Krakow 23/9/2019

PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE IN PRACTICE-

ACTIONS IN CYPRUS IN ENSURING PROTECTION FROM ELECTROMAGNETIC POLLUTION

Dr Stella Canna Michaelidou

President of the Cyprus National Committee on Environment and Children’s Health

4th International Forum

On Protection From Electromagnetic Pollution Precautionary Principle

23 September 2019 Krakow

CYPRUS NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH

(Ministerial Council Decision No. 59.304, 28/1/04)

A Multidisciplinary, Independent scientific Comm. of volunteers . appointed by Ministerial Council. Activities are financed by Min. of Health. Our mandate :

• To provide scientific support/advice to the Minister of Health, other Ministers, Regulators and Decision Makers.

• To Raise Awareness - integrate prevention and precaution into policies and every day life.

• To Educate the public & to train Professionals

• To insure prompt responses to emerging threats and not fully established but well documented risks via application of the Precautionary Principle

Non executive power

WHY SUCH A COMMITTE

• Risk assessment/Risk Management practices and Legislation in many cases fails or take DELAYED ACTIONS to protect the health of infants and children.*

WHY ?

Because of Uncertainties or Scientific Ignorance / Controversies and /or Economic Interest:

examples

ETS, synergistic/ cocktail effects , biological effects of EMF/RF

*Based on. “Applying the precautionary principle in environmental risk assessment to children”,

EUR/04/5046267/BD/9, Ph.J. Landrigan & L.Trasande

Examples : Hg, Asbestos ETS , EMF/RF Non ionizing Radiation,

Factors contributing to gaps, uncertainties , conflicting studies and might lead to Biological inconsistency among studies

Multifactorial Effect depending on exposure, frequency, modulation etc , vulnerability of the subject

Physical and Biological parameters varied among studies

Exposure: increasing & highly variable in terms of frequency, duration and sources (ANSES 2016) . multiple/variable frequencies

- Windows of intensity do exist There is no linearity 1between intensity and effect

Wide passive exposure: Difficult in 21st century to identify totally unexposed Blank population

Long term effects not yet fully uploaded might fall out of the timeframe of studies – Synergistic effects?

Adequate children oriented studies are missing (WHO/ANSES

Existing difficulties in Risk Assessment of EMF/RFR

Industry independent research confirmed effects at

level well below INCRIP limits

Neurological/ neuropsychiatric inpacts: by 72% out of 305 studies

Impact on DNA via oxidative mechanisms: by 90% out of 225 studies

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The evidence is growing :

Review 2019, of peer review studies on impact of low intensity EMF/RF Review (Lay 2019) 2012,2014,2017/2019 of peer review studies on impact of EMF/RFR, Bionitative Report summary of studies 2019

Carcinogenicity: From Possible 2b Carcinogen 2011 to new Epidemiology (L. Hardell up to 2018, Hill criteria of causality met Hardell et al 2013 Rev Env Health) and two consistent Animal studies: NTP/USA 2016,2018 Ramazzini Institute 2018 : RE EVALUATION FOR CARCINOGEN class 1, is fully justified,

FETUS -INFANTS - CHILDREN

WHY?

THE MOST EXPOSED – THE MOST VULNERABLE

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OUR FOCUS ON

Undisputable by WHO FACTS and not only

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The exposure for a 3-year old child (compared

to an adult) is up to twice in brain tissues up to 10χ marrow bone

WHO 2014: “We don’t know yet all the effects but the impact of EMF/RFR on Foetuses and Children might be higher”

Foetus and child have UNIQUE WINDOWS OF

VULNERABILITY NOT FOUND IN ADULTS (WΗΟ 2005)

• Early exposure can initiate a cascade of alterations which may not be

detected structurally or functionally until much later in life.

• The effects may be manifested as:

– persistent or transient deficits,

– developmental delays,

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9/23/2019 9

Environmental Stress, Exposure to Toxic Factors during development

acts via developmental plasticity to alter the ways in which the embryo, foetus and infant develop respond to

environmental challenges. This could affect the risk of non-

communicable disease

Developmental Origins of Health & Disease (adapted from WHO modules 2011)

Gluckman, P. et al. The fetal, neonatal, and infant environments - the long-term consequences for disease risk. Early Human Development, 2005, 81: 51-59.

Grandjean. P. Prenatal programming and toxicity. Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2008, 102:2

In this review they conclude that evidence

supports a link between developmental

neuroplasticity and neurodegenerative

processes later like Alzheimer's and

Parkinson's Disease

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Developmental neuroplasticity and the origin of neurodegenerative diseases, Schaefers At. , Teuchert-Noodt, G.

