EXPOSURE FROM MOBILE TOWERS MYTHS vs REALITY

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (EMF)

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) occur in nature and thus have always been present on earth.

Average power from Sun reaching ground level is 700W/m2 as compared to ICNIRP safety level of 4.5W/m 2

WHAT IS EMF OR RADIO SIGNALS?

Radio signals are part of everyday life, emitted both by natural sources like the sun, the Earth and the ionosphere, and by artificial sources such as: mobile phone base stations, broadcast towers, radar facilities, remote controls, medical, electrical and electronic equipment

Cellular towers work in the non-ionizing spectrum NON-IONIZING RADIATIONS CANNOT CAUSE GENETIC DAMAGE

RF CELLULAR EXPOSURE REGULATED BY INTERNATIONAL BODY

Government of India at the time has no independent, scientific, domestic Study. DoT/ TEC adopted on July 2008, the best Global Safety Guidelines subsequent to analysis and examination by their technical arm. The ICNIRP guidelines were developed to limit human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and are highly protective and are based on all the available scientific evidence

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZES EXPOSURE LIMIT GUIDELINES RECOMMENDED BY ICNIRP & IEEE

United Nations

Specialized Agency of United Nations

GLOBAL SCIENCE REVIEW TIMELINE

WHO - RF

23-31 May 2011

2012

ICNIRP 2009

IARC 2012

WHO 2013

ICNIRP 2014?

(Hazard Evaluation) (Risk Evaluation)

BEST GLOBAL SAFETY STANDARD - ICNIRP

Terms & References of ICNIRP (International Commission for NonIonizing Radiation Protection) - Develops International guidelines on limiting exposure ionizing radiation that are independent and science based

to

non-

- Provides guidance and advice on health hazards of non-ionizing radiations - Provides scientific guidance and recommendations on protection from non-ionizing radiation exposure - ICNIRP guidelines are continuously revised and updated on the basis of new scientific findings ICNIRP 1998 guidelines used by many countries (last reviewed in 2009) - Independent scientific group recognized by the WHO. - Recommended by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the European Union. - Applied to both handsets and base stations.

EMF REGULATIONS AND LIMITS - BASE STATIONS

China & Russia too adopted ICNIRP for handset compliance

ITU & WHO recommends ICNIRP for countries without regulations

 ICNIRP Guidelines

ICNIRP RECOMMENDED LIMITS ARE WIDELY ADOPTED

- Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, Ireland, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Omen, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovak, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, UK, Venezuela

IEEE 1991/NCRP 1986 standard (FCC)

- Bolivia, Canada, Estonia (IEEE1991), Panama, USA

Below ICNIRP and IEEE

- Belarus, Bulgaria, Chile, China*, Israel, Lithuania, Poland, Russia*
- Belgium, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland
* China & Russia made decision to move to ICNIRP

International Exposure Limits in various countries to correct the erroneous information provided to IMC
Actual Regulatory Limit
Confirmed 2009. Canada, ICES (ICNIRP) since 2009. Australia, ICNIRP since 2003. Belgium regions vary 0.045 to 1.125 W/m2 New Zealand, ICNIRP since 1999. Luxembourg=0.024 W/m2

Updated Updated Updated Council policy Council policy NGO position

China=0.4 W/m2; France, ICNIRP since 2002.

Switzerland, ICNIRP + sensitive areas, 2000.

Germany, ICNIRP Italy=0.1 W/m2 in areas >4hours since 2003. Russia=0.1 W/m2; Hungary, ICNIRP

Council policy NGO position Council policy

Austria, ICNIRP Germany, ICNIRP Australia, ICNIRP since 2003.

For threshold effects, when a large margin of safety is assured, anything below is safe.

Whether it is a 50 foot tall or a 5 foot tall boat, they are all safe to go under the Golden Gate Bridge.

ICNIRP provide protection against established effects of exposure to EMF and includes significant safety margin to protect all people including children.

SAFETY LEVELS
The specified levels according to ICNIRP standards for power density for frequencies 900MHz and 1800 MHz are 4500mW/m2 and 9000mW/m2respectively.
Threshold Zone 900 MHz 1800 MHz Limit when body start feeling the radiation
230W/m2
460W/m2

50 times Safety Margin exists in ICNIRP

Safe Zone 900 MHz 1800 MHz ICNIRP Limit
4.5W/m2 9 W/m2

Lowered RF limits and/or adopted other precautionary measures actually had higher levels of community concern than those countries that had maintained ICNIRP limits for base stations

HEALTH PROTECTION AGENCY

April 2012
There is no convincing evidence that RF field exposures below guideline levels of ICNIRP cause health effects in adults or children. Therefore, a recommendation to follow the ICNIRP guidelines will remain central to HPAs advice

UPDATE OF DANISH COHORT STUDY

September 2011
This study (in 2011) has reinstated that there is no evidence of any increased risk of brain or nervous system tumours or any cancer among mobile phone subscribers.

