Friday, March 25, 2011
Leter to TRAI official
From : A M JOSHI, ( retd. ) Wireless Adviser to the Govt. of India , Pune
To; Shri Mr. Lav Gupta, Principal Advisor (TD)
Dear Shri Gupta ji,
The TRAI has brought out an excellent and comprehensive Consultation Paper on Telecom Infrastrucutre Policy Issues. It is hoped that the TRAI Recommendations following the same will help the Govt. to rework its policies and guidelines to provide a fresh trigger for further acceleration of Telecom Sector's growth in India.
It is however, regretted that the questions reg. revision of norms / guidelines adopted by the DOT reg. EMF Radiation Health Hazards to public at large [ from Cell Phone Tower Radiations close to residential buildings and extensive use of cellphones ] and related issues have not been addressed by the TRAI Paper . This aspect has attracted attention globally , in recent years and in India , in particular giving rise to apprehensions in the minds of general public reg. health hazards resulting in cancer, brain tumours and other ailments .
Recently DoT released REPORT OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON EMF RADIATION which has recommended that the RF exposure limits in India [ based on ICNIRP Guidelines ] may be lowered to 1/10th of the existing level without explaining or justifying why they recommend 1/10th. Though this is a welcome first step in this direction , this issue needs Regulator's comprehensive consideration and attention . Many other countries have adopted still lower levels . The ICNIRP limits are based on 6 minutes exposure , while from Tower Radiation , the public is bombarded round the clock continuously. This aspect also needs to be examined.
In addition, the implementation mechanism for on site measurements for verification of any such limits has to be simple, quick and easily accessible to satisfy general public. This also needs to evolved in view large no. of Towers [ running into a few lakhs ] in the country .
You have also recommended in-building solutions. Some persons will be continuously exposed to radiation from in-building antennas for several hours per day because their working areas are in their main
lobe. What will be the effect on their health on short term and long term basis?
This question has not been raised anybody.
Hope that the TRAI will take up these issues also for serious consideration.
To; Shri Mr. Lav Gupta, Principal Advisor (TD)
Dear Shri Gupta ji,
The TRAI has brought out an excellent and comprehensive Consultation Paper on Telecom Infrastrucutre Policy Issues. It is hoped that the TRAI Recommendations following the same will help the Govt. to rework its policies and guidelines to provide a fresh trigger for further acceleration of Telecom Sector's growth in India.
It is however, regretted that the questions reg. revision of norms / guidelines adopted by the DOT reg. EMF Radiation Health Hazards to public at large [ from Cell Phone Tower Radiations close to residential buildings and extensive use of cellphones ] and related issues have not been addressed by the TRAI Paper . This aspect has attracted attention globally , in recent years and in India , in particular giving rise to apprehensions in the minds of general public reg. health hazards resulting in cancer, brain tumours and other ailments .
Recently DoT released REPORT OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON EMF RADIATION which has recommended that the RF exposure limits in India [ based on ICNIRP Guidelines ] may be lowered to 1/10th of the existing level without explaining or justifying why they recommend 1/10th. Though this is a welcome first step in this direction , this issue needs Regulator's comprehensive consideration and attention . Many other countries have adopted still lower levels . The ICNIRP limits are based on 6 minutes exposure , while from Tower Radiation , the public is bombarded round the clock continuously. This aspect also needs to be examined.
In addition, the implementation mechanism for on site measurements for verification of any such limits has to be simple, quick and easily accessible to satisfy general public. This also needs to evolved in view large no. of Towers [ running into a few lakhs ] in the country .
You have also recommended in-building solutions. Some persons will be continuously exposed to radiation from in-building antennas for several hours per day because their working areas are in their main
lobe. What will be the effect on their health on short term and long term basis?
This question has not been raised anybody.
Hope that the TRAI will take up these issues also for serious consideration.
With Best Wishes,
A.M.JOSHI
Mobile tower radiation fear grips Andheri colony
http://www.hindustantimes.com/BMC-to-survey-Andheri-colony-s-cellular-towers/Article1-658332.aspx
Mobile tower radiation fear grips Andheri colony
Mobile tower radiation fear grips Andheri colony
Worried over some residents from Andheri-based Sher-e-Punjab Colony being detected with cancer allegedly due to cellular towers, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to survey of all towers in the colony to check if they possess the requisite civic licence. The Hindustan Times had, in June 2010, reported on how out of the total 3,489 recorded cell towers in the city, only 1,861 were legal. The rest 1,628 towers did not have the BMC’s sanctions.
Reacting to the HT reports, V Shankarwar, assistant municipal commissioner, K-East ward, said, “The cellphone towers need to seek permissions from our building and factory department. Our officials will survey the area to check if all of them have obtained those permissions.”
If the civic body finds that the towers do not possess the licence, they will face the axe.
Despite the long-existing question over the safety of the cellphone towers, the state is yet to form its rules with regards to the installation of these towers on residential buildings. Even the BMC, on the basis of studies, had claimed that there is no health hazard from cellphone towers.
Said a senior civic official: “As the matter is contentious, the municipal corporation can’t take any policy decision about the ill-effects of the celltower radiation.”
Reacting to the HT reports, V Shankarwar, assistant municipal commissioner, K-East ward, said, “The cellphone towers need to seek permissions from our building and factory department. Our officials will survey the area to check if all of them have obtained those permissions.”
If the civic body finds that the towers do not possess the licence, they will face the axe.
Despite the long-existing question over the safety of the cellphone towers, the state is yet to form its rules with regards to the installation of these towers on residential buildings. Even the BMC, on the basis of studies, had claimed that there is no health hazard from cellphone towers.
Said a senior civic official: “As the matter is contentious, the municipal corporation can’t take any policy decision about the ill-effects of the celltower radiation.”
Mobile tower radiation fear grips Andheri colony
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mobile-tower-radiation-fear-grips-Andheri-colony/Article1-657878.aspx
Mobile tower radiation fear grips Andheri colony
When Priya Aggarwal, 41, was detected with breast cancer in early 2007, she tried her best to make sure that it didn’t distract her son, Rohan, who was preparing for his Class 10 exams. But the Andheri resident couldn’t hide the affects of chemotherapy. One day Aggarwal came out of the bathroom, only to find a devastated Rohan staring at her nearly bald head. “He would keep saying ‘Why my mother?’, but nobody had an answer,” said Aggarwal.