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2016 Dec;17(8):587-599. Epub 2013 May 24

Biological effects extremely important for children

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• Developmental Neurotoxicity

• Cancer,

• reproductive disorders

• Immune Dysfunction

• but also addiction,

cognition problems, sleep,

and behavioral problems (L.

Hardell 2017)

• Reduction in melatonin

& other free-radical scavengers

• Destruction of Myelin. There is association between RF-EMF exposure and either myelin deterioration or a direct impact

on neuronal conduction, M.Redmayne

& Olle Johanssonc Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B: Critical Reviews .Volume 17, Issue 5, pages 247-258, 2014

• Increase the perfusion of blood-brain barrier

DEFENCE MECHANISMS affected

Potential SYNERGY with toxic

chemicals

Long-term chronic diseases and disabilities

Short-term effects

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Insomnia, sleeping disorders, headaches, nervousness, ear ringing

Baby crying in the night with out reason

Attention deficit, learning difficulties,

“Unexplained” changes in school performance,

Pains at multiple body sites

etc

?

(1 of 3) WHY Children are more susceptible to EMF/RF, WHY?

• IMMATURE DEFENCE MECHANISMS ,organs,

systems and functions constantly DEVELOPING

AND FASTER CELL DIVISION

• HIGHER DENSITIES OF EMBRYONIC STEM cells which are particularly affected by EMF and difficult to adapt to chronic RF exposure,(Belyaev 2012,Environ Health Perspect.118(3); 394-99 *

• HIGHER SENSITIVITIES TO EPIGENETIC CHANGES IN DNA CAUSED BY EMF/RFR (Davis and Lowell 2008), which CAN CHANGE CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT IN PARTICULAR THE NEUROLOGICAL ONE (Sage, C. et al . 2017), SCMichaelidou 13

(2 of 3) WHY Children are more susceptible to EMF/RF, WHY?

• THE FASTER CELL DIVISION in children in

conjunction with DECREASED DNA repair and

INCREASED DNA damage following EMF

exposure strongly suggest that children may

be INCREASINGLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO

CANCER AND TO DISRUPTION OF BRAIN

DEVELOPMENT (may also be relevant to

autism) (from Martin Pall 2018)

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κτινοβολία αυτή διεισδύει βαθιά μέσα στο σώμα (και στον ΠΟΛΛΑΠΛΗέφαλο)

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EMF-RFR can be extremely bioactive when exposure is repeated, intermittent and multiple.

1999

2019….

IT STARTs AND CONTNUES THROUOGH VULNERABLE STAGES EMBRYO TO ADULECENCE

INTERMITTENT

MULTIPLE

ADDITIVE

Child absorbs about twice as much radiation into the cerebellum, and up to thirtyfold more into the hippocampus–the part of the brain central to memory, emotions, and impulse control.( Fernandez 2018)

• More year of cumulative exposure

• Greater exposure and deeper radiation penetration

because of smaller and thinner skull, higher dielectric

constant and greater conductivity

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WHY?? 3/3 – GREATER INTERNAL

EXPOSURE

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17 Review Morgan et al Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure (2014) 197–204)

Up to 2χ in brain tissues up to 10χ marrow bone Ref WHO/IARC

2011, 102

4.5 W/Kg 2.9 W/Kg 3.2 W/Kg

5 years Adult 10 years

Ghandi et al. IEEE Trans, Microwave Theory & Techniques, Vol. 44(10), pp. 1884-1897, 1996

Cell Phone Radiation Simulation Ref EHT by Fernandes, 2017

From RED the highest , to YELLOW the lowest intensity

Wi-Fi Radiation Penetrates The Brain Simulation of Peak Exposures from Tablet into 6 Year Old

Child

W:10V/m Black 32mV/m

Tablet at 150 mm (5.9 inches) from eye lens

20

21

• The time-varying electromagnetic waves have the potential

to temporally modulate the nervous system. This temporal

disruption in foetus and infants might act to severely delay

or disrupt vital initial calibration of the brain networks such

as the mirror neuron system

Effects - a snapshot

. Based on strong evidence RFR can plausibly increase autism risk and symptoms. Martha Herbert, 2012

Wireless devices used by pregnant women may alter brain development of the foetus. This has been linked to hyperactivity, learning and

behaviour problems (Bionitative 2012). SCMichaelidou 22

1. FROM ANIMAL STUDIES: Prenatally exposure to EMF/RF found to

• damage or even destroy brain cells (Zhao, et al 2007),

cause hyperactivity , reduce memory (Aldad, et al 2012,)

impaired learning & Memory and also showed damage and histopathological changes in the hippocampus. (Inkinci, et al 2013),

damaged spinal cords (Odaci, et al 2013)

