Following concerns of the general public about health risks resulting from exposure to electromagnetic radiation from mobile station antennas, Instituto de Telecomunicações has started in January 2003 a project named - ITEM - sponsored by Vodafone-Telecel, to systematically monitor field levels is public areas all over the country, and make the results freely available to the public through a dedicated website (in portuguese). The site also explains basic concepts related to electromagnetic wave radiation using simple language, and includes links to other relevant sites.

Project management, and all the information provided in the website is totally independent from the sponsoring entity, in line with the rigorous research standards of Instituto de Telecomunicações, State Associate Laboratory.

On June 3rd a cooperation agreement involving Instituto de Telecomunicações, Vodafone-Telecel and Câmara Municipal de Sintra was signed, to install 5 remote electromagnetic field monitoring stations in different public places in Sintra, which continuously feed ITEM website with measured data.

This initiative will be repeated over the Country, for the three year duration of the project.