She isn’t alone. In the past five years, more than 15 housewives living in Sher-e-Punjab colony in Andheri (East) have suffered from various forms of cancer. Although there is no proof of a direct link, residents are drawing parallels between the appearance of the first cancer case and the installation of the first mobile phone tower in the society nearly seven years ago.
According to Aggarwal, when she was first detected with cancer, her flat was right below a mobile tower. The family then rented another house in the colony. However, that too had a tower, thus forcing the family to move yet again.
The colony, housing more than 100 buildings, has a cluster of at least 8-10 towers spread atop three buildings. All these cancer victims reside within a 500-m radius of those towers.
Dr Parminder Bindra (name changed), a practising homeopath, was detected with ovarian cancer in June last year. “I’ve lived in this colony for more than 20 years. In the past, there had been only one case of cancer. The fact that all these cases happened only after these towers came up, and that too in a radius of 500m cannot be a coincidence,” said Dr Bindra.
Sixty-two-year-old Gurinder Gill (name changed) was detected with breast cancer in October last year. “It has been a traumatic experience for me, shattering me completely,” said Gill, who is now undergoing chemotherapy.
However, the victims know there isn’t enough proof to prove a link between mobile tower radiation and cancer.
IIT professor Girish Kumar, who has been studying electromagnetic field radiations, has pored over the details and even taken radiation readings at Dr Bindra’s house. “My question to the critics is how do you prove that these cases are not because of mobile tower radiation? Why have all the cases happened in the same colony? All these cases fall in the axis of the cell towers’ radiation. Is that also a coincidence?” he asked.
Neha Kumar, who has been studying the biological effects of mobile phone towers, said, “All these women don’t have any family history of cancer. Plus, all of them are within a certain radius of those mobile towers. All this is not a coincidence.”
Dr Ranjeet Bajpai, radiation oncologist at Hinduja Hospital, admits there is a problem. "But, we need a sound mechanism which can establish a more direct cause-effect relationship. However, there are studies to show that cell tower radiation has led to different types of brain tumours,” he said.
She isn’t alone. In the past five years, more than 15 housewives living in Sher-e-Punjab colony in Andheri (East) have suffered from various forms of cancer. Although there is no proof of a direct link, residents are drawing parallels between the appearance of the first cancer case and the installation of the first mobile phone tower in the society nearly seven years ago.
According to Aggarwal, when she was first detected with cancer, her flat was right below a mobile tower. The family then rented another house in the colony. However, that too had a tower, thus forcing the family to move yet again.
The colony, housing more than 100 buildings, has a cluster of at least 8-10 towers spread atop three buildings. All these cancer victims reside within a 500-m radius of those towers.
Dr Parminder Bindra (name changed), a practising homeopath, was detected with ovarian cancer in June last year. “I’ve lived in this colony for more than 20 years. In the past, there had been only one case of cancer. The fact that all these cases happened only after these towers came up, and that too in a radius of 500m cannot be a coincidence,” said Dr Bindra.
Sixty-two-year-old Gurinder Gill (name changed) was detected with breast cancer in October last year. “It has been a traumatic experience for me, shattering me completely,” said Gill, who is now undergoing chemotherapy.
However, the victims know there isn’t enough proof to prove a link between mobile tower radiation and cancer.
IIT professor Girish Kumar, who has been studying electromagnetic field radiations, has pored over the details and even taken radiation readings at Dr Bindra’s house. “My question to the critics is how do you prove that these cases are not because of mobile tower radiation? Why have all the cases happened in the same colony? All these cases fall in the axis of the cell towers’ radiation. Is that also a coincidence?” he asked.
Neha Kumar, who has been studying the biological effects of mobile phone towers, said, “All these women don’t have any family history of cancer. Plus, all of them are within a certain radius of those mobile towers. All this is not a coincidence.”
Dr Ranjeet Bajpai, radiation oncologist at Hinduja Hospital, admits there is a problem. "But, we need a sound mechanism which can establish a more direct cause-effect relationship. However, there are studies to show that cell tower radiation has led to different types of brain tumours,” he said.
India has worst radiation norms: report
India has worst radiation norms: report
Nikita
CNN-IBN
Mumbai: An Inter Ministerial Report submitted to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has recommended the cutting down of mobile phone tower radiation by one-tenth of the present level.
The 5.4 lakh mobile phone towers in the country pose a huge threat to the health of the citizens. Experts say that the amount of radiation emitted from these towers in a day, is equivalent to putting one's body in an oven for 19 minutes!
India has the worst cell phone tower radiation norms in the world. The upper limit is so high that within 2 years the health of 1 crore Indians could be affected.
But if the recommendations of the Inter Ministerial Report on cell phone tower radiation submitted to the Department of Telecommunications are accepted, then soon there will be stricter restrictions on towers being installed near high density residential areas and schools.
At present we follow the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNRIP) guidelines for radiation, which allow a radiation rate of 9.2 watt per sq meter to be emitted. The report recommends this level should come down by one-tenth. At the same time the report clearly states that the safe limit for our health is 1000 times less than even the recommended limit.
Experts, like Prof Girish Kumar, Head of Department for Electrical Engineering, IIT Bombay who have been studying the harmful effects of radiation for three decades, aren't very optimistic.
“The number of people having health problems is more in the areas where radiation levels are high. We have adopted the worst radiation norm in the entire world,” said Prof Kumar.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has flagged off a large scale research project to examine the health impact of mobile tower radiation
“It is the largest study in country we will enroll 4500 people. This is a prospective study. Generally only one aspect is covered in such studies but we are covering all aspects and all disorders be it neurological, cancer, cardiac, ENT-related, reproductive, behavioral in this study,” informed Dr RS Sharma, Deputy DG, ICMR.
Meanwhile, The DoT has not set any time frame for responding to this report.
IBNLive : India has worst radiation norms: report :
http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=142245§ion_id=3 10/02/2011
Nikita
CNN-IBN
Mumbai: An Inter Ministerial Report submitted to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has recommended the cutting down of mobile phone tower radiation by one-tenth of the present level.
The 5.4 lakh mobile phone towers in the country pose a huge threat to the health of the citizens. Experts say that the amount of radiation emitted from these towers in a day, is equivalent to putting one's body in an oven for 19 minutes!
India has the worst cell phone tower radiation norms in the world. The upper limit is so high that within 2 years the health of 1 crore Indians could be affected.
But if the recommendations of the Inter Ministerial Report on cell phone tower radiation submitted to the Department of Telecommunications are accepted, then soon there will be stricter restrictions on towers being installed near high density residential areas and schools.
