THE SENATE                           S.R. NO.              31
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1999                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________


                    SENATE  RESOLUTION

  REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF
    ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELDS ON THE INCIDENCE OF CANCER IN
    HAWAII'S POPULATION.
 


 1        WHEREAS, the generation, transmission, and use of
 2   electrical energy are associated with the production of
 3   electric and magnetic fields (EMF); and
 4   
 5        WHEREAS, there are growing concerns about the potential
 6   adverse health effects of exposure to EMF; and
 7   
 8        WHEREAS, various studies of EMF effects have found that
 9   EMF exposure may increase the risk of immunological and
10   hematological disorders and can block the protective action of
11   melatonin against the growth of cancer cells; and
12   
13        WHEREAS, in June 1998, a majority of the members of an
14   international committee convened by the National Institute of
15   Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) concluded that power line
16   frequency EMF are possibly carcinogenic to humans; and
17   
18        WHEREAS, given the NIEHS' finding and the fact that the
19   State lacks standards for the strength of electric and magnetic
20   fields emissions from high voltage transmission lines, Hawaii's
21   residents may be at risk for cancer from power line frequency
22   EMF; and 
23   
24        WHEREAS, to better understand and assess the risk posed by
25   EMF emissions, a study should be done on the effects of EMF
26   exposure on Hawaii's population; and 
27   
28        WHEREAS, the Department of Health is the appropriate
29   agency to conduct such a study since it is charged under
30   chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, with the general
31   oversight and care of the people of Hawaii, and with
32   maintaining an environmentally-related human illness and injury
33   surveillance system; now, therefore, 
34   

 
Page 2                                                     
                                  S.R. NO.              31
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1        BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twentieth Legislature
 2   of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 1999, that the
 3   Department of Health is requested to study and prepare a report
 4   on the effects of electric and magnetic fields on the incidence
 5   of cancer in Hawaii's population, and specifically to study and
 6   report on the relationship between EMF exposure and the
 7   development of all childhood cancers, adult leukemia, brain
 8   cancer, and breast cancer; and 
 9   
10        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is
11   requested to report its findings and any recommendations to the
12   Legislature twenty days before the convening of the Regular
13   Session of 2000; and
14   
15        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this
16   Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.
17 
18 
19 
20                         OFFERED BY:  ____________________________