International Agency for Research Cancer (IARC)

May 2011 classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)- as safe as coffee and pickle

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & REVIEWS

U.S. population data show no increase in brain cancer rates during period of expanding cell phone use as reported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
Results of this study were published online March 8, 2012, in the British Medical Journal http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/2012/GliomaCellPhoneUse

CEFALO : Study of 1000 Children between 7 - 19 years diagnosed with Brain tumour in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland June 2011

The Study concluded that; The absence of an exposure response relationship either in terms of the amount of mobile phone use or by localization of the brain tumor argues against a casual association

Brain cancer rates have not increased following increased mobile phone subscriptions
(A) Number of wireless subscribers in the United States, 1984-2006.

(B) Age-adjusted incidence of brain cancer (2000 population standard), SEER 9, 1984-2006.

Inskip et al, 2010

INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & REVIEWS

The strength of radiation received from base stations beyond a few meters from the base stations is considerably lower than the strength of radiation from radio and television transmitters. The AFSSE notes that the general analysis of current scientific data on exposure to base station waves show no health risk linked to mobile phone base stations. .
French Environment Health And Safety Agency (AFSEE)

Epidemiological studies on exposed workers and the general public have shown no major health effects associated with typical exposure environments.

There is no substantive evidence that adverse health effects including cancer, can occur in people exposed to levels at or below the limits on whole body average SAR recommended by INIRC (IRPA / INIRC 1988) or at or below the ICNIRP limits for localized SAR .
International Commission In Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)

MYTHS & FACTS Microwave = Towers ?

Energy is only absorbed by the intended target i.e. food content There are no during heating energy losses

Energy is absorbed, dissipated and reflected by the objects/human body There are considerable energy losses proportionate to the distance from the towers.

Magnetron in the Microwave runs at about 1000W. Typical maximum exposure 0.5W/m2 public

The maximum power a BTS can generate is about 20 W. Typical maximum exposure 0.1W/m2 public

MYTHS & FACTS

All radiated energy from a phone/tower cannot be directed into a single point

if a person held a cup of water hen it would start to boil ?

MYTHS & FACTS WHO CLARIFIES

Over the past 15 years, studies examining a potential relationship between RF transmitters and cancer have been published. These studies have not provided evidence that RF exposure from the transmitters increases the risk of cancer. Likewise, long-term animal studies have not established an increased risk of cancer from exposure to RF fields, even at levels that are much higher than produced by base stations and wireless networks
Source : Independent letter written to MCD by WHO dated August 24, 2009

Many studies have been carried out to understand possible link

between the radiation emitted from Mobile phones/ Towers and cancer. Interphone study is one of the biggest study conducted till date, on the assessment of the potential risk of glioma and meningioma - two main forms of brain tumor in relation to radiation from mobile. The study included 2708 glioma and 2409 meningioma cases and matched controls was conducted in 13 countries using a common protocol.
Source :Interphone Study released on 18th May 2010

The results of Interphone Study Group - Overall, no increase in risk of glioma or meningioma was observed with use of mobile phones.

ARE MOBILE PHONE SIGNALS LINKED TO DECLINE IN BEE NUMBERS?

Researchers at Landau University in Koblenz published research in April, suggesting that bees were being "confused" by mobile phone signals. The scientists stated that this was driving the spread of Colony Collapse Disorder(CCD) and leading to the bee deaths. Fears that mobile phone signals were responsible for a dramatic decline in bee numbers have proved wrong after new research identified the real culprit.
The researchers from US universities have identified a virus which they claim is causing the deaths. It is believed to have come from imported bees and royal jelly and has spread rapidly through apiaries.

Further, The United States Department of Agriculture say that there is no link between mobile phones and CCD.

Also. Stefan Kimmel, the researcher who conducted the German study has quoted that "no link between our tiny little study and the CCD-phenomenon ... anything else said or written is a lie." It is proven fact that in USA the decline in the number of Bees is due to a virus and there is no link between the mobile phone signals and decline in Bees numbers

RADIATION DOES NOT EVEN EFFECT MOSQUITOES

NUMBER OF MYTHS & LEGENDS AROUND THE SMALL LITTLE MOBILE PHONE
Restrictions on using mobile phones in hospitals: At short range, the radio signal from a mobile phone may cause interference with electronic medical devices. At distances greater than2m the possibility is substantially reduced. It is possible for mobile phones to be used in designated areas of hospitals, however, you should obey any warning signs and the instructions of hospital staff. If you use electrical medical equipment in your home, we recommend that you seek the advice of your doctor or equipment supplier.