At present we follow the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNRIP) guidelines for radiation, which allow a radiation rate of 9.2 watt per sq meter to be emitted. The report recommends this level should come down by one-tenth. At the same time the report clearly states that the safe limit for our health is 1000 times less than even the recommended limit.
Experts, like Prof Girish Kumar, Head of Department for Electrical Engineering, IIT Bombay who have been studying the harmful effects of radiation for three decades, aren't very optimistic.
“The number of people having health problems is more in the areas where radiation levels are high. We have adopted the worst radiation norm in the entire world,” said Prof Kumar.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has flagged off a large scale research project to examine the health impact of mobile tower radiation
“It is the largest study in country we will enroll 4500 people. This is a prospective study. Generally only one aspect is covered in such studies but we are covering all aspects and all disorders be it neurological, cancer, cardiac, ENT-related, reproductive, behavioral in this study,” informed Dr RS Sharma, Deputy DG, ICMR.
Meanwhile, The DoT has not set any time frame for responding to this report.
IBNLive : India has worst radiation norms: report :
http://ibnlive.in.com/printpage.php?id=142245§ion_id=3 10/02/2011
TRAI worried over diesel generators in cellphone towers
TRAI worried over diesel generators in cellphone towers
New Delhi, February 9, 2011 13:02
The much-celebrated mobile phone boom is taking a heavy toll on the country's environment. As much as 200 crore litres of diesel are burnt and thousands of tonnes of carbon emitted every year to power mobile telephony towers spread all over the country to keep you connected.
Waking up to this environmentally unfriendly side of the phone industry, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has initiated a consultation process to help the sector go green. India has around 3.1 lakh towers, of which 70 percent are located in rural areas where gridconnected electricity is not available. As a result, 60 percent of the towers are powered by diesel generators which produce a total of 5.3 million
litres of carbon dioxide every year.
The total carbon emission is estimated to be around 5 million tonnes due to diesel consumption and 8 million tonnes due to power grid connected towers. Telecom companies spend about Rs 300 crore every month on diesel.
Towers and related equipment such as base stations and backhaul equipment account for the bulk of the power consumption for any telecom operator. The tower sites consume 65 per cent energy, while the core network accounts for 21 per cent.
The use of renewable sources of energy such as solar and biomass, better network planning and sharing of infrastructure by different operators could substantially reduce the carbon footprint of the industry, TRAI has suggested in a consultation paper.
The move from diesel to solar and other alternate sources of energy will result in a reduction of 5 million tonnes of carbon emission as well as a savings of $1.4 billion (Rs 6,350 crore) in operating expenses for telecom tower companies, the paper says.
The regulator has suggested a system of carbon credits for the telecom sector. It says moving to renewable energy sources could generate millions of carbon credits that could offset operational costs on the towers.
However, environment action group Greenpeace feels that the approach suggested by the telecom regulator is flawed.
"In the absence of emission assessments and standards, the promotion of false solutions like carbon credit and offsetting is designed to retard the sector's inclination to undertake measures to mitigate emissions," said Mrinmoy Chattaraj of Greenpeace. Before initiating a carbon credit policy, telecom companies should be made to declare their greenhouse gas emissions.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/article/cell-phone-tower-carbon-emissions-worries-trai/1/129212.html
New Delhi, February 9, 2011 13:02
The much-celebrated mobile phone boom is taking a heavy toll on the country's environment. As much as 200 crore litres of diesel are burnt and thousands of tonnes of carbon emitted every year to power mobile telephony towers spread all over the country to keep you connected.
Waking up to this environmentally unfriendly side of the phone industry, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has initiated a consultation process to help the sector go green. India has around 3.1 lakh towers, of which 70 percent are located in rural areas where gridconnected electricity is not available. As a result, 60 percent of the towers are powered by diesel generators which produce a total of 5.3 million
litres of carbon dioxide every year.
The total carbon emission is estimated to be around 5 million tonnes due to diesel consumption and 8 million tonnes due to power grid connected towers. Telecom companies spend about Rs 300 crore every month on diesel.
Towers and related equipment such as base stations and backhaul equipment account for the bulk of the power consumption for any telecom operator. The tower sites consume 65 per cent energy, while the core network accounts for 21 per cent.
The use of renewable sources of energy such as solar and biomass, better network planning and sharing of infrastructure by different operators could substantially reduce the carbon footprint of the industry, TRAI has suggested in a consultation paper.
The move from diesel to solar and other alternate sources of energy will result in a reduction of 5 million tonnes of carbon emission as well as a savings of $1.4 billion (Rs 6,350 crore) in operating expenses for telecom tower companies, the paper says.
The regulator has suggested a system of carbon credits for the telecom sector. It says moving to renewable energy sources could generate millions of carbon credits that could offset operational costs on the towers.
However, environment action group Greenpeace feels that the approach suggested by the telecom regulator is flawed.
"In the absence of emission assessments and standards, the promotion of false solutions like carbon credit and offsetting is designed to retard the sector's inclination to undertake measures to mitigate emissions," said Mrinmoy Chattaraj of Greenpeace. Before initiating a carbon credit policy, telecom companies should be made to declare their greenhouse gas emissions.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/article/cell-phone-tower-carbon-emissions-worries-trai/1/129212.html
Its official, cell phone radiation is deadly
Its official, cell phone radiation is deadly
Thursday, February 3, 2011, 9:58 [IST]
New Delhi, Feb 3: There have been numerous rhetoric doing the rounds on the ill-effects of mobile radiation for a while. The results are out and they are not pleasing at all. It has been found that radiation
from mobile towers pose grave health risks including memory loss, lack of concentration and digestive disturbances. The fact was revealed by an Inter-ministerial committee formed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to study the hazards posed by mobile phones.
If the damages are not lethal for humans, its even worse for birds and insects as well. The committee has
attributed the radiation effects to the disappearance of butterflies, bees, insects and sparrows.
The eight-member committee, comprising representatives from the Health Ministry, Department of Biotechnology and Member Secretary, DoT. The committee found startling violations of radio frequency
levels according to international standards. They have recommended that mobile phones not complying to
standard levels of specific absorption rate (SAR) should be banned. SAR measures the he amount of radio
frequency energy absorbed by the body while using a phone.
