Item - 2013.HL25.5

This report responds to a motion by the Board of Health (BOH) to review the City of Toronto's Prudent Avoidance (PA) policy related to radiofrequencies (RFs) emitted from cell phone towers and to provide an update on evidence regarding public health impacts from exposure to cell tower RFs. Under the policy, adopted by City Council in 2008 as recommended by the BOH, Toronto Public Health (TPH) reviews the predicted RF values provided by companies applying to install new cell phone base stations (cell towers) in Toronto and requests that providers keep RF emission levels 100 times below Safety Code 6, Health Canada's public exposure guideline. Compliance with the PA policy is voluntary as the authority to regulate cell phone towers (including siting and the development of appropriate RF exposure levels) rests with the federal government.

Since 2008, 33 applications for towers have been assessed by TPH and compliance with the PA policy has been high. With few exceptions, RF emissions estimates typically have met the PA policy level and all have been well below Safety Code 6. The application of the policy is however restricted to a relatively small subset of cell towers in the City that are subject to municipal consultation and enforceability is constrained by a lack of municipal jurisdiction.

From its review of recent health evidence, TPH notes that the majority scientific opinion indicates that the health risk to the public from cell towers and other telecommunications sources of RFs is low. 

Toronto Public Health responds regularly to resident concerns and councillor inquiries about cell phone towers and antennas. Response strategies have involved site visits, requesting information on emissions from the provider and/or Industry Canada and most recently, taking field measurements of RFs from specific antennas.  The information reviewed by TPH has indicated that the RF levels from these antenna systems have consistently been well below Safety Code 6 and have met the PA policy level. 

Based on a review of evidence and TPH's experience implementing the policy, continued application of the PA policy in the form of a stricter exposure guideline is no longer necessary as it does not confer a health benefit to the residents of Toronto. The Medical Officer of Health therefore recommends that the Board support discontinuation of the PA policy.  Toronto Public Health will continue to monitor the health evidence related to RFs from cell towers and will continue to respond to and address public concerns as they arise.