Pregnant woman need not be worried about mobile phone use: It has been confirmed by wide spectrum of studies that low level of radiation from the Mobil phones/ base stations which are within the permitted exposure limits do not cause any adverse affects to the human health including all groups of people.

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NUMBER OF MYTHS & LEGENDS AROUND THE SMALL LITTLE MOBILE PHONE
Mobile phones can cook eggs: The maximum power a phone can generate is about 0.25W as compared to a magnetron in the Microwave which runs at about 1000W.

Shields to the Rescue: Shield cases, bufferpads, antenna covers, absorber chips and radiation armour heat up your phone more, increases its transmission power and reduce battery life. Anything that shields phone will make the phone to struggle to catch a signal and reduce its operational efficiency.

WHAT EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT EMF SAFETY

The results from several of my acute and chronic exposure studies have revealed that RF radiation emitted from mobile phones does not have sufficient energy to cause breakage in the genetic material in human and animal cells. Researchers in other parts of the world have also reported similar observations.

Dr. Vijayalaxmi
Department of Radiation Oncology University of Texas Health Science Center

At present, there is no data that associates adverse human events with use of mobiles. There is little proof also of gadgetry that is sold to eliminate or attenuate the radiation as a shield when applied to the handsets, or even the transmitting towers. The largest study, i.e. Interphone Study, has also not shown any difference in pathology between populations exposed and unexposed to cell phone radio-frequency. http://youtu.be/obP32yxzjAE

Dr. Anoop Kohli

(Neurologist), New Delhi

WHAT EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT EMF SAFETY

There is so much misrepresentation about incidence of brain tumors and use of cell phone. The incidence of brain tumors in India has unchanged over last 10 years. Hence, introduction of cellular phones and mobile services does not seem to have increased the risk of brain tumors and cancer.

Dr. Purvish M. Parikh, MD, DNB, FICP, PHD, ECMO,

CPI, MBA and currently Managing Director of AmeriCares

http://youtu.be/96ONQ4GV6v4
Radiofrequency waves have been in the environment since times immemorial and the same waves used in wireless telecommunications have not been scientifically proven to cause any harmful effects to human health. We are subjected to greater risks every second, why single out wireless telecommunications. There are also no formal studies that show any adverse effect on growth and development in children. Thus the benefits of advanced telecommunications far outweigh the risks at present. Dr. Manisha Mohan, MBBS (Seth GS medical college and KEM Hospital), DCH, Sion Hospital, LTMMC, (Gold Medalist, Mumbai University), and DNB in Paediatrics from Lilavati Hospital, Bandra and a Consulting Pediatrician at Jupiter Hospital, Thane & Speciality Clinic, Bandra, Mumbai

http://youtu.be/obP32yxzjAE

WHAT EXPERTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT EMF SAFETY

Dr. A. K. Anand
(Radiotherapist & Oncologist), New Delhi

Various International case control study has found no increase in the risk of brain tumor with the use of mobile phone. There is no cause of panic and fear. While this technology has brought telecommunication revolution helping economic growth and well being of people, its misuse should be avoided. http://youtu.be/xVqeH7N9yZg

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INDIAN INDUSTRY INITIATIVES & COMPLIANCE

Industry welcomes adoption of ICNIRP limits and committed towards Public & Health & Safety. is

Compliance with the DoT Norms - Each service provider has established necessary infrastructure for self- monitoring , selftesting(100%) and for auditing of EMF measurement for complying with emission limits as per ICNIRP guidelines as mandated by the license conditions Commissioned independent Study - Field tests were conducted at few locations (most congested) in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune by IIT Madras and Thiagarajar College of Engineering, Madurai for the estimation of Base Station Antenna Field Parameters i.e. Electric Field (E) , Magnetic Field (H)& Power Density (S) and to check the compliance with the ICNIRP limits. The measurement results showed that the 300 places in Delhi, Mumbai and Pune, where the measurements were made in the year 2010, were much below the compliance limit of ICNRIP standards.

MEASUREMENTS INDICATED EVEN THE MOST CONGESTED SITES WELL WITHIN LIMITS

MEASUREMENT OF EMF EMISSION FROM TOWERS

TERM Cell follows the process for audit purposes using calibrated equipment.

People with vested interest use unauthorized/ non-approved hand held devices for measurements to create panic amongst general public.

CONCLUSION
Many reviews have concluded that for exposures to RF
energy up to levels, below the safety limits endorsed by WHO, there is no substantive or convincing evidence of biological effects that could harm a persons health, that is, ICNIRP guidelines are reliable safeguards for all segments of the population, including children.

ALL OUR MEMBER OPERATORS ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TOWARDS THE PROGRESSIVE GROWTH OF MOBILE SERVICES IN THE COUNTRY CONSISTENT WITH PROTECTING HEALTH OF OUR CITIZENS.

Thank You