"The localized SAR value as per the Indian guidelines standard is 2 watt per kg, averaged over a six
minute period and using a 10 gram average mass. With higher SAR values of mobile handsets the public
could potentially receive much higher radio frequency exposure. We have recommended that SAR levels
to be lowered down to 1.6 watt/kg, as prescribed by the Federal Communication Commission of US," a
committee member said.
The committee also recommended that mobile towers not be installed in highly populated residential
areas, schools, play areas and hospitals. The recommendations submitted by the committee will be used
to chalk out a national policy and better guidelines on electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation for
telecom towers.
The report also revealed the disturbing after-effects and said, “People who are chronically exposed to lowlevel wireless antenna emissions and users of mobile handsets have reported feeling several unspecific
symptoms during and after its use, ranging from burning and tingling sensation in the skin of the head,
fatigue, sleep disturbances, dizziness, lack of concentration, ringing in the ears, reaction time, loss of
memory, headache, disturbance in digestive system and heart palpitation.”
A member of the fact finding mission, Dr R S Sharma who is also an ICMR scientist said that the effects of
the radiation are deadlier in Indians when compared to Europeans due to their low body mass index and
low fat content. The tropical climate in India also aggravating the effect. The report pointed out that
children, adolescents and pregnant women could be at the maximum risk and recommends the use of
hands-free technology to lower physical contact with the body and the cell phone. "People having active
medical implants should keep their cellphone at least 30 cm away from the implant," it adds.
The children seem to be the worst hit with the extreme use of cell phones and according to Girish Kumar,
a professor in the Dept of Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay claims, “"There is a 400% increase in the
risk of brain cancer among teenagers using cell phones for long periods. The younger the child, the deeper
is the penetration of electromagnetic radiation as children`s skulls are thinner.” Girish's findings were taken
into account by the government appointed committee.
Another study by the Jawaharlal Nehru University also pointed out the effects of radiation on male fertility
and how it effects the defence mechanism of cells.
The committee plans to submit the report so that the government can take some notable action on the
hidden hazards of radiation. "We have recommended amendment in the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and
rules so that only mobile handsets satisfying radiation standards should be permitted in the country," R S
Sharma said.
This page was printed from: http://news.oneindia.in/2011/02/03/mobile-phone-radiation-pose-grave-healthrisks-
http://www.greynium.com/mail-print/print.php 10/02/2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011, 9:58 [IST]
New Delhi, Feb 3: There have been numerous rhetoric doing the rounds on the ill-effects of mobile radiation for a while. The results are out and they are not pleasing at all. It has been found that radiation
from mobile towers pose grave health risks including memory loss, lack of concentration and digestive disturbances. The fact was revealed by an Inter-ministerial committee formed by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to study the hazards posed by mobile phones.
If the damages are not lethal for humans, its even worse for birds and insects as well. The committee has
attributed the radiation effects to the disappearance of butterflies, bees, insects and sparrows.
The eight-member committee, comprising representatives from the Health Ministry, Department of Biotechnology and Member Secretary, DoT. The committee found startling violations of radio frequency
levels according to international standards. They have recommended that mobile phones not complying to
standard levels of specific absorption rate (SAR) should be banned. SAR measures the he amount of radio
frequency energy absorbed by the body while using a phone.
"The localized SAR value as per the Indian guidelines standard is 2 watt per kg, averaged over a six
minute period and using a 10 gram average mass. With higher SAR values of mobile handsets the public
could potentially receive much higher radio frequency exposure. We have recommended that SAR levels
to be lowered down to 1.6 watt/kg, as prescribed by the Federal Communication Commission of US," a
committee member said.
The committee also recommended that mobile towers not be installed in highly populated residential
areas, schools, play areas and hospitals. The recommendations submitted by the committee will be used
to chalk out a national policy and better guidelines on electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation for
telecom towers.
The report also revealed the disturbing after-effects and said, “People who are chronically exposed to lowlevel wireless antenna emissions and users of mobile handsets have reported feeling several unspecific
symptoms during and after its use, ranging from burning and tingling sensation in the skin of the head,
fatigue, sleep disturbances, dizziness, lack of concentration, ringing in the ears, reaction time, loss of
memory, headache, disturbance in digestive system and heart palpitation.”
A member of the fact finding mission, Dr R S Sharma who is also an ICMR scientist said that the effects of
the radiation are deadlier in Indians when compared to Europeans due to their low body mass index and
low fat content. The tropical climate in India also aggravating the effect. The report pointed out that
children, adolescents and pregnant women could be at the maximum risk and recommends the use of
hands-free technology to lower physical contact with the body and the cell phone. "People having active
medical implants should keep their cellphone at least 30 cm away from the implant," it adds.
The children seem to be the worst hit with the extreme use of cell phones and according to Girish Kumar,
a professor in the Dept of Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay claims, “"There is a 400% increase in the
risk of brain cancer among teenagers using cell phones for long periods. The younger the child, the deeper
is the penetration of electromagnetic radiation as children`s skulls are thinner.” Girish's findings were taken
into account by the government appointed committee.
Another study by the Jawaharlal Nehru University also pointed out the effects of radiation on male fertility
and how it effects the defence mechanism of cells.
The committee plans to submit the report so that the government can take some notable action on the
hidden hazards of radiation. "We have recommended amendment in the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and
rules so that only mobile handsets satisfying radiation standards should be permitted in the country," R S
Sharma said.
This page was printed from: http://news.oneindia.in/2011/02/03/mobile-phone-radiation-pose-grave-healthrisks-
http://www.greynium.com/mail-print/print.php 10/02/2011
Telecom tower firms under pressure to scale up tenancy
Telecom tower firms under pressure to scale up tenancy
Several firms in India are targeting demand for towers to mount telecom radios on, as phone networks expand at a rapid pace to meet demand in areas never served by phone firms
New Delhi: The winding down of a small telecom towers firm from Gurgaon and last week’s buyout of an Indian tower start-up by American Tower Corp., a US company owning 23,700 towers worldwide, at a price close to what its costs to set up the physical assets are being seen by analysts as a sign that companies in the tower businesses are under pressure to scale up tenancy or face consolidation.
Several companies—some backed by big mobile phone services firms, and others, start-ups—in India are targeting demand for towers to mount telecom radios on, as phone networks expand at a rapid pace to meet demand in areas never served by phone firms. India, the world’s secondranked market by mobile phone users, is also the fastest growing by customer additions every month.
