The debate over alleged health risks from exposure to radiation from mobile towers and handsets is not new; it has been lingering for over a decade now. With general awareness, people have been filing complaints incessantly to relocate mobile towers.
Earlier this year, the Noida government had decided to shift about 300 mobile towers from densely populated areas to comparatively secluded places. The relocation process of hazardous mobile towers began in the first week of December and the Noida Authority chairman and CEO, Rama Raman hopes that within a month all mobile towers from residential sectors will be removed. Last year, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had asked the state governments to take substantial steps to minimize the impact of mobile towers on wildlife and take strict measures in case any tower violates the environmental norms. Accordingly, the towers should be located only on vacant plots or on municipal, government and non-residential buildings. The towers will now be located only in community centres, green belts and shopping centres.
Effect on humans and wildlife
It is believed that electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from the towers adversely affects wildlife including birds and bees, besides human beings. This subject of extensive scientific debate poses danger to human health, even at low levels.
Another grappling issue is of the norms adopted by the country. It is true that India has adopted strict standards when it comes to Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) radiation for mobile towers and handsets but are these rules doing any good? Rather than minimizing any potential health risk, India’s decision to reduce the power of the Base Transceiver Stations (BTS), stations has proved to be detrimental, according to an expert from the World Health Organization (WHO)*. In fact by decreasing the power of the tower the country has increased the health hazards for mobile-phone users. This is because, mobile phones transmit more frequency to remain connected to the network when the power of a base station is reduced.
With a rapidly growing number of cell phone towers across the world, it becomes essential to take appropriate measures to reduce potential damage to public health.
*India’s limit for radiation from Base Transceiver Stations (BTS),is one-tenth of the International Commission for Non Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) norms.
picture courtesy- readyfortheshift.com
