 microwave equipment such as home ovens, scientific scanning
12 devices, radar transmission equipment, radio and television
13 transmission devices, high tension electric power transmission
14 lines as well as other suspected sources generating
15 electromagnetic radiation which are under study; and
16 WHEREAS, With the increased number of known and unknown
17 sources of electromagnetic radiation being used by business,
1 research, industry and in the home, more persons are, knowingly
2 or unknowingly, being exposed to the increasing amounts of
3 nonionizing electromagnetic radiation; and
4 WHEREAS, Studies to date have shown an increased incidence of
5 cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, abnormal cell
6 behavior, reproductive cell damage and neural cell damage in
7 persons exposed to nonionizing radiation; and
8 WHEREAS, While new sources of such radiation are continually
9 being discovered and studied, the types and location of emitting
10 devices is not reliably known and the extent of the short and
11 long-term effects on humans is still not conclusive; and
12 WHEREAS, Since there exists a potential for serious long-term
13 harmful effects to humans from unlimited exposure to such
14 nonionizing radiation, the feasibility of conducting a long-term
15 study on limits for exposure to such radiation should be
16 investigated; therefore be it
17 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the Speaker appoint a
18 select committee of five members, three from the majority party
19 and two from the minority party to conduct an investigation of
20 the feasibility, scope, available resources and cost to
21 establish a State study commission to investigate the short and
22 long-term public health effects of and to establish standards
23 for human exposure to nonionizing electromagnetic radiation; and
24 be it further
25 RESOLVED, That, in carrying out its duties, the select
26 committee shall avail itself of the professional, technical and
27 administrative services of the Department of Environmental
28 Resources and the Department of Health; and be it further
29 RESOLVED, That the Department of Environmental Resources and
30 the Department of Health shall provide at least one person,
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1 knowledgeable in the field, as staff to the select committee on
2 a full-time basis. The sum of $30,000 each is hereby
3 appropriated to the Department of Environmental Resources and
4 the Department of Health for reimbursement for the services
5 provided to the select committee pursuant to this resolution;
6 and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the select committee may hold hearings, take
8 testimony and make its investigations at such places, within and
9 without this Commonwealth as it deems necessary. Each member
10 shall have the power to administer oaths and affirmations to
11 witnesses appearing before the select committee; and be it
12 further
13 RESOLVED, That the select committee make a report of its
14 findings and recommendations to the House of Representatives on
15 or before November 30, 1990.
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