The raison d’etre for the business is simple: sharing of towers among phone firms reduces capital spending and helps in faster roll-out of networks. “The need for tower sharing will increase immensely in the current liquidity-credit crunch and economic downturn as companies slow down their capex plans, reduce leverage and conserve cash,” Siddharth Shah of Mumbai based brokerage Kotak Securities Ltd wrote in a report published last month.
Tower sharing among phone firms reduces capital spending and helps in faster roll-out of networks urgaon-based Independent Mobile Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd, a telecom tower company, is exiting the business after competition intensified in a crowded market, Mint reported on Wednesday. The company, which manages around 300 towers in 10 telecom circles, or licensed areas, plans to sell the infrastructure and cease operations, according to four persons belonging to the telecom industry, who did not want to be identified.
Just last week, American Tower announced its buyout of Xcel Telecom Pvt. Ltd that owned and ran 1,700 towers.
Analysts estimate India will need between 100,000 and 150,000 new towers added in the next two to three years, taking the total to more than 300,000 towers as the number of phone customers crosses the 500-million mark, up from the current almost 380 million. Despite that healthy outlook for towers demand, the key to be able to be firmly on the path to break even for tower firms, they say, is to increase tenancy on each tower to 1.5 to 2, up from the current 1.1. Tenancy is the ratio between the number of telecom operators using each tower.
“A tower sharing firm needs to have a 1.7 to 2 tenancy ratio to break even,” said Sudhir Gupta, vice-president, marketing, for India’s largest tower company Indus Towers, a three-way venture between phone firms Bharti Airtel Ltd, Vodafone Essar Ltd and Idea Cellular Ltd. Aiming for a return on equity of 15% may require a tenancy of greater than two, G.V. Giri, an analyst at the institutional equities division of India
Infoline Ltd wrote in a report published in October last year.
Indus Towers, reckoned to be the biggest in the business, has close to 96,000 towers at present. Even with the business it gets from the likes of Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular, Gupta says the firm is at least a year away from a 1.7 tenancy; by March 2010, it will have between 115,000 and 120,000 towers.
Typically, the cost of setting up a tower is about $66,000 or Rs33 lakh, Sunil Kanoria, vice-chairman and managing director of Quippo Infrastructure Equipment Ltd said in January. The cost can vary depending on factors such as location, height and extent of power back-up. This does not include the cost of the electronics (called base transceiver station) or recurring costs such as rent for the premises it is mounted on.
So, for Quippo, which recently announced a merger with a tower unit of phone firm Tata Teleservices Ltd, its target of 50,000 towers by 2012 will translate into a capital spending of Rs16,500 crore.
Capital expenditure at other firms such as GTL Infrastructure Ltd, which is eyeing 25,000 towers by 2011, or Essar Telecom Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd will also be relatively high.
Delays in a new crop of telecom aspirants starting services means it will take longer than planned to recover these investments. Companies such as Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd, Unitech Wireless Ltd and Loop Telecom Pvt. Ltd, have received telecom licences and spectrum allocations, but are yet to finalize tower sharing pacts with the tower firms. Still, when they do, their decisions are expected to be a boost to the towers business. The new phone firms need to rollout their services in at least 10% of the districts in a circle, or telecom service area they have a licence to, within the first year of getting a licence, and 50% of the districts within
three years, according to the roll out obligations given in the licence agreement.
Another quarter where fresh demand could come from is when at least two of India’s phone firms running CDMA (code division multiple access)-based networks shift to a rival standard (GSM), an industry executive said. “With them launching pan-India GSM services, the demand for towers goes up as GSM services need more towers as compared to CDMA,” this executive with a leading telecom firm, who did not want to identified, said.
Several firms in India are targeting demand for towers to mount telecom radios on, as phone networks expand at a rapid pace to meet demand in areas never served by phone firms
New Delhi: The winding down of a small telecom towers firm from Gurgaon and last week’s buyout of an Indian tower start-up by American Tower Corp., a US company owning 23,700 towers worldwide, at a price close to what its costs to set up the physical assets are being seen by analysts as a sign that companies in the tower businesses are under pressure to scale up tenancy or face consolidation.
Several companies—some backed by big mobile phone services firms, and others, start-ups—in India are targeting demand for towers to mount telecom radios on, as phone networks expand at a rapid pace to meet demand in areas never served by phone firms. India, the world’s secondranked market by mobile phone users, is also the fastest growing by customer additions every month.
The raison d’etre for the business is simple: sharing of towers among phone firms reduces capital spending and helps in faster roll-out of networks. “The need for tower sharing will increase immensely in the current liquidity-credit crunch and economic downturn as companies slow down their capex plans, reduce leverage and conserve cash,” Siddharth Shah of Mumbai based brokerage Kotak Securities Ltd wrote in a report published last month.
Tower sharing among phone firms reduces capital spending and helps in faster roll-out of networks urgaon-based Independent Mobile Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd, a telecom tower company, is exiting the business after competition intensified in a crowded market, Mint reported on Wednesday. The company, which manages around 300 towers in 10 telecom circles, or licensed areas, plans to sell the infrastructure and cease operations, according to four persons belonging to the telecom industry, who did not want to be identified.
Just last week, American Tower announced its buyout of Xcel Telecom Pvt. Ltd that owned and ran 1,700 towers.
Analysts estimate India will need between 100,000 and 150,000 new towers added in the next two to three years, taking the total to more than 300,000 towers as the number of phone customers crosses the 500-million mark, up from the current almost 380 million. Despite that healthy outlook for towers demand, the key to be able to be firmly on the path to break even for tower firms, they say, is to increase tenancy on each tower to 1.5 to 2, up from the current 1.1. Tenancy is the ratio between the number of telecom operators using each tower.
“A tower sharing firm needs to have a 1.7 to 2 tenancy ratio to break even,” said Sudhir Gupta, vice-president, marketing, for India’s largest tower company Indus Towers, a three-way venture between phone firms Bharti Airtel Ltd, Vodafone Essar Ltd and Idea Cellular Ltd. Aiming for a return on equity of 15% may require a tenancy of greater than two, G.V. Giri, an analyst at the institutional equities division of India
Infoline Ltd wrote in a report published in October last year.
Indus Towers, reckoned to be the biggest in the business, has close to 96,000 towers at present. Even with the business it gets from the likes of Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar and Idea Cellular, Gupta says the firm is at least a year away from a 1.7 tenancy; by March 2010, it will have between 115,000 and 120,000 towers.
