Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Please remove radiation-spewing mobile antenna: Wadia hospital

DNA - 20Aug 2011, Pg 1

While the Maharashtra government is considering guidelines to restrict mobile towers from coming up near hospitals and schools, doctors at Jerbai Wadia hospital in Parel have asked the administration to remove the mobile antenna set up in the hospital premises. The doctors are concerned about the radiation emitted by such antennas.

The antenna is placed on the hospital’s terrace. Ward number 11, which houses children, is below it. Next to it is the post-delivery ward, where women are admitted for observation with their newborns. “Even the ICU is on the second floor.

The staff and doctors are worried about the adverse effects of the antenna. But the authorities are not paying attention,” a doctor told DNA.

“We have put forth various reports before the authorities which state that such radiation might be harmful to those who are constantly near the structure,” said another doctor.

Hospital’s administrative officer KB Shivaram said, “The antenna was set up as we didn’t have range for a particular mobile service. We have now asked the company to deactivate it.” Added another doctor: “When it was being installed, we didn’t realise what it was. The hospital authorities later told us what the structure was,” a doctor said.


http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_please-remove-radiation-spewing-mobile-antenna-wadia-hospital_1577710

Thursday, August 11, 2011

CM promises to address cell tower radiation issue

Hindustan Times, August 08, 2011

Mumbai: Addressing citizens' concerns about the ill-effects of mobile phone tower radiation, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has said the state government will study and examine the concerns of electromagnetic radiations from such towers. Chavan said this in his reply to a letter sent by Milind
Deora, minister of state for communications and IT.

"Electromagnetic radiation generated by mobile towers is of grave concern especially in densely populated regions like Mumbai. The ministry of communications and IT is forming a national level policy that will study the safe distance norms for installation of mobile towers. We will ensure that safety norms in the national policy comply with international standards and World Health Organisation (WHO) parameters," Deora said.

Deora had recently written a letter to the chief minister on a national policy being framed to study electromagnetic radiation from mobile towers.

Why do people continue to use cell phones/wifi when they emit deadly amounts of radiation?

Governments and organizations that ban or warn against wireless technology

American Bird Conservancy and Forest Conservation Council: Brought a lawsuit against the FCC because millions of migratory birds are being disoriented by microwave radiation and crashing into cell towers

Amateur Radio Relay League Bio-Effects Committee: “The FCC’s standard does not protect against non-thermal effects.”

Australian Democrats: The “explosion in wireless communications technology” is causing widespread illness.

Austrian Medical Association: Warns against Wi-Fi, cordless phones, and cell phone use by children.

Ballinderry Primary School, Ireland: Removed Wi-Fi to protect the children.

Bavaria, Germany: Recommends no Wi-Fi in schools.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The FCC’s exposure standards are “seriously flawed.”

European Environmental Agency: Recommends wireless technology be avoided by vulnerable groups such as children.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The FCC’s exposure standard “does not address the issue of long-term, chronic exposure to RF fields.”

Frankfurt, Germany: Bans Wi-Fi in public schools.

Interdisciplinary Society for Environmental Medicine (3000 physicians in Germany): Recommends banning cell phone use by children and banning cell phones and cordless phones in preschools, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, events halls, public buildings and vehicles.

International Association of Fire Fighters: Opposes communication antennas on fire stations.

International Commission on Electromagnetic Safety (comprised of scientists from 16 nations): Recommends limiting cell phone use by children, teenagers, pregnant women and the elderly.

Irish Doctors Environmental Association: Warns that current safety guidelines are “not appropriate.”

Karnataka State, India: Bans cell phones in all schools and pre-university colleges.

Knowsley, Borough of, England: Bans cell phones in schools.

Lakehead University, Ontario: Bans Wi-Fi on campus

Madhya Pradesh, India: Bans cell phones in schools by both students and teachers.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): The FCC’s standard is inadequate because it “is based on only one dominant mechanism—adverse health effects caused by body heating.”

National Library of France: Removed Wi-Fi and installed only cable connections.

Paris, France: Removed Wi-Fi from four libraries.

Prebandal Preparatory School, Chichester, England: Removed Wi-Fi from its campus

Progressive Librarians Guild: Recommends no wireless technology in libraries.

Russian National Committee for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection: Warns that cell phones are unsafe even for short conversations. Children under 16, pregnant women, epileptics, and people with memory loss, sleep disorders and neurological diseases should never use cell phones.

Sainte-Geneviève University, Paris: Removed Wi-Fi from its library.

Salzburg, Austria: Bans Wi-Fi in public schools.

Sebastopol, California: Broke its contract to install citywide Wi-Fi.

Stowe School, Buckinghamshire, England: Removed Wi-Fi from campus.

Therold, Ontario: Broke its contract to install citywide Wi-Fi.

UK Department of Education: Children under 16 should not use cell phones except in an emergency.

University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute: Children should never use a cell phone except in an emergency.

Voice (UK Teachers Union): Calls for a ban on Wi-Fi in schools.

Ysgol Pantycelyn School, Carmarthenshirem, Wales: Removed Wi-Fi from campus.

http://emfjournal.com/cell-phone-ban/

Industry disagrees to most recommendations on mobile radiation

New Delhi, Aug 3, 2011 (PTI) Telecom industry players have disagreed on most of the recommendation made by inter- ministerial committee on radiation from mobile phone and towers for safety of people in the country.

Industry bodies namely COAI, Indian Cellular Association, GSM Association have expressed their disagreement to government''s recommendation on reducing specific absorption rate (SAR) to 1.6 watt per kilogram averaged over six minutes.
This was stated by minister of state for communications and IT Milind Deora in a written reply to Lok Sabha today.

The business organisation have expressed disagreement to the proposal made by government to lower SAR level which at present is 2 watt per kg.
Countries like Canada and US have already lowered the SAR level to 1.6 watt per kg.
Associations such as Mobile manufacturers forum (MMF) of Hong Kong and telecom service provider Vodafone Essar have also disagreed with this proposal.
Similarly, Cellular Operators Association of India, GSM association, Vodafone Essar, MMF are against government''s proposal to lower radio frequency power density to one-tenth of the existing level keeping in view the trend adopted by other developed countries.
The committee has recommended that mobile towers should not be installed within the premises of schools and hospitals but MMF, COAI, GSM association and Vodafone Essar have disagreed to the proposal.

These set of players have also disagreed to government''s recommendation of using low power transmitters on mobile towers.Out of 16 recommendations made by government, industry players have only agreed to follow five recommendations.

Industry players have agreed to provide SAR data information of the mobile handset on website and handset manual.

They have also agreed to the display of radiation level in mobile network frequency range and providing guide on radiation to customers.

The associations also commonly agreed on conducting long-term scientific research related to health aspect due to radiation exposure in India.

http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5339869