Mobile Tower Radiation In India Not Harmful: Panel

By Author: Hemant Baral
Total Articles: 7
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There is no cause of alarm with regard to possible ill-effects on human health by electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation from mobile towers and cell phones because the limits adopted in India account for all biological effects of radiation. “In fact, the limits set by India are much lower than the internationally adopted recommendations of the International Commission on Non Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which account for both - thermal and non-thermal effects of radiation,” said a report submitted by a 13-member committee constituted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) based on an Allahabad High Court order dated January 10, 2012.

The committee further shared that no conclusive evidence has been found on adverse health effects by mobile tower radiation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and as long as the power level of EMF radiation in the vicinity of base stations are below the prescribed limits, there should not be any cause of concern for adverse thermal health affects on human beings.

Amongst the panellists, there were a few who supported the claim, whereas some shared their contradictory ...
... opinions. Mr. Prof Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay claimed that people living within 50-300 m radius of cell phone towers are more prone to the ill-effects of EMF radiation.

The committee noted Kumar’s claims on health effects of radiation and clarified that these claims are not supported by any scientific evidence. With respect to non-thermal effects of EMF radiation, a lot of research is going on a global scale, but currently there's no conclusive scientific evidence that defines EMF has harmful non-thermal effects. However, some countries are taking a precautionary approach by reducing EMF levels below those specified by ICNIRP and India is one of them that has reduced prescribed EMF radiation levels by 10%.
While Kumar said that EMF radiation causes biological effects like cancer, brain tumour and dizziness among others, the committee said WHO study had concluded that current evidence does not confirm existence of any health consequences, some gaps in knowledge about biological effects of radiation exist and need further research.

The committee report talks about Kumar’s observation that ICNIRP guidelines would result in absorption of microwave energy of 583.2 kw-sec in human body and would amount to keeping human body in a microwave oven for 19 minutes daily, and states that these points are incorrect, highly misplaced and misleading.

In response to Kumar’s assertion that if one stands a metre away from cell phone tower antenna, the body temperature would rise by 2° Fahrenheit in an hour and by 8° F in four hours, the report concludes that such unfounded and hypothetical analysis is ill-conceived. This is a complete misrepresentation of actual position and shall only create confusion, mis-perception and unfounded fear in the minds of the general public, which should be avoided.

The panel says while Kumar has cited the case study of Usha Kiran building, Worli, where six cases of cancer were reported, and which faced the antenna on the opposite side of another building, such examples, without conclusive evidence, could be a matter of further analysis rather than saying that mobile tower radiation was an environmental factor for causing cancer. The ICNIRP/WHO studies clearly specify that there is no established relationship between mobile tower radiation and cancer or tumour.”

Panel’s recommendations

* The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) should continue the extensive audit of the self-certificates being submitted by telecom service providers to ensure compliance to prescribed stricter norms of EMF radiation from BTS towers

* The Department of Science and Technology and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) should conduct extensive India-specific scientific studies on prolonged use of mobile phones to conclusively determine possible health hazard of EMF radiation

* DoT should create national EMF web portal to provide public access to the status of compliance to prescribed EMF norms

* There is a need to step up efforts to spread awareness on mobile tower radiation and precautions to allay undue apprehensions regarding the possible health effects of radiation, largely caused due to misinformation being peddled by certain sections of public.

Author Bio:
Hemant Baral is a telecommunication expert, well versed with the different sectors of the industry. Understanding the fear that many users can have due to their mobile phones and the possibility of cell phone radiation poisoning, he wishes to share all the possible information about radiation exposure, effects of radiations and how it can affect people.