Mobile tower radiation is a term that triggers negative thoughts in our minds. While many of us are aware that our smartphones and mobile towers emit radio frequency but most of us are unaware that we are fully surrounded by radio frequencies, they are everywhere like your Wi-Fi router sitting at the corner of your room, your microwaves oven also emit radio frequencies as well as the radio. We tend to liken these electromagnetic frequencies (EMFs) to stronger and much more dangerous X-rays and gamma rays which do have the potential to cause harm to the human body. It is now high time that we understand how radiation functions and bust the myths and misconceptions around these EMFs – are towers are really dangerous or not?
Busting the myths
There are two types of radiations. Ionizing radiations are stronger radiation likes X-rays, Gamma rays, and ultraviolet radiation. They have the potential to cause harm to human health. If in contact for a longer time, these radiations can harm living tissues. Non-ionizing radiation, on the other hand, is too weak to cause any damage to any living being and can only cause possible thermal effects. The emission from mobile towers is non-ionizing which is not capable of causing any damage.
In India the myth that mobile towers and smartphones emit ‘ionizing radiation’ is prevalent. Radiations are measured in electron Volt term. For example, an X-Ray uses 100 eV to 1 lakh eV to get its things done, and the light which might be a turn on in your room at this time uses 1 eV energy.
Now you know the quantity of eV that we deal with regularly, you should understand know how much radio frequency radiation comes out from the mobile tower or your smartphone, they range from one-thousandth to one-millionth of an eV, which means they are lakhs of times weaker than other radiation. This implies they cannot cause any harm to living tissues and are classified as ‘non-ionizing radiation’.
Secondly, most of us use DTH services at home to receive signals from TV stations which enables you to view programs on your television, did you know that the antenna fixed on your roof also emits radiation.
Did you know
The source of energy for our planet, the sun, emits radiation as well. Since the sun is at a great distance, these radiations become weak as they reach us and provide us heat as well as Vitamin D.
A thunderstorm has electric frequencies as well, and the earth has also a magnetic field which helps birds find direction. These frequencies are not harmful to us, which means not all frequencies or radiations are harmful.
International studies and research
The American Cancer Society states that the radiation emitted from mobile towers is not dangerous for our health. These radiations do not cause cancer but prolonged exposure to stronger radiation like x- rays, gamma rays, and ultraviolet (UV) light can be detrimental to human health.
The World Health Organization has specified norms for radiation emission. India took a tough stand to limit radiation by implementing norms which are 10 times more stringent than internationally prescribed standards, even more, stringent than USA, France, and Japan. The TERM cells are monitoring bodies set up by the government which continuously monitor mobile towers. If any tower is found to be flouting the norms the company has to pay a penalty of whopping Rs. 10 Lakhs. The Indian government has also allowed the installation of mobile towers on government building so as to increase networks and connectivity.
Recently, certain activists have filed cases in different parts of the country and the Honorable High Courts of Gujarat, Kerala, Allahabad, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh have dismissed their claims