Tower Radiation Can Prove Deadly Too.
Until now it was believed that using a mobile phone for more than 30 minutes daily (over 8 to 10 years) would put the user at an increased risk of cancer. However, a group of experts from the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) has interpreted the international Interphone study report and claimed that in Indian context, using mobile phones for more than four minutes daily or two hours per month (over 10 years of use) increases risk of cancer and other health hazards.
“This is because in addition to the overuse of cell phones, we are also absorbing excessive radiation from mobile phone towers 24X7. Multiple companies are allowed to erect towers in an area, multiplying radiation hazards,” said Girish Kumar, professor of electrical engineering department, IIT, Mumbai. Kumar is one of the three experts on the technical advisory committee which recently prepared a report on signal tower radiation hazard for the Department of Telecom (DoT) and the West Bengal environment ministry.
“The safe radiation limit adopted by India is extremely high and large population has been suffering because of this. There have been complains from various parts of the country. And after an indepth study, Inter-Ministerial Committee formed in 2010 consisting of DOT officers, Indian Council of Medical Research, health ministry, department of biotechnology and environment ministry too have recommended that radiofrequency (RF) exposure limits in India may be lowered to 1/10th of the existing level,” said Kumar.
The mobile overuse effects are more lethal in Indian metros where one operator may be transmitting nearly 100W of RF power. However, there may be two to three operators on the same roof top or tower, thereby total transmitted power may be 200 to 400W. This increses RF values increase manifold,” explained Kumar.
“Besides an increased risk of cancer, more use of cellphone leads to early ear warming which may lead to irreversible hearing loss and tumour. Also, it leads to sleep disorder, lack of concentration, memory loss, and irritation. It also affects the skin and the nearest eye,” added Kumar.
In Gujarat, which is estimated to have about 2.5 crore cellphone users, cell towers are mushrooming all over the places. And, citizens here too have started coming up with complains. “A person should not use cellphone for more than 18 to 24 minutes per day. As this information is not commonly known to the people in India, crores of people use cell phones for more than an hour per day without realizing its health hazards,” said Kumar.
2010 study sets time limit : Interphone study in May 2010 mentioned that excessive users of mobile phones have double to quadruple brain tumour risk. Kumar pointed out that the study has taken an average user as a person who uses cell phone for only two hours a month which is only 4 minutes a day.