Typically, the cost of setting up a tower is about $66,000 or Rs33 lakh, Sunil Kanoria, vice-chairman and managing director of Quippo Infrastructure Equipment Ltd said in January. The cost can vary depending on factors such as location, height and extent of power back-up. This does not include the cost of the electronics (called base transceiver station) or recurring costs such as rent for the premises it is mounted on.
So, for Quippo, which recently announced a merger with a tower unit of phone firm Tata Teleservices Ltd, its target of 50,000 towers by 2012 will translate into a capital spending of Rs16,500 crore.
Capital expenditure at other firms such as GTL Infrastructure Ltd, which is eyeing 25,000 towers by 2011, or Essar Telecom Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd will also be relatively high.
Delays in a new crop of telecom aspirants starting services means it will take longer than planned to recover these investments. Companies such as Swan Telecom Pvt. Ltd, Unitech Wireless Ltd and Loop Telecom Pvt. Ltd, have received telecom licences and spectrum allocations, but are yet to finalize tower sharing pacts with the tower firms. Still, when they do, their decisions are expected to be a boost to the towers business. The new phone firms need to rollout their services in at least 10% of the districts in a circle, or telecom service area they have a licence to, within the first year of getting a licence, and 50% of the districts within
three years, according to the roll out obligations given in the licence agreement.
Another quarter where fresh demand could come from is when at least two of India’s phone firms running CDMA (code division multiple access)-based networks shift to a rival standard (GSM), an industry executive said. “With them launching pan-India GSM services, the demand for towers goes up as GSM services need more towers as compared to CDMA,” this executive with a leading telecom firm, who did not want to identified, said.
Mandatory solar for Indian mobile phone towers
Mandatory solar for Indian mobile phone towers
22. OCTOBER 2010
TOP NEWS, POLITICS & SOCIETY, MARKETS & TRENDS
BY: SHAMSIAH ALIOETTINGER
The Indian government will ensure that it is mandatory for mobile
phone towers in India to be powered by solar energy.
The MNRE is pushing forth with more changes towards sustainable energy usage Image: Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has decided on this move in the hope of cutting down pollution from diesel consumption in the country. Even though this move will mean that the construction costs for the mobile phone service providers like Vodafone, Bharti and Reliance communications will see a steep increase of approximately 50 percent, the MNRE stands by its decision. Diesel is the fuel of choice at the moment in powering the 350,000 mobile phone towers across India at the moment.
“We are working on a new scheme that will support adoption of greener practices by telecos while rolling out their services for customers,” secretary with the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), Deepak Gupta, told India's Economic Times.
Gupta also said that a test project is being carried out on 600 towers and be in operation by the second half of 2011. The feedback of this test project will see the further developments and funding of the scheme. Each tower is expected to cost about Indian Rupees 40 Lakhs or around 65,000 Euros. The additional solar panel installation will cost about INR16 Lakhs or approximately €25,870.
Capital support may be minimum for this scheme but the government may offer soft loans to companies under the refinancing schemes of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the aim is to increase solar power capacity in India.
22. OCTOBER 2010
TOP NEWS, POLITICS & SOCIETY, MARKETS & TRENDS
BY: SHAMSIAH ALIOETTINGER
The Indian government will ensure that it is mandatory for mobile
phone towers in India to be powered by solar energy.
The MNRE is pushing forth with more changes towards sustainable energy usage Image: Ministry of
New and Renewable Energy
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has decided on this move in the hope of cutting down pollution from diesel consumption in the country. Even though this move will mean that the construction costs for the mobile phone service providers like Vodafone, Bharti and Reliance communications will see a steep increase of approximately 50 percent, the MNRE stands by its decision. Diesel is the fuel of choice at the moment in powering the 350,000 mobile phone towers across India at the moment.
“We are working on a new scheme that will support adoption of greener practices by telecos while rolling out their services for customers,” secretary with the ministry of new and renewable energy (MNRE), Deepak Gupta, told India's Economic Times.
Gupta also said that a test project is being carried out on 600 towers and be in operation by the second half of 2011. The feedback of this test project will see the further developments and funding of the scheme. Each tower is expected to cost about Indian Rupees 40 Lakhs or around 65,000 Euros. The additional solar panel installation will cost about INR16 Lakhs or approximately €25,870.
Capital support may be minimum for this scheme but the government may offer soft loans to companies under the refinancing schemes of the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency. Under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the aim is to increase solar power capacity in India.
TOWERS ON SCHOOLS RAISE CONCERN
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=pastissues2&BaseHref=TOIM/2011/02/04&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00604&ViewMode=HTML
TOWERS ON SCHOOLS RAISE CONCERN
Anahita Mukherji
TNN
Mumbai: Cell phone towers perched atop school buildings are causing intense bouts of anxiety amongst parents and teachers alike after a central government committee concluded that radiation from these towers can cause serious ailments.
In recent years, a whole array of schools, ranging from those run by the state to those sporting the “international” tag, have allowed mobile towers to be erected on their rooftops.
Teachers at GM International School, Goregaon, complain there are up to 15 mobile towers on the school premises. The school authorities, though, differ. “We don’t have mobile towers on campus, but mobile poles that connect one line with the next,” said Gunita Malhotra, a trustee of the school. “The government has tested the radiation emitted by the poles and found it within permissible limits.”
Girish Kumar, a professor in the electrical engineering department of IIT-Bombay, calls these “permissible limits” pathetic. “Our studies have shown that one thousandth of the radiation prescribed by the government causes severe health hazards,” said Kumar.
In another instance, a mobile tower has existed at the Central Railway Employees High School in Parel for at least three years, without anyone knowing how it got there. Even the principal, Madhuri Hatekar, was unaware of its existence until alerted by the youth wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
“This is wrong. We are worried about our children. Such towers should not be put up in a school,” said a parent.
The tower also caught CR officials by surprise. “A digital communications firm called Tikona approached Railtel, a PSU owned by the railways, for permission to set up mobile towers. In 2008, the railways gave the firm consent to set up a tower at Apprentice Mechanical Building in Parel. No consent was given to set up the tower on the school,” said Vidyadhar Malegaonkar, chief spokesperson, CR. Sources say the Apprentice Mechanical Hostel and the school are housed in the same building.
TOWERS ON SCHOOLS RAISE CONCERN
Anahita Mukherji
TNN
Mumbai: Cell phone towers perched atop school buildings are causing intense bouts of anxiety amongst parents and teachers alike after a central government committee concluded that radiation from these towers can cause serious ailments.
