Prof. Olle Johansson on the Dangers of Smart Meters

Olle Johansson - Warning of the Dangers of Smart Meters

by Paris08, Friday, July 15, 2011, 11:16 (20 hours, 55 minutes ago)

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET
Department of Neuroscience
Experimental Dermatology Unit
Stockholm, July 9, 2011

Cc Susan Brinchman, Director, Center for Electrosmog Prevention, P.O. Box 655, La Mesa, CA 91944-0655, USA

To: The California Public Utilities Commission,

I understand that you at present are concerned about the fast deployment of smart meters on homes in California, without adequate sharing of information with the public.

I work as an associate professor at the Karolinska Institute; we are world-famous for our Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which we many times have awarded to your fellow countrymen and –women. I also uphold a professorship at the Royal Institute of Technology; it being closely tied to the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry. For many years I have been studying health effects of wireless gadgets, such as Smart Meters.

Wireless communication is now being implemented in our daily life in a very fast way. At the same time, it is becoming more and more obvious that the exposure to electromagnetic fields may result in highly unwanted health effects. This has been demonstrated in a very large number of studies and includes cellular DNA-damage (which may lead to an initiation of cancer as well as mutations that carry down generations), disruptions and alterations of cellular functions like increases in intracellular stimulatory pathways and calcium handling, disruption of tissue structures like the blood-brain barrier (which may allow toxins to enter the brain), impact on vessel and immune functions, and loss of fertility. It should be noted that we are not the only species at jeopardy, practically all animals and plants may be at stake.

Because the effects are reproducibly observed and links to pathology can not be excluded, the precautionary principle should be in force in the implementation of this new technology within the society. Therefore, policy makers immediately should strictly control exposure by defining biologically-based maximal exposure guidelines also taking into account long-term, non-thermal effects, and including especially vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, the ill, the genetically and/or immunologically challenged, children and fetuses, and persons with the functional impairment electrohypersensitivity (which in Sweden is a fully recognized functional impairment, and therefore receives an annual governmental disability subsidy).

Prompted by all this, a group of international experts recently published a very important paper, The Seletun Scientific Statement (2011). Among its points are:

* 1) Low-intensity (non-thermal) bioeffects and adverse health effects are demonstrated at levels significantly below existing exposure standards.
* 2) ICNIRP/WHO and IEEE/FCC public safety limits are inadequate and obsolete with respect to prolonged, low-intensity exposures.
* 3) New, biologically-based public exposure standards are urgently needed to protect public health world-wide.
* 4) EMR exposures should be reduced now rather than waiting for proof of harm before acting. It is not in the public interest to wait.
* 5) There is a need for mandatory pre-market assessments of emissions and risks before deployment of new wireless technologies. There should be convincing evidence that products do not cause health harm before marketing.
* 6) The use of telephone lines (land-lines) or fiber optic cables for SmartGrid type energy conservation infrastructure is recommended. Utilities should choose options that do not create new, community-wide exposures from wireless components of SmartGrid-type projects. Future health risks from prolonged or repetitive wireless exposures of SmartGrid-type systems may be avoided by using fiber-optic cable. Energy conservation is endorsed but not at the risk of exposing millions of families in their homes to a new, involuntary source of wireless radiofrequency radiation, the effect of which on their health not yet known

Many smart meters are close to beds, ... These wireless systems are never off, and the exposure is not voluntary. ...

The recent determination of the World Health Organization (WHO) to include radiofrequency radiation on the 2B list of carcinogens also applies to devices such as smart meters. Already September 4, 2008, the European Parliament voted 522 to 16 to recommend tighter safety standards for cell phones ...

With my very best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Olle Johansson, Assoc. Prof.
The Experimental Dermatology Unit,
Department of Neuroscience,
Karolinska Institute,
171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
&
Professor,
The Royal Institute of Technology,
100 44 Stockholm, Sweden

To read the complete letter go to:
http://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/letter-johansson-smart-meters/

Juhi Chawla worried about radiation from mobile towers on govt guesthouse

Mumbai, July 02, 2011 - Hindustan Times


Link to article: http://www.hindustantimes.com/tabloid-news/mumbai/Actor-worried-about-radiation-from-mobile-towers-on-govt-guesthouse/Article1-716321.aspx

Mumbai, July 03, 2011 - Hindustan Times



Link to article: http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/mumbai/Actor-s-house-vulnerable-to-radiation/Article1-716663.aspx

‘Actor’s house vulnerable to radiation’ - Hindustan Times

MOBILE PHONE & TOWER RADIATION HAZARDS - Council For Fair Business Practices (CFBP)

Council For Fair Business Practices (CFBP) organized seminar on "MOBILE PHONE & TOWER RADIATION" on Friday 24th June, 2011 at 06.00 p.m at the Hall of Indian Merchants Chamber, Churchgate, Mumbai 400 020.



Below is presentation by Prof. Girish Kumar, IIT Bombay:

MOBILE PHONE & TOWER RADIATION HAZARDS

Media Coverage : The Free Press Journal June 28, 2011 - The Free Press: Mobile tower radiation can cause serious harm, says IIT don

Juhi Chawla: Radiation from Sahyadri Guesthouse is cancer risk to Malabar Hill residents

A few months ago, worried about the cell towers bristling over the Sahyadri Government Guest House opposite her Malabar Hill residence, actor-producer Juhi Chawla had an independent audit conducted to assess the levels of Electro Magnetic Radiation around her house. “The report was startling,” said the bubbly actor, speaking at a prominent business chamber in the city some months ago. “The radiation levels were higher than the extreme high end of 2000 megawatt per square metre all around my house! This is a cause for concern, not only for my family, but also for all the people living in Malabar Hill. Of course there are similar neighbourhoods throughout the city! I have sent a letter to our Member of Parliament Milind Deora about this problem, and I ask you all to do something to address this serious problem,” she said. She added that safe limits recognized for such radiation was less than 600 MW/sq m.

The auditor, CTIL Techno Solutions Ltd, reported that radio frequency (RF) readings indicated “strong anomaly” i.e. 1000 to 1999 MW/sq m and “extreme anomaly” i.e. Over 2000 MW/sq m around her apartment, and recommended the use of anti-radiation wallpapers and films to minimize exposure. Standards of the International Commission for Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) were applied for making these measurements and recommendations.