2. FROM EPIDEMIOLOGY Prenatal and Postnatal exposure : Effects on Behaviour and other problems and hyperactivity in children

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The Joint Statement on Pregnancy and Wireless Radiation 2014, signed by 236

scientists http://www.babysafeproject.org/joint-statement.html

USAGE of mobile 2-3 times/day by a pregnant woman linked with behavioural problems in their child (DANISH cohort -13000 children

54% more risk for the child to develop behavioural social and sentimental problems by the age of 7

The risk can go up to 80% when children are in addition continuing to be exposed postnatally

J Epidemiol Community Health. 2012

Cell phone use and behavioral problems in young children. Divan HA, Kheifets L, Obel C, Olsen J. UCLA, CA, USA.

• A 'new’ dataset consisted of 28 745 children (1998-2002) with completed Age-7 Questionnaires to December 2008.

• Additional confounders were considered (e.g mother's and father's psychiatric, cognitive or behavioural problems as a child, gestational age, mother's prenatal stress etc)

CONCLUSIONS:

The findings of the previous publication were replicated

demonstrating that cell phone use was associated with behavioral

problems at age 7 years in children, even if confounder factors were

considered.

1. MULTINATIONAL , 5 Cohorts, 83,884 mother-child pairs , 38.8% of mothers reported no use of cell phones.

2. Evidence was observed for hyperactivity/inattention problems

• Medium users OR:1.11, 95%CI 1.01, 1.22

• High users; OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.12, 1.48,

• Association fairly consistent across cohorts and between cohorts with retrospectively and prospectively collected cell phone use data.

3. Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk for behaviou

4. ral problems, particularly hyperactivity and inattention problems, in the offspring

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Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy and child behavioural problems in five birth

cohorts, Birks L et al Environ Int 2017 Jul;104:122-j.envint.2017.03.024. Epub

2017 Apr 7.

Maternal cell phone use during pregnancy may be

associated with an increased risk for behavioural

problems, particularly hyperactivity and

inattention problems, in the offspring

•Medium users OR:1.11, 95%CI 1.01-1.22

•High users OR 1.28, 95%CI 1.12-1.48

Wi-Fi: Cause passive and Active exposure

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Scientific reality WIFI

the average Wi-Fi emitted energy is much lower than from mobile but

1. WI-FI HAVE PULSES & PEAKS OF VERY HIGH INTENSITY -BIOACTIVITY

2. EXPOSURE DURATION CAN be VERY LONG FOR SOME HOURS up to 24h

3. Wi-Fi depletes antioxidants and creates pro-oxidant oxidative stress that damages DNA, cell structures, membranes, and more (Martha Herbert, 2016, Pall, M. 2018 Environmental Research 164 (2018) 405–416

4. Review of 100 studies reveal damage to the reproductive system, brain functions, heart, liver, thyroid, gene expression, cell cycle, cell membranes, bacteria, and plants, on learning, memory, attention, and behaviour Wilke I : umwelt ∙ medizin ∙ gesellschaft 2018 Feb 31(1)

Mythos

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Wi-Fi in school can be like this !!! A multiple disperse/passive/active

exposure 7h/5d/week /every working week Image adapted from the excellent video by

Wi-Fi in schools Autralia

PASSIVE

ACTIVE

• Medical and Scientific Associations, • many countries • scientific groups or officials in France, Cyprus, Germany Austria Italy

,Israel, • Reykjavik Appeal 2017, • Nicosia Declaration 2017

Are opposing Wi-Fi in school

• e

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AGAINST OR RESTRICTING

SCHOOL Wi-Fi

2011 ,Resolution 1815 8.3.2. for children in general, and particularly in schools and classrooms, give preference to wired Internet connections, and strictly regulate the use of mobile phones by schoolchildren on school

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France February 2015 : Legislation prohibiting Wi-Fi at nurseries and other restrictions …..

CYPRUS 2017……(Degree Min of Education): Wi-Fi at nurseries and public elementary schools is prohibited.

No Wi-Fi in Kindergarden

France Sept 2018: For the ages up to 15 tears mobile phones, tablets

and wireless devices /connections are prohibited at schools including

breaks. This rule can be also applied on a voluntary basis for lyceums

But what is happening from the invasion of digital technology in the lives of infants and

children ?????

