ABSTRACT
During the second half of 1980s and early 1990s a number of discussions regarding the potential hazard of electromagnetic fields from power lines took place in the news media. Epidemiological studies on the potential hazards of electromagnetic fields (EMF) with respect to the initiation of cancer were the base for controversial opinions (1-3). To help in resolving this issue the congress of the United States allocated $41 million for a 5-year RAPID program designed to investigate the potential of EMF to initiate cancer. After five years this program as well as several other independent panels concluded “there is no convincing evidence to affirm that magnetic fields from power lines are associated with cancer promotion.” Neither federal nor state funding was, however, available in the United States for studying the beneficial effects of magnetic and electromagnetic fields for the treatment of various injuries and diseases. The information available for countries from Europe and Asia do not show significant difference in the funding of magnetotherapy. Basically, all innovations, new methods, and instruments are funded by private sponsors or manufacturers of the devices.