Juhi Chawla mentioned how seeing a huge cluster of cellphone towers near Haji Ali Juice Center – a popular South-Bombay hangout -- had made her extremely uncomfortable about how we were living our lives, unmindful of the risks.

At the meeting, however, there were business leaders present, who played down the urgency of the issue, and advocated a slow-slowly approach. It was clear that the loss of business opportunities was a bigger concern to them than cancer risks faced by the common man, and the extinction of keystone species disrupting the ecological balance of the entire region.

From an RTI activist’s point of view, I am putting things into public domain, so that they are known and discussed. We all are aware of the numbers of cell towers multiplying on building terraces and also traffic flyovers. I happen to know that a majority of these towers are not duly licensed by the municipal corporation. A lot of work is required to be done in this area.
In December 2010, Prof. Girish Kumar of IIT Powai, submitted a DETAILED REPORT ON CELLTOWER RADIATION TO DEPTT. OF TELECOM: http://tinyurl.com/Report2DOT-Celltower-radiation

“We had developed radiation shield to absorb undesired radiation but instead of promoting our product, we tried to convince Govt of India to adopt better radiation norms as in India. We had adopted worst radiation norm in the world. Finally, Inter-ministerial report has come and they admitted that there are several health problems due to cell tower radiation,” he says.

UNION INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE’S REPORT ON RADIATION LEVELS: http://tinyurl.com/Inter-ministerial-cmtee-Report

“If we adopt better Electro Magnetic Radiation (EMR) norms, then you do not have to get the radiation measurement done and also no shielding will be required (will save lots of money for all of you and protect the entire country, human beings, birds, animals, plants, trees, environment, etc).” he adds. His report has a lot of details about how sparrows, bees and other sensitive species are rapidly going extinct due to concentration of cell towers.

Besides being Professor in the Electrical Engineering Department of IIT Mumbai, Prof. Girish runs Wilcom Technologies Pvt. Ltd. which is an IIT- incubated company. His Contact details:
IIT: (022) 2576 7436, Fax - (022) 2572 3707 email- gkumar@ee.iitb.ac.in
Wilcom Technologies: (022) 2784 1340, Fax - (022) 2784 1325
email - prof.gkumar@gmail.com Website: www.wilcom.co.in

Besides Prof. Girish, there are two other points at which a journalist or rti activist can get details of EMR RADIATION READINGS & CELLPHONE CONCENTRATIONS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF MUMBAI, DELHI etc:

• CTIL Techno-Solutions, a Delhi based company, which undertakes research into radiation levels for private individuals. (See this press release: http://tinyurl.com/Celltower-CTIL-PressRelease )

• Its associated company Cogent EMR Solutions Limited (Okhla) 01140506400 (Azadpur) 01127217402

Other Recommended reading material:

1. Exposure Guidelines in various countries: http://tinyurl.com/Celltower-exposure-guidelines

2. Greenpeace India report on Celltowers’ dependence on subsidized Diesel in rural areas: http://tinyurl.com/Celltower-use-subsidy-Diesel

Report by:
Krishnaraj Rao
98215 88114

Link: http://www.groundreportindia.com/2011/06/juhi-chawla-radiation-from-sahyadri.html#links

http://blogs.rediff.com/thebravepedestrian/2011/06/17/juhi-chawla-radiation-from-sahyadri-guesthouse-is-cancer-risk-to-malabar-hill-residents/

Presentation on Cell tower Radiation Hazard - By Prof Girish Kumar, Electrical Engineering Department I.I.T.

Presentation on Cell tower Radiation Hazard at DJ sanghvi college, an
Engineering College in Mumbai. Edited version of the video in 2 parts
By Prof Girish Kumar, Electrical Engineering Department I.I.T. Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400076, INDIA

Inform public about health hazard of mobile towers: Punjab and Haryana High Court to Govt and mobile companies

Inform public about health hazard of mobile towers: HC to Govt

Chandigarh
Indian Express - Jun 08 2011
Raghav Ohri

Expressing concern over the effects of radiation from mobile towers installed in residential areas, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that it is the duty of the government and mobile companies to inform residents about the harmful effects. A division bench ruled the government will be duty bound to inform the public living where a mobile tower is to be erected, about the “amount of radiation it will emit” and its harmful effects thereof on the health of people. The information will have to be supplied in the shape of a public notice, the court ruled, before the mobile tower is erected. The HC also directed the companies in the business of installing mobile towers to do the same.

The directions were passed on an appeal by M/s Wireless TT Info Services Limited and another which had moved the HC against Haryana, challenging the validity of Haryana Municipal (erection of communication towers) by-laws, 2009. HC has upheld by-laws. The petitioner had challenged the levy of tax, terming it unreasonable.

Making it clear that "there is no absolute right to carry on any business, the Bench ruled that it (business) is always subject to reasonable restriction and regulation", and highlighted the damage being caused due to the radiation originating from mobile towers. "It will be the duty of the local authorities to issue a public notice for information of all concerned where the permission for erection of a tower is being considered or granted to apprise the public as to what amount of radiation it will emit and the effect thereof on the health of the people living in the area," read the judgment.

The HC held that "the mobile emit signals in the form of radio waves. It is also feared that the radio waves can cause changes to the cells in our brain. If the DNA in the brain cells gets damaged, they may become cancerous and cause brain tumours. It is also feared that the radio waves can alter chemical and electrical reactions in our brain, changing, in effect, the way the brain cells communicate. Studies conducted have revealed that sparrows have declined in the most contaminated electromagnetic fields".

Link - http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Inform-public-about-health-hazard-of-mobile-towers--HC-to-Govt/800786/

Doctors warn of mobile radiation

The Hindu - NEW DELHI, June 13, 2011

Welcome proposal of declaration of radiation levels on handsets

Close on the heels of an inter-ministerial group recently proposing mandatory declaration of radiation levels on each mobile handset, doctors in the city have welcomed the move.