In recent years, a whole array of schools, ranging from those run by the state to those sporting the “international” tag, have allowed mobile towers to be erected on their rooftops.
Teachers at GM International School, Goregaon, complain there are up to 15 mobile towers on the school premises. The school authorities, though, differ. “We don’t have mobile towers on campus, but mobile poles that connect one line with the next,” said Gunita Malhotra, a trustee of the school. “The government has tested the radiation emitted by the poles and found it within permissible limits.”
Girish Kumar, a professor in the electrical engineering department of IIT-Bombay, calls these “permissible limits” pathetic. “Our studies have shown that one thousandth of the radiation prescribed by the government causes severe health hazards,” said Kumar.
In another instance, a mobile tower has existed at the Central Railway Employees High School in Parel for at least three years, without anyone knowing how it got there. Even the principal, Madhuri Hatekar, was unaware of its existence until alerted by the youth wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
“This is wrong. We are worried about our children. Such towers should not be put up in a school,” said a parent.
The tower also caught CR officials by surprise. “A digital communications firm called Tikona approached Railtel, a PSU owned by the railways, for permission to set up mobile towers. In 2008, the railways gave the firm consent to set up a tower at Apprentice Mechanical Building in Parel. No consent was given to set up the tower on the school,” said Vidyadhar Malegaonkar, chief spokesperson, CR. Sources say the Apprentice Mechanical Hostel and the school are housed in the same building.
Radiation info on cell packs?
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=pastissues2&BaseHref=TOIM/2011/02/04&PageLabel=18&EntityId=Ar01701&ViewMode=HTML
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications is planning to issue directions asking mobile companies to prominently display on the pack the level of radio frequency energy absorbed by the handset, minister of state for telecommunications and information technology Sachin Pilot said on Thursday. He added that the government is going to launch a nationwide crackdown on companies that have been flouting guidelines on electromagnetic emissions from mobile towers and failing to self-certify them. The firms will be fined Rs 5 lakh for each non-compliant base station.
“In my view, people buying phones have the right to know the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) level of a particular product… given the health hazards that some phones with high SAR levels can cause. We have asked all stakeholders—mobile manufacturers, citizen groups and NGOs—to give their response by February 25 and based on that we will issue directions for display of SAR level,” said Pilot. More than 90% of people do not know about SAR level. It is usually a part of the user manual, which in wrapped inside the packets or put on the website of the company.
Pilot said over one lakh Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) mounted on mobile towers have failed to self-certify as per standards prescribed by the International Commission for non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). “They failed to meet two deadlines for self-certification. Now, we are going to penalize them,” he said.
In a recent report, an inter-ministerial committeehas found that high SAR levels of a handset cause health hazards like loss of memory, lack of concentration, disturbance in the digestive system and sleep.
The committee suggested that the radiation limits need to be lowered to 1/10th of the existing level. The recommendations have been put on the DoT website for response from stakeholders, citizen groups and NGOs and a decision in this regard will be taken soon, Pilot said. The minister added that the department is strengthening Telecom Engineering and Resource Monitoring Cells (TERM) to ensure effective monitoring of mobile towers.
TIME TO TAKE A CALL
Radiation info on cell packs?
. 5 L Fine On Firms Flouting Tower Emission Norms
Durgesh Nandan Jha TNN
New Delhi: The department of telecommunications is planning to issue directions asking mobile companies to prominently display on the pack the level of radio frequency energy absorbed by the handset, minister of state for telecommunications and information technology Sachin Pilot said on Thursday. He added that the government is going to launch a nationwide crackdown on companies that have been flouting guidelines on electromagnetic emissions from mobile towers and failing to self-certify them. The firms will be fined Rs 5 lakh for each non-compliant base station.
“In my view, people buying phones have the right to know the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) level of a particular product… given the health hazards that some phones with high SAR levels can cause. We have asked all stakeholders—mobile manufacturers, citizen groups and NGOs—to give their response by February 25 and based on that we will issue directions for display of SAR level,” said Pilot. More than 90% of people do not know about SAR level. It is usually a part of the user manual, which in wrapped inside the packets or put on the website of the company.
Pilot said over one lakh Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) mounted on mobile towers have failed to self-certify as per standards prescribed by the International Commission for non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). “They failed to meet two deadlines for self-certification. Now, we are going to penalize them,” he said.
In a recent report, an inter-ministerial committeehas found that high SAR levels of a handset cause health hazards like loss of memory, lack of concentration, disturbance in the digestive system and sleep.
The committee suggested that the radiation limits need to be lowered to 1/10th of the existing level. The recommendations have been put on the DoT website for response from stakeholders, citizen groups and NGOs and a decision in this regard will be taken soon, Pilot said. The minister added that the department is strengthening Telecom Engineering and Resource Monitoring Cells (TERM) to ensure effective monitoring of mobile towers.
Central Indictment Of Cell Phones Pleases Experts
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=pastissues2&BaseHref=TOIM/2011/02/04&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00601&ViewMode=HTML
DIAL M FOR MALADIES
Central Indictment Of Cell Phones Pleases Experts
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: Your cell phone could be providing more than just a ticket to easy communication. It could be giving you a mild headache or a persistent buzz in your ears. It has the power to increase your stress hormones and affect your sleep patterns.
As reported by TOI on Thursday, a Central government committee has held that radiation from mobile phones and their towers are a definite health hazard. It also blamed the radiation for the dwindling number of bees, sparrows and insects.
The committee’s verdict is a vindication of many city-based experts who have been relentlessly calling attention to the illeffects of the cell phone.
“For years we have been saying that mobiles have a way of affecting your health. Be it your endocrine system that generates hormones or heart rhythms, mobile radiation have a way of interfering,” says endocrinologist Dr Shashank Joshi.
Joshi says that mobile phones should be treated as an emergency tool that one picks up only when in need. “It is most distressing to see people under 18 hanging on to mobile phones. It affects their system much more than adults.” Joshi had published one of the most comprehensive reviews on mobile phone radiation in JAPI, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the Association of Physicians of India.
Members of the Mobile Tower Grievance Forum, a group of citizens who believe that mobiles cause cancer, are most happy. “The report has said exactly what we have been saying for long. Cell phones and their towers are harmful to health,” said the forum’s Milind Bembalkar.
Abroad, there are radiation values given on every cell phone set. “But in India, we do not follow such practice. Also, the radiation from the towers here is ten times more than what it is in European counties (as compared to 0.001 watt/sq mt there, we have 10 watt/sq mt in India). This is done so that they don’t have to build up more towers. But that invariably happens, as there are so many companies in the market,” Bembalkar added.