Thousands of apps and devices are developed and marketed

None of these is ever tested for

potential health impact to the young developing, not fully

myelinated brain and body of toddlers and infants,

We can and must choose to protect our child’s brain development…….. BOOKS not digital or

wireless applications

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My beloved grand child Alexandros under training and……developing his brain

WHO CLASIFIES GAME DISORDER as AN ADDICTIVE BEHAVIOUR DISORDER Code 6C51

June 2018

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ADDICTION

The National Committee advices: Protect children and adolescents from the neurotoxic and

possibly carcinogenic radiation and the ADDICTION caused from the unrational use of digital technology

REDUCTION OF THE EXPOSURE -

RATIONAL AGE RELATED USAGE

Graduate introduction of digital

Tech.

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HOW we are addressing the risks of wireless technology

• Campaign 2014-2019… “Awareness raise to reduce exposure and protect

children from EMF/RF

POLICY Level Awareness Raise & Promote

Precautionary attitudes PARENTS

HOUSE AND SCHOOLS …

DOCTORS & Health care

Education

Cooperation

HOW we are addressing the risks of wireless technology

POLICY Level Min. of Education Min. Of Health Parliament Environment Commissioner

2017……(Degree Min of Education): Wi-Fi at nurseries and public elementary

schools is PROHIBITED

2017 Nicosia Declaration Vienna /Austria Medical Association , Cy Medical Association (CyMA) and

Committee 2019 Common position on 5G submitted to Parliament CyMA and Committee

HOW we are addressing the risks of wireless technology

Training and education • Paediatricians • Health care

providers But also • Teachers • children

FOCUS TO DOCTORS

• Nicosia

Declaration2017 • Common position on 5G

• Co organizing

Conferences

• Project for No Wi-Fi in paediatric units

Doctors and Health care providers, well educated on the EMF/RF

can -inform –influence- raise awareness and empower parents to

apply and demand safe Environment at home and schools

KEY Recommendations

• Limits need to be revised but in the mean time existing science based / biological relevant criteria must be applied to evaluate children’s exposure from devices or infrastructures.

• age related rational application of digital technology

• not allow wireless networks at schools, particular at preschool, kindergarten and elementary schools and opt for wired connections.,

• At home and schools the use of mobile phones and other wireless devices must be minimized.

Currently under revision to address 5G

One Picture

…..1000s of words

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Ref Broomhall, R 2019 . https://www.wesaynoto5ginaustralia.com/raymond-broomhall-action

THE 5G issue discussion at the Parliament 19/9/19

Common position of CyCECH & Cy Medical Association

• 1. Serious Concerns for additional exposure and health risks

• 2. We Urge for appropriate health and environmental impact assessment prior to deployment

• 3. Recommendation for legislative, compensatory measures for the protection of vulnerable population groups, especially foetus, infants and children, 40 SCMichaelidou

Common position with Cy Medical Association on 5G

•We ask for Legislative measures to

1. Ban the use of wireless internet and wireless devices eg tablets and mobiles in kindergartens and schools at least up to gymnasium

2. To establish “Free from 5G- protective zones” for schools, playgrounds , nurseries and hospitals and to use biologically safe exposure criteria in assessing the exposure of children (EUROPAEM European Association for Environmental Medicine 2016 )

3. To support the “right to Know” via mandatory science based awareness raise campaign supported by the government. Content will be under the scientific responsibility/approval of the Cyprus Medical Association and the Environment and Children's Health Committee

41 SCMichaelidou

THE 5G issue discussion at the Parliament 19/9/19

Common position of CyCECH & Cy Medical Association

We have switched off the

Wi-Fi

www.ehtrust.org

Protect the ones you love,

KEEP your cell phones &

tablets out of the children’s

room

ΝΑΜ ΙΙΙ - ΜΕΘΠ

EXPOSURE REDUCTION AT PAIDIATRIC UNITS

ΝΑΜ ΙΙΙ - ΜΕΘΠ

Cyprus Committee on

Environment and

Children’s Health

Intensive Care Unit

Ref Report by Th Metsis and St C. Michaelidou, 2019

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A. Passive exposure at distance 0-10m:

With isometric Antenna 1070-20,000 μW/m2

With Directional 420-14,000 μW/m2

B. Active exposure e.g downloading video: 9,000 -

26,000 μW/m2

. Ref Report by Th Metsis and St C. Michaelidou, 2019

Intensive Care Unit

Ref Report by Th Metsis and St C. Michaelidou, 2019

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Wi-Fi caused high passive exposure up to a distance of

10m and very high active exposure

After the disconnection of Wi-Fi and the use of

wired connection to down load video, exposure

dramatically dropped to safe levels 0-59 μW/m2

within biologically-based limits6000 μW/m2

We are still struggling to avoid carrying and using mobile

phones, especially “smart” phones, by parents and nurses in

children chambers,.