“It is essential that people realise that there is the danger of exposure to radiation and create awareness about it,” said Dr. Anita Khokhar, professor at the Department of Community Medicine at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjang Hospital

The inter-ministerial group was set up to evaluate the evidence of the negative health-related effects of radiation emitted by mobile phones and towers. The group has submitted its report to the Government in which it has proposed, among other things, mandatory declaration of radiation levels on each mobile handset. It has also proposed a revision of the limit of 2 watts per kilogramme averaged over 10 gram tissue to 1.6 watts per kilogramme.

The report has been placed on the Internet for public comments and suggestions.

“People rarely realise the importance of being aware about the problem of exposure to radiation but the fact that the Government is now acknowledging that there might be a problem and that there is a need to look into it is a positive step forward,” added Dr. Khokhar.

In the case of mobile towers, the group has recommended radiation norms which are ten times as strict as the existing ones -- from f/200 watts per square metre to f/2000 watts per square metre.

“There has been the confusion about radiation and its harmful effects. Doctors have been advising people against very young children being allowed to use cell phones for long hours and even adults being exposed to its radiation due to over-use. Though there are no decisive studies about its ill effects, it is essential to warn people. And while an authoritative study about the extent of negative health effects would still take time it would be better to avoid overexposure,” said a senior official at Indian Council of Medical Research.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-newdelhi/article2100062.ece - The Hindu : NATIONAL / NEW DELHI : Doctors warn of mobile radiation

Towering Problem

Hindustan Times, New Delhi, 16 November, 2010


The DoT will start a random check of the radiation levels of telecom towers all over the country,
though the extent of the damage is still being debated.

Cellphone tower making you ill? Write to the govt

Cellphone tower making you ill? Write to the govt
6th June 2010, Mumbai mirror
SANTOSH ANDHALE

JJ Hospital, Mumbai says no to Mobile Towers

Mumbai Mirror , 24-2-2009

15 cancer cases near mobile towers

Mobile tower radiation fear grips Andheri colony
Hindustan Times, 3.2.2011, Page 6

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.

In cell phone manufacturers own words!

Especially for all Blackberry and iPhone users - The manual says it all!

Blackberry Bold 9700 Safety and Product information guide. Page 18. It says "keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 in. (25 mm) from your body when the BlackBerry device is transmitting."


Complete manual can be viewed at - http://docs.blackberry.com/en/smartphone_users/deliverables/11261/BlackBerry_Bold_9700_Smartphone-US.pdf

iPhone 4 Product Guide - "keep iPhone at least 15 mm (5/8 inch) away from the body.." Page 6.


Manual available at - http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iPhone_4_Important_Product_Information_Guide.pdf

We hope since the handset manufactures are well aware of this problem themselves , in future they pay more attention in this aspect, invest in better technology and come up with a better product.

State to nix cell towers on schools, hospitals

Times of India - 7 June 2011, Page 1

Mumbai: Taking a cue from the widespread concern about mobile towers installed on school and hospital buildings, the Maharashtra government is all set to amend the Development Control (DC) Rules in this regard. Of the 1,600 mobile towers in Mumbai, nearly 500 (or 30%) are atop schools and hospitals. The remaining are on private or commercial buildings. “Since fears have been expressed about the radiation from mobile towers, we are readying to remove them from school and hospital buildings,” a senior official told TOI on Monday. “Once the DC rules are amended, it will be mandatory for the operators to remove the towers within six months.”

As per the proposed amendment, the operator will have to submit a certificate stating that the emission is within the permissible level and an undertaking that the existing tower will be removed within six months. “New Delhi has already imposed stringent restrictions on mobile towers. We have proposed that they should be at least six metres away from a school or hospital and that the radar should not face the school or hospital,” the official said. The proposed measures will be implemented by the concerned civic corporation.

Prof. Girish Kumar to help Kolkata city to tackle radiation

IIT expert to help city tackle tower radiation - The Bengal Post, Sunday May 15 2011, Page 5

Subhankar Chowdhury

With fears being raised on the effects of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone towers on the health of humans, an expert from IIT has approached the West Bengalpollution control board and offered his help in tackling the problem. According to a recent report of the PCB, the intensity of electromagnetic radiation in the city has been increasing and could pose a health hazard to residents.

In a bid to deal with the problem effetively, Girish Kumar, a professor of IIT Bombay, who is also a researcher in the field, wrote to the board on Friday, offering to share his expertise with the board in tackling the menance.

No mobile towers near high density residential areas, schools, playgrounds & hospitals + stricter norms + mandatory SAR on handset

Telcos scurry to conform to norms - Times of India - June 5, 2011

NEW DELHI: Indian telecom companies are scurrying to conform to the government's stipulated health norms in light of growing evidence on the cancerous nature of cellphone radiation.

There has been an amendment in the Access Service Licenses — mandating self-certification radiation levels of cellphone towers — to ensure compliance with WHO-endorsed guidelines of International Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The stricture led 5, 88,645 out of 6, 05,859 base stations to get self-certification till March 31, 2011.

Speaking to TOI, Union minister of state for communications and Information Technology Sachin Pilot said non-compliance to the stipulated radiation limits carries a penalty of Rs five lakh for every mobile tower.

Talking on the cellphone could cause a malignant form of brain cancer, said International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently. It classified radiation emanating from cellphones alongside gasoline engine exhaust, lead and DDT as "possibly carcinogenic to humans".

IARC said, "The WHO/IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B), based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with wireless phone use."

Pilot said, "We are not going to compromise with radiation limits since it has health-related concerns. The department of telecommunications set up an Inter Ministerial Group in August, 2010, to evaluate the evidence, revisit radiation guidelines for mobile towers and adopt guidelines for radiation emission by cell phones. This group has recommended radiation limits more stringent than that of the United Nations."

He added, "We had called for self certification of all mobile towers. Almost 90% of the towers have completed doing so. We have extended their time frame for six more months. However, the radiation limits they are complying to are the old ones. Once new compliance levels kick in, finalized by the Department of Telecom (DoT), they will have to conform to them too."

The Inter Ministerial Group in its report made some salient recommendations about mobile handsets. The group proposed revising the limit of 2 watts per kilogram averaged over 10 grams tissue to 1.6 watts per kilogram averaged over 1 gram tissue. It also called for mandatory declaration of radiation level on each mobile handset. As far as mobile towers are concerned they recommended radiation norms which are ten times as strict as the existing ones- from f/200 watts per square meter to f/2000 watts per square meter.