The group now wants to meet officials of the Maharashtra government to ensure that the state, like many other Indian states, draws up rules and guidelines.
The cell phone industry has repeatedly said that long-term studies from across the world have not shown any significant link between people’s health and mobile radiation. However, a recent paper by British telecom officials said that precautionary principle is best given the lack of scientific data. So, as Joshi says, “Reduce your talk time. You can either SMS or use your smart phone to send an email. Digital phones emit less radiation than analogue ones.”
WRONG NUMBERS
THE ILL-EFFECTS OF RADIATION FROM MOBILE PHONES AND TOWERS ARE USUALLY CLASSIFIED AS THERMAL AND NON-THERMAL
Thermal Effects
Exposure to very high radio frequency power densities (100 mW/cm2 or more) can heat biological tissue and increase body temperature
General eye irritation and cataracts were reported in workers exposed to high levels of radio frequency and microwave radiation, but there is no evidence in general public
Non-Thermal Effects
Neurological
Predominant one-sided usage, high daily usage and exposure for a large duration of time (usually more than 10 years) have been found in some studies to raise the risk of brain tumours
Psychiatric
Psychiatrists report increasing incidence of ringtone anxiety in which users imagine their phone to be ringing or feel it vibrating
Cardiovascular
Mobiles can cause electromagnetic interference in the working of implanted pacemakers
Endocrine
A French group studied the influence of electromagnetic fields emitted by GSM-900 cellular telephones on steroid and pituitary hormone levels in healthy males and discovered drops
Reproductive
Rats subjected to mobile radiation were found to have damaged DNA and low sperm count
Miscellaneous
A study said that prolonged use of a cell phone leads to inactivity and is associated with an increased risk of obesity
(Source: Journal Of Association Of Physicians Of India)
SCREENED OUT
DOCTORS ADVISE A NUMBER OF PRECAUTIONS TO REDUCE THE EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY FROM CELL PHONES
Limit the use to essential calls and keep them short, particularly in rural areas. Or, simply, text
Allow children to use a cell phone only in cases of emergency. Since their skulls are developing, radiation can penetrate deeper than in adults
Do not make a call when the signal strength is at one bar or less. It essentially means the phone must work harder to establish a connection
Buy a phone with a low specific absorption rate (SAR), which is a way to measure the quantity of RF energy that is absorbed by the body
DIAL M FOR MALADIES
Central Indictment Of Cell Phones Pleases Experts
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Mumbai: Your cell phone could be providing more than just a ticket to easy communication. It could be giving you a mild headache or a persistent buzz in your ears. It has the power to increase your stress hormones and affect your sleep patterns.
As reported by TOI on Thursday, a Central government committee has held that radiation from mobile phones and their towers are a definite health hazard. It also blamed the radiation for the dwindling number of bees, sparrows and insects.
The committee’s verdict is a vindication of many city-based experts who have been relentlessly calling attention to the illeffects of the cell phone.
“For years we have been saying that mobiles have a way of affecting your health. Be it your endocrine system that generates hormones or heart rhythms, mobile radiation have a way of interfering,” says endocrinologist Dr Shashank Joshi.
Joshi says that mobile phones should be treated as an emergency tool that one picks up only when in need. “It is most distressing to see people under 18 hanging on to mobile phones. It affects their system much more than adults.” Joshi had published one of the most comprehensive reviews on mobile phone radiation in JAPI, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the Association of Physicians of India.
Members of the Mobile Tower Grievance Forum, a group of citizens who believe that mobiles cause cancer, are most happy. “The report has said exactly what we have been saying for long. Cell phones and their towers are harmful to health,” said the forum’s Milind Bembalkar.
Abroad, there are radiation values given on every cell phone set. “But in India, we do not follow such practice. Also, the radiation from the towers here is ten times more than what it is in European counties (as compared to 0.001 watt/sq mt there, we have 10 watt/sq mt in India). This is done so that they don’t have to build up more towers. But that invariably happens, as there are so many companies in the market,” Bembalkar added.
The group now wants to meet officials of the Maharashtra government to ensure that the state, like many other Indian states, draws up rules and guidelines.
The cell phone industry has repeatedly said that long-term studies from across the world have not shown any significant link between people’s health and mobile radiation. However, a recent paper by British telecom officials said that precautionary principle is best given the lack of scientific data. So, as Joshi says, “Reduce your talk time. You can either SMS or use your smart phone to send an email. Digital phones emit less radiation than analogue ones.”
WRONG NUMBERS
THE ILL-EFFECTS OF RADIATION FROM MOBILE PHONES AND TOWERS ARE USUALLY CLASSIFIED AS THERMAL AND NON-THERMAL
Thermal Effects
Exposure to very high radio frequency power densities (100 mW/cm2 or more) can heat biological tissue and increase body temperature
General eye irritation and cataracts were reported in workers exposed to high levels of radio frequency and microwave radiation, but there is no evidence in general public
Non-Thermal Effects
Neurological
Predominant one-sided usage, high daily usage and exposure for a large duration of time (usually more than 10 years) have been found in some studies to raise the risk of brain tumours
Psychiatric
Psychiatrists report increasing incidence of ringtone anxiety in which users imagine their phone to be ringing or feel it vibrating
Cardiovascular
Mobiles can cause electromagnetic interference in the working of implanted pacemakers
Endocrine
A French group studied the influence of electromagnetic fields emitted by GSM-900 cellular telephones on steroid and pituitary hormone levels in healthy males and discovered drops
Reproductive
Rats subjected to mobile radiation were found to have damaged DNA and low sperm count
Miscellaneous
A study said that prolonged use of a cell phone leads to inactivity and is associated with an increased risk of obesity
(Source: Journal Of Association Of Physicians Of India)
SCREENED OUT
DOCTORS ADVISE A NUMBER OF PRECAUTIONS TO REDUCE THE EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY FROM CELL PHONES
Limit the use to essential calls and keep them short, particularly in rural areas. Or, simply, text
Allow children to use a cell phone only in cases of emergency. Since their skulls are developing, radiation can penetrate deeper than in adults
Do not make a call when the signal strength is at one bar or less. It essentially means the phone must work harder to establish a connection
Buy a phone with a low specific absorption rate (SAR), which is a way to measure the quantity of RF energy that is absorbed by the body
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)