• Wired Internet should be the only option for children hospitals

• The pilot campaign indicated the problem of ignorance within staff

and parents and the underestimation of risks, as well as the lack

of knowledge on good practices about the Prophylaxis of children

and the reduction of their Exposure.

• New 3G/4G and potential 5G antennas near the Hospital must be at

any cost avoided- Free from 5G zone around the hospital

• We aim to implement the measure to other units and tranform

Makarios Hospital to a Wi=Fi free 46

Makarios Pilot: What we learn Ref Report by Th Metsis and St C. Michaelidou, 2019

HOW we are addressing the risks of wireless technology

• Campaign 2014-2019… “Awareness raise to reduce exposure and protect

children from EMF/RF

Awareness Raise & Promote Precautionary attitudes PARENTS

FOCUS ON HOUSE AND SCHOOLS …

FOCUS on CHILDREN

FREE ZONES in TERMS OF SPACE and TIME

1. At homes and schools children (spent at

least 60-90% of their time)

2. Reduction of exposure and risks is mostly

dependent on PARENTS and Teacher

Attitudes.

BUT Parents are the most difficult target: wrong

perception of safety, and …….illusions about benefits,

fascinated /addicted with the technology . Because

they don’t KNOW or are unwilling to learn they simply

enjoy convenience of the Tech.

Focus on Homes and Schools WHY???

Multi-media actions and tools

UNDERSTAND THE RISK, LEARN HOW TO AVOID and MINIMIZE

EXPOSURE

WEB Videos Seminars –TRAINING Media TV/radio Press

VIDEO on EMF with English subtitles: https://youtu.be/-kb_KWHPFk0 VIDEO PREGNANCY with English subtitles: https://youtu.be/xxQNdeW_xe4 VIDEO for teen agers with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCy3WfaXZkI

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www.

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PRESS RELEASE Press Conference: 24th of June 2019, 11:30 am, at the Ministry of Health

«Living with Technology, Children's Health Remains their Inexplicable Right and our Own Obligation“

Exploiting Technology while Safeguarding the Children’s Health Addressing Technology Abuse and Addiction".

The Campaign is under the auspices of the Honourable Minister of Health,Mr. Constantinos Ioannou,

"

In his address, the Minister of Health expressed his full support for the work of the Committee and stressed that "the Ministry of Health recognizes that the results of

research on the health effect of the electronic cloud (i.e from EMF/RF) and other negative environmental phenomena are no longer considered as hypotheses. But these are rather scientific evidence demonstrating the harmful effects of human exposure to an altered natural environment on physical, spiritual and

mental human health".

“The health effects of the electronic cloud and other ……are no longer considered as hypotheses. But these

are rather scientific evidence demonstrating the harmful effects of human exposure”

Minister of Health C. Ioannou

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Our campaign travels on buses around Cyprus

Nicosia Limassol

• Potential effects on children are serious and in many cases irreversible- long-term effects have not yet fully uploaded

• The safety of emerging technology has never been proved. Industry is only claiming compliance with obsolete limits . The burden of safety proof should be on the INDUSTRY

• Need to revise limits – to demand for safer alternatives

• At least for children we must Establish EMF free zones and apply free EMF time and use biological criteria for their exposure

• ,

• Raise awareness and educate at all levels

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FINAL THOUGHTS 1/3

Doctors can Influence, Advise and EMPOWER parents for safer options and practices

• EMF/RF must become part of medical curriculum. Physicians and health care people should raise the visibility of EMF-RF as a plausible environmental RISK factor in clinical evaluations and treatment protocols.

• Ministry of Health and doctors: Must push for systematic monitoring of the impacts in learning and care environments.

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FINAL THOUGHTS 2/3

As public health scientists we should not have dilemmas but

moral obligation. Our judgment of the weight of evidence

and gaps must be complimented with public health

fundamental principles and values for prevention set by

ancient Greeks,

WE MUST support science based precautionary actions by

providing politicians and society CONCRETE INFORMATION

“DISTILLED” OUT FROM OUR HOLISTIC AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE

SCIENCE. WE URGENTLY NEED TO DEVELOP AND

IMPLEMENT RISK GOVERNANCE

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FINAL THOUGHTS 3/3

SCMichaelidou 59 www.paidi.com.cy

THANKS his excellency the Mayor Mr Majchrowski and his stuff for kind invitation and warm hospitality , and all of you FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION

CYPRUS NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND CHILDREN HEALTH

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