The group said mobile towers should not be installed near high density residential areas, schools, playgrounds and hospitals.

"The localized specific absorption rate (SAR) value as per the Indian guidelines is 2 watt per kg, averaged over a six minute period and using a 10 gram average mass. With higher SAR — a measure of the amount of radiofrequency energy absorbed by the body while using a phone of mobile handsets — the public could potentially receive much higher radiofrequency exposure. We have recommended that SAR levels to be lowered to 1.6 watt/kg, as prescribed by the Federal Communication Commission of US," said experts.

Girish Kumar, professor in department of electrical engineering at IIT Bombay, whose research on hazards of cellphone use was taken as a reference for the committee decision, said, "There is a 40% 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."

Another Jawaharlal Nehru University study found that the exposure to radiation from mobile towers and cellphones could have an adverse impact on male fertility and pose health hazards by depleting the defence mechanism of cells. The report also suggested that children, adolescents and pregnant women should avoid excessive use of cellphones. People should use hands-free technologies to minimize the contact of the head with cellphone. "People having active medical implants should keep their cellphone at least 30 cm away from the implant," it added.

Related links:
(1) Stricter radiation emission guidelines soon: Sachin Pilot - http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2077205.ece

(2) Telcos scurry to conform to norms - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Telcos-scurry-to-conform-to-norms/articleshow/8730447.cms

Cell phone use 'possibly carcinogenic'

Cell phones potentially linked to cancer [CBS News Online]



Neurosurgeon: 'Your Cell Phone Is Not Necessarily a Safe Device'


Behind the Science: Response to IARC Classification of Cell Phones as Possible Carcinogenic

Dr. Otis Brawley is the chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society.

Mobile phone use may cause cancer: WHO

Jun 1, 2011 - Times of India

PARIS: Mobile phone users may be at increased risk from brain cancer and should use texting and free-hands devices to reduce exposure, the World Health Organisation's cancer experts said.

Radio-frequency electromagnetic fields generated by such devices are "possibly carcinogenic to humans," the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced at the end of an eight-day meeting in Lyon, France.

Experts "reached this classification based on review of the human evidence coming from epidemiological studies" pointing to an increased incidence of glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, said Jonathan Samet, president of the work group.

Two studies in particular, the largest conducted over the last decade, showed a higher risk "in those that had the most intensive use of such phones," he said in a telephone news conference.

Some individuals tracked in the studies had used their phones for an average of 30 minutes per day over a period of 10 years.

"We simply don't know what might happen as people use their phones over longer time periods, possibly over a lifetime," Samet said.

There are about five billion mobile phones registered in the world. The number of phones and the average time spent using them have both climbed steadily in recent years.

The CTIA-The Wireless Association dismissed the report saying the UN agency "conducts numerous reviews and in the past has given the same score to, for example, pickled vegetables and coffee."

This classification "does not mean cell phones cause cancer," the industry association said in a statement, noting that "limited evidence from statistical studies can be found even though bias and other data flaws may be the basis for the results."

The IARC cautioned that current scientific evidence showed only a possible link, not a proven one, between wireless devices and cancers.

"There is some evidence of increased risk of glioma" and another form of non-malignant tumour called acoustic neuroma, said Kurt Straif, the scientist in charge of editing the IARC reports on potentially carcinogenic agents.

"But it is not at the moment clearly established that the use of mobile phones does in fact cause cancer in humans," he said.

The IARC does not issue formal recommendations, but experts pointed to a number of ways consumers can reduce risk.

"What probably entails some of the highest exposure is using your mobile for voice calls," Straif said.

"If you use it for texting, or as a hands-free set for voice calls, this is clearly lowering the exposure by at least an order of magnitude," or by tenfold, he said.

A year ago the IARC concluded that there was no link between cell phones and brain cancer, but that earlier report was criticised as based on data that was out of date.

The new review, conducted by a panel of 31 scientists from 14 countries, was reached on the basis of a "full consensus," said Robert Baan, in charge of the written report, yet to be released.

"This is the first scientific evaluation of all the literature published on the topic with regard to increased risk of cancer," he said.

But the panel stressed the need for more research, pointing to incomplete data, evolving technology and changing consumer habits.

"There's an improvement in the technology in terms of lower emissions but at the same time we see increased use, so it is hard to know how the two balance out," Baan noted.

The IARC ranks potentially cancer-causing elements as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic or "probably not carcinogenic". It can also determine that a material is "not classifiable".

Cigarettes, sunbeds and asbestos, for example, fall in "Group 1", the top threat category. Cell phones now join glass wool and gasoline exhaust in Group 2B as "possibly carcinogenic".

Industry groups reacted cautiously, pointing to other common consumer items -- including coffee and vegetables pickled in chemicals -- that are included in the same category.

"In France, the health ministry already applies a precautionary approach to cellphones because it considers that no danger has been established, that doubts remain and, thus, that more research is needed," the French Federation of Telecoms said in a statement.

Some consumer advocacy groups said the new classification was overdue.

"As of today, no one can say the risk does not exist, and now everyone -- politicians, telecoms, employers, consumers and parents -- have to take this into account," said Janine Le Calvez, head of PRIARTEM, a consumer advocacy group concerned with cell phone safety.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/telecom/Mobile-phone-use-may-cause-cancer-WHO/articleshow/8675730.cms

Jun 2, 2011,Times of India

High mobile use can cause brain cancer: WHO - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/High-mobile-use-can-cause-brain-cancer-WHO/articleshow/8686979.cms

IARC classifies Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields as possibly carcinogenic to Humans

WHO: Cell phone use can increase possible cancer risk - six page WHO report.

IARC classifies Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields as possibly carcinogenic to Humans

WHO Cancer Research Says: Heavy Cell Phone Use May Cause Type of Brain Cancer

June 1, 2011 - Social Times

The possible risk of cell phone radiation causing cancer has been an ongoing debate for years. CNN published this item based on a report from the World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO: Cell phone use can increase possible cancer risk


Is this just a sensationalistic headline? Not really based on their careful wording (“can increase possible cancer risk”) and the six page WHO report. Here are the key points I found in the report.

IARC CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMAN (PDF)

[available at http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf]

1. A “heavy user” is defined as someone who speaks on a cell phone an average of 30 minutes a day (or more) over a 10-year period. This works out to 900 minutes per month (based on a 30 day month). So, if you have a 1000 minute per month plan and come close to the limit or go over it, you are a heavy user.

2. There four classifications of cancer risk called “Groups”. Group 1 is used to classify something that has “sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity.” The other end of the scale is Group 4 which is used to classify something for which there is “evidence suggesting lack of carcinogenicity.” Group 2 has two sub-categories: 2A and 2B. 2A is defined as something that is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Cell phone radiation was classified as 2B: “Possibly cardinogenc.” My interpretation is that this means they are not certain but evidence indicates there is a good possibility that heavy use of cell phones in close proximity to the head may create an increased risk for a kind of malignant brain cancer (glioma).

3. The WHO report’s recommendation is to reduce exposure to cell phone radiation by simply moving it away from the head by using hands-free devices or sending text messages. They do not specify if Bluetooth headsets are classified as safe hands-free devices.

WHO Cancer Research Says: Heavy Cell Phone Use May Cause Type of Brain Cancer - SocialTimes.com

WHO: Cell phone use can increase possible cancer risk

May 31, 2011 CNN Health

Radiation from cell phones can possibly cause cancer, according to the World Health Organization. The agency now lists mobile phone use in the same "carcinogenic hazard" category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform.

Before its announcement Tuesday, WHO had assured consumers that no adverse health effects had been established.

A team of 31 scientists from 14 countries, including the United States, made the decision after reviewing peer-reviewed studies on cell phone safety. The team found enough evidence to categorize personal exposure as "possibly carcinogenic to humans."

What that means is they found some evidence of increase in glioma and acoustic neuroma brain cancer for mobile phone users, but have not been able to draw conclusions for other types of cancers

"The biggest problem we have is that we know most environmental factors take several decades of exposure before we really see the consequences," said Dr. Keith Black, chairman of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

The type of radiation coming out of a cell phone is called non-ionizing. It is not like an X-ray, but more like a very low-powered microwave oven.

"What microwave radiation does in most simplistic terms is similar to what happens to food in microwaves, essentially cooking the brain," Black said. "So in addition to leading to a development of cancer and tumors, there could be a whole host of other effects like cognitive memory function, since the memory temporal lobes are where we hold our cell phones."

Wireless industry responded to Tuesday's announcement saying it "does not mean cell phones cause cancer." CTIA-The Wireless Association added that WHO researchers "did not conduct any new research, but rather reviewed published studies."

The European Environmental Agency has pushed for more studies, saying cell phones could be as big a public health risk as smoking, asbestos and leaded gasoline. The head of a prominent cancer-research institute at the University of Pittsburgh sent a memo to all employees urging them to limit cell phone use because of a possible risk of cancer.

"When you look at cancer development -- particularly brain cancer -- it takes a long time to develop. I think it is a good idea to give the public some sort of warning that long-term exposure to radiation from your cell phone could possibly cause cancer," said Dr. Henry Lai, research professor in bioengineering at University of Washington who has studied radiation for more than 30 years.

Results from the largest international study on cell phones and cancer was released in 2010. It showed participants in the study who used a cell phone for 10 years or more had doubled the rate of brain glioma, a type of tumor. To date, there have been no long-term studies on the effects of cell phone usage among children.

"Children's skulls and scalps are thinner. So the radiation can penetrate deeper into the brain of children and young adults. Their cells are at a dividing faster rate, so the impact of radiation can be much larger." said Black of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

In February, a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health, revealed radiation emitted after just 50 minutes on a mobile phone increases the activity in brain cells. The effects of brain activity being artificially stimulated are still unknown.

Neurosurgeon and CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says Tuesday's announcement, "dealt a blow to those who have long said, 'There is no possible mechanism for cell phones to cause cancer.' By classifying cell phones as a possible carcinogen, they also seem to be tacitly admitting a mechanism could exist."

Manufacturers of many popular cell phones already warn consumers to keep their device away from their body and medical experts say there other ways to minimize cell phone radiation.

The Apple iPhone 4 safety manual says users' radiation exposure should not exceed FCC guidelines: "When using iPhone near your body for voice calls or for wireless data transmission over a cellular network, keep iPhone at least 15 millimeters (5/8 inch) away from the body."

BlackBerry Bold advises users to "keep the BlackBerry device at least 0.98 inch (25 millimeters) from your body when the BlackBerry device is transmitting."

The logic behind such recommendations is that the further the phone is from the body, the less radiation is absorbed. Users can also use the speakerphone function or a wired earpiece to gain some distance.

Users can text instead of talk if they want to keep the phone away from their faces.

Finally, cell phones emit the most radiation when they are attempting to connect to cellular towers. A moving phone, or a phone in an area with a weak signal, has to work harder, giving of more radiation. So users can avoid using their cell phones in elevators, buildings and rural areas if they want to reduce their exposure, experts say.

Reference - http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/31/who.cell.phones/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment

Doc. 12608

6 May 2011

The potential dangers of electromagnetic fields and their effect on the environment
Report1

Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs

Rapporteur: Mr Jean HUSS, Luxembourg, Socialist Group

Summary

The potential health effects of the very low frequency of electromagnetic fields surrounding power lines and electrical devices are the subject of ongoing research and a significant amount of public debate. While electrical and electromagnetic fields in certain frequency bands have fully beneficial effects which are applied in medicine, other non-ionising frequencies, be they sourced from extremely low frequencies, power lines or certain high frequency waves used in the fields of radar, telecommunications and mobile telephony, appear to have more or less potentially harmful, non-thermal, biological effects on plants, insects and animals, as well as the human body when exposed to levels that are below the official threshold values.

One must respect the precautionary principle and revise the current threshold values; waiting for high levels of scientific and clinical proof can lead to very high health and economic costs, as was the case in the past with asbestos, leaded petrol and tobacco.

Read more at: http://assembly.coe.int/main.asp?Link=/documents/workingdocs/doc11/edoc12608.htm

“Safe” distance from Cell Phone and Broadcast Transmitters - Dr. Magda Havas

Magda Havas, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Environmental & Resource Studies
TRENT UNIVERSITY, PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO, CANADA, K9J 7B8
August 20, 2008,

Re: “Safe” distance from Cell Phone and Broadcast Transmitters
Mayor Young and Council of Langford,

It is my understanding that you want to know what the “safe” distances are from cell phone and
broadcast transmitters. This is a difficult question to answer and depends on the height of towers,number and configuration of antennas, their signal strength, proximity to water, elevation of the surrounding land, as well as the presence of trees and metal structures that could either attenuate or enhance exposure. Also, some scientists believe that, similar to ionizing radiation, there is no “safe” exposure for microwave radiation.

However, if we put these concerns aside for the time being and attempt to estimate “safe”
distance based on the best available science we come up with two values. For cell phone
transmitters the distance beyond which no adverse health effects have been document is
approximately 400 metres. For broadcast antennas the “safe” distance may be in the order of
3.5 to 4 km.

These distances for cell phone antennas are based on studies from various countries including
Germany (Naila Study 2004) and Israel (Wolf et al. 2004) for cancers as well as Spain (Santini et al. 2002) for electrical sensitivity. The values for broadcast antennas are based on studies for both adult and childhood leukemia in Australia (Hocking et al. 1996), UK (Dolk et al. 1997), and Italy (Michelozzi et al. 1998). The levels at which adverse health effects have been reported are orders of magnitude below the Canadian Safety Code 6 Guideline. These “effects” are not psychological as animals (dairy cattle, mice, birds) also respond adversely to the radiation from these antennas.

Based on the available science, placing antennas on high rise buildings, near schools and
embedding them in residential communities is an unwise course of action.

Sincerely,
-Magda Havas

Reference - http://www.causetm.ca/Dr%20M.%20Havas%20letter%20to%20Langford%20re%20safety.pdf

Cell Phone Safety

The following presentation from L&T was sent to me by a friend. Its simple and crisp.

Germany warns citizens to avoid using Wi-Fi

The Independent, 9 Sept 2007

Environment Ministry's verdict on the health risks from wireless technology puts the British government to shame.

People should avoid using Wi-Fi wherever possible because of the risks it may pose to health, the German government has said.

Its surprise ruling – the most damning made by any government on the fast-growing technology – will shake the industry and British ministers, and vindicates the questions that The Independent on Sunday has been raising over the past four months.

And Germany's official radiation protection body also advises its citizens to use landlines instead of mobile phones, and warns of "electrosmog" from a wide range of other everyday products, from baby monitors to electric blankets.

The German government's ruling – which contrasts sharply with the unquestioning promotion of the technology by British officials – was made in response to a series of questions by Green members of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament.

The Environment Ministry recommended that people should keep their exposure to radiation from Wi-Fi "as low as possible" by choosing "conventional wired connections". It added that it is "actively informing people about possibilities for reducing personal exposure".

Its actions will provide vital support for Sir William Stewart, Britain's official health protection watchdog, who has produced two reports calling for caution in using mobile phones and who has also called for a review of the use of Wi-Fi in schools. His warnings have so far been ignored by ministers and even played down by the Health Protection Agency, which he chairs.

By contrast the agency's German equivalent – the Federal Office for Radiation Protection – is leading the calls for caution.

Florian Emrich, for the office, says Wi-Fi should be avoided "because people receive exposures from many sources and because it is a new technology and all the research into its health effects has not yet been carried out".

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/germany-warns-citizens-to-avoid-using-wifi-401845.html

WEBSITE ON Working for Safe Technologies for Nurseries, Schools and Colleges - http://www.wifiinschools.org.uk/index.html

Radiation Pattern of a Cell Tower Antenna

Radiation Pattern from the cell tower Antenna has been drawn for basic understanding of a radiation pattern.

This diagram was mainly used to describe why on a certain building the radiation levels vary from one apartment(say 7th floor) to the apartment above or below (6th and 8th floor) for a building at Khar (West), Mumbai.

The radiation pattern of a cell tower antenna is defined by its lobes. Radiation will be highest from the primary lobes in the horizontal direction. There is also radiation from secondary lobes.As seen in the figure, the readings that will be taken in between the lobes will be much lesser.

As seen in the figure, the radiation will also be high vertically downward from the secondary lobes. This is what most mobile operaters hide or are not aware of in India.


Distance is another critical factor. The power density varies by (1/R2), where R is the distance. People living within 50-300meter radius are in the high radiation zone. The figure below is a study from Germany. In the US, amplifiers of 1-2 Watt each are used in majority of the residential areas. However in India, at many places even 100 to 200 W amplifiers are used and there are clusters of antennas from multiple operators on the roof top of several residential and office premises.


Below is a simulated radiation pattern of a cell tower antenna by Prof. Girish Kumar from IIT Bombay, an expert on cell phone tower radiation and with experience of more than three decades in Antennas and Microwaves.

USHA KIRAN BUILDING - several cancer cases

Through the help of the above typical radiation pattern, let’s analyze the news reported in Mid-day, Mumbai dated Jan. 3, 2010, which stated - “Mumbai's swanky Usha Kiran building says the four cancer cases there could be linked to mobile towers installed on the facing Vijay Apartments”. The picture taken from the Usha Kiran building of the several antennas installed on the seventh floor of Vijay Apartments is shown in Fig. below.


Recently (as on Jan 2011) two more cancer cases have been reported on the 5th and on the 10th floor.
People living in the 6th, 7th and 8th floor in the opposite building will get maximum radiation as they are in the main beam direction. People living on the other floors will receive lesser radiation as beam maxima is reduced considerably as can be observed from vertical radiation pattern. In the horizontal direction again, people living in the front side of the antenna will receive much higher radiation compared to people living in the back side of antenna.

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/jan/030110-mobile-tower-cancer-cases-carmichael-road-posh-areas.htm

Muswell Hill residents fight telecoms giants over phone mast

Neighbours are furious that Vodafone and O2 are appealing to the Planning Inspectorate to build the mast in Bedford Road, Muswell Hill - branded an “eyesore” by residents - despite Haringey Council planning officers twice throwing it out for “cluttering” the street.

They fear the corporations will do whatever they can to push the plans through, running roughshod over public opinion and “putting money over people’s lives”.

Tessa Thomas, a health journalist of Alexandra Park Road, is one of several residents to have joined an anti-mast campaign dubbed OMBED (Opposition to the Mast in Bedford Road).

She said: “The mobile phone operators are trying to force this through in the teeth of local opposition and knowing that many of those people are very vulnerable.

“The planning services invite people’s views but then get their arms twisted by operators who make over £1billion a year profits and put this before people’s welfare.

“The consequences if this is allowed to go through could be very serious indeed.”

Vodafone and O2 say the mast, set to be built on the pavement outside Alexandra Palace railway station, is needed to provide 3G coverage and better mobile phone reception for customers in the area.

But almost 30 letters of protest were sent to a planning committee when the scheme was unveiled in May last year. It came just months before a similar application by the mobile phone companies was also rejected for a site on the same street.

A string of objections said the pole would block the narrow pavement, ruin the approach to the historic Alexandra Palace and be far too close to homes and a nearby community centre The JAN Trust.

Critics also fear that radiation emissions could pose serious health risks like dizziness, depression and hearing problems.

Rafaat Mughal, founding director of the women’s organisation The JAN Trust, said: “We have thousands of people visit us every year with problems like domestic violence and sex trafficking - one word about these health risks and they won’t come anymore and we’ll have to shut down.

“These companies put money over people’s lives and these are vulnerable hard to reach communities.”

The Planning Inspectorate is set to decide on whether to overrule Haringey Council’s Planning Committee in the coming weeks.

But even if the scheme is rejected, residents fear they will not hear the last of it.

Alexandra ward councillor Nigel Scott branded the mast an “eyesore”, adding: “The problem with large companies with huge amounts of money is that they can keep on appealing for as long as it takes. The whole system is skewed against local residents, but this is what we’ve come to expect.”

He added that residents’ suggestions to relocate the mast somewhere else along the railway line and away from people’s homes have so far been ignored.

A spokeswoman for Vodafone said radiation levels are well below national guidelines, adding: “We recognise that some communities are concerned regarding the deployment of radio base stations close to residential areas but without radio base stations, mobile phones will not be able to work.”

Muswell Hill residents fight telecoms giants over phone mast - News - Hornsey Journal

Mobile users for > 4 years and >30 minutes a day are at risk of developing hearing loss

Long term mobile phone use could cause hearing loss

Study on hearing loss attributed to mobile phone use states the blindingly obvious

ExpressIndia.com have reported on a study conducted by the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER). The study concludes that, “People using mobile phones for more than four years and longer than 30 minutes a day are at risk of developing hearing loss particularly at higher speech frequencies. This hearing loss was more in the dominant ear (ear of use). Presence of fullness in the ears, ear warmth, strange noises in the ear are warning signals which should not be ignored“. The study took 18 months.

Long term mobile phone use could cause hearing loss

Cell Phone Radiation? Text, Don’t Talk, advises FCC

Forbes, May. 9 2011

How dangerous is your cell phone? The unfortunate reality is that you can’t really know. Even so, only one year ago, progressive San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsome proposed an ordinance that would have required that all retailers inform consumers about the amount of radiation that cell phones emit. Material printed in 11pt. type would have been posted next to phones disclosing their specific absorption rate (“SAR”), which is a measure of radio frequency energy (radiation) absorbed by the body. Last Thursday, however, the City postponed enacting the law, which would have been trendsetting in the United States. The San Francisco Chronicle’s editorial page called the City’s decision “a big disappointment, especially for a city that prides itself as willing to take on powerful interests for a social good.” (May 6, 2011).

According to the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”), SAR is “a straightforward means for measuring the radio frequency exposure characteristics of all cell phones to ensure that they are within the safety guidelines of the FCC.” The FCC, which has been setting those guidelines since 1996, has set a ceiling of 1.6 watts per kilogram (w/kg) of energy as the highest amount of radiation that a phone may emit and still be sold in the United States. The FCC reports that cell phone manufacturers must conduct their SAR testing under “the most severe, worst-case (and highest power) operating conditions.”

The fact is that the scientific jury is still out on the effects of cell phone-emitted radiation. Several studies suggest that cell phone users have a “significant risk” of developing brain tumors, salivary gland tumors, and eye cancer. Not so, reports the FCC — its maximum SAR exposure standard

"is set at a level well below that at which laboratory testing indicates, and medical and biological experts generally agree, adverse health effects could occur."

Cell phones have only been part of our daily lives since the mid-1990s. As a result, neither scientists nor the FCC nor cell phone manufacturers have been able to confirm their studies based on even one generation of long-term cell phone users. Such a data set (in crude terms) doesn’t really exist. Yet both the FCC and cell phone manufacturers are concerned. The FCC cautions:

"For users who are concerned with the adequacy of this standard or who otherwise wish to further reduce their exposure, the most effective means . . . are to hold the cell phone away from the head or body and to use a speakerphone or hands-free accessory."

The advice continues:

"Consider texting rather than talking — but don’t text while you drive."

Why do I feel as though I’ve just opened a dust-covered issue of National Geographic with June Cleaver advertising Whirpool on one side and the Marlboro man riding into the sunset on the opposite fold?

What’s interesting to me, as the Chronicle points out, is that “almost all manufacturers include advice for customers to limit their exposure to radiation in user guides,” including limiting the length of calls. Let’s look at this. Why is it that manufacturers who (1) advise customers to limit exposure to radiation simultaneously (2) defeat what would have been a purportedly “business-killing” law that wouldn’t even have gone that far? How can we reconcile those two positions? In the short-term, their lobbying efforts paid off. San Francisco gave in. Now let’s assume — assume — for the sake of argument that scientific studies within the next 15-20 years demonstrate within the mainstream of scientific thought that radiation from cell phones does indeed cause the negative health effects discussed above.

What then? Are you going to sue the business interests that caused consumer-oriented laws to be pushed aside? But wait, those same interests provided you written information advising you to limit the length of your calls, perfectly in line with guidance provided by the FCC.

Did you not know or should you not have known then (now) about the health risks associated with your cell phone use? Because if so, then your statute of limitations — the time within which you can seek legal remedies — likely will have expired.

So text, don’t talk.

http://blogs.forbes.com/benkerschberg/2011/05/09/cell-phone-radiation-text-dont-talk-advises-fcc/

Industry Funded Cell Phone Study Ignores Evidence, Whitewashes Results

Truth on Medicine - June 30, 2010 - A funny thing happened on the way to publication of a WHO sponsored study on cell phones and cancer risks. First the study was delayed for four years. Then a news embargo was placed on study participants. And finally, instead of reporting proof of cell phone dangers as had been reported all the way up until just days before the study was finally released, the study instead reported that it found no evidence of cell phone dangers, contradicting the study’s evidence as well as the opinions of some study scientists.

In actuality, the Interphone Study did discover that long-term usage increased the chance of glioma by 40 per cent, but dismissed the risk because of possible biases and errors. Six of eight Interphone studies found increased risks of glioma, the most common brain tumor, with one study finding a 39 per cent increase.

An Israeli study found heavy users were about 50 per cent more likely to suffer tumors of the parotid salivary gland. Two studies into acoustic neuroma, a tumor of a nerve between the ear and brain, reported a higher risk after using mobiles for 10 years. A Swedish report reported the risk as being 3.9 times higher.

Contradicting the study’s conclusions, Dr Elisabeth Cardis of the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona who led the study said: “Overall, my opinion is that the results show a real effect.” Bruce Armstrong, another Interphone researcher from the University of Sydney, said: “There is evidence that there may be a risk; Interphone has made that a little stronger.”

Interphone has been rife with controversy almost from the day it was set up in 2000. Some of the criticism stems from the fact that mobile phone manufacturers partly funded the project to the tune of around 5.5 million euros, and there were concerns that such funding compromised the study’s independence. The scope of the project was also questioned, as it had left out children and adolescents, which are the groups most vulnerable and most susceptible to brain tumors. In addition, many observers and commentators have suspected that the four year delay was due to disagreements among the researchers. Based on what has transpired, such concerns appear to have been valid.

Until an embargo was placed on all news about the study, all indications had been that the study would conclude that there was evidence of dangers from cell phones and recommend measures to decrease the danger. Last year the Daily Telegraph reported that a major WHO study will finally announce later this year that “long-term use of mobile phones can cause brain tumors.”

Only last month, the London Times was reporting similar information. Then came the industry spin that should have provided a strong clue that something was afoot. On May 16th, a news release from the Mobile Manufacturers Forum group which helped fund the study reported that the new study “provides significant further reassurance about the safety of mobile phones. The overall analysis is consistent with previous studies and the significant body of research, reporting no increased health risk from using mobile phones.”

While several other countries have strengthened warnings about cell phones, Britain’s Department of Health continues to maintain that “the current balance of evidence does not show health problems caused by using mobile phones” and suggests only that children be “discouraged” from making “non-essential” calls while adults should “keep calls short”.

Given the Interphone Study’s conclusions, it does not appear likely that Britain will be strengthening their guidelines soon. One can only conclude that the mobile phone manufacturers got their 5.5 million Euros’ worth.

http://truthonmedecine.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/industry-funded-cell-phone-study-ignores-evidence-whitewashes-results/

1.5 lakh cell towers yet to meet radiation standards

Jan. 7: Despite missing several deadlines, telcos have still not been able to certify over one lakh telecom towers on radiation emission levels. The past few years have seen concerns over emissions emitted by these towers, and the possible implications on health.

The Centre had asked telecom companies to self-certify these towers on radiation emission levels. So far, 1.3 lakh of the 5.6 lakh odd towers in the country still remain to get the ‘self-certification’ stamp by telecom firms.

The earlier deadline was November 15. These companies could now face a fine of Rs. 5 lakh for each site that hasn’t been certified yet.
However, telecom firms claim these towers are safe and certifying the remaining towers is merely a waste of time. On their part GSM operators association, Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said that as per the guidelines, companies besides giving certificates that these towers (BTS) adhere to radiation norms have also to comply with other formalities such as submitting photographs of BTS’s and putting signs on them.

“As far as the critical part of testing these BTS are concerned, that has been completed all over the country. It is in others parts where we are facing delays. Because all the parts of the order has not been completed, and the telecom operators have not submitted the applications,” said Mr Rajan S. Mathews, director general COAI.

He added that the operators have asked the telecom department to give operators some more time and government is considering it. However, civil society groups demand that radiation audits should be performed by a third party. An equivalent would be to expect a speeding driver to voluntarily disclose the violation to police, they point out.

1.5 lakh cell towers yet to meet radiation standards | The Asian Age

Students protest against cellphone tower in IIT-B

A cellphone tower set up recently at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, has become a bone of contention between students and institute authorities. Several students are against the tower, installed around two months ago on top of the C-wing of Hostel 14, and want it removed as they fear the radiation will have an adverse effect on them.

“We are worried about the harmful impact of radiation on our health. We want it removed,” a student said on condition of anonymity. “The consent or opinion of all students was not taken before signing the contract for installing the tower,” another student alleged. Around 400 students were part of a signature campaign against the tower. “The opinion of some students was sought, but everyone was against it.”

Ironically, it was an IIT-Bombay professor — Girish Kumar of the electrical engineering department — who had submitted a 30-page report on “cell tower radiation” to the Department of Telecommunications in December 2010. “In India, we have adopted very relaxed radiation norms of 4.7 W/m2 (watt per metre square) for GSM 900, whereas serious health effects have been noted at as low as 0.0001 W/m2. It’s not just human beings, cell tower radiation can also adversely effects birds, animals and environment. Though cell operators continue to claim that there are no health issues, it’s time we realised the seriousness of the health hazards due to radiation from cell towers,” the report says.

Indian Express 6 Mar 2011 Students protest against cellphone tower in IIT-B

Thermal Effects of Cell Phone and Cell Tower Radiation

Thermal Effects of Cell Phone and Cell Tower Radiation
By: Girish Kumar and Neha Kumar

Abstract for National Symposium on Microwave Field Measurement, Biological Effects and Application in Nano Science organized by Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi - 4 March 2011


Article - Page 1

Article - Page 2


Presentation can be seen at - http://www.scribd.com/doc/50356049

Thermal Effects of Cell Phone and Cell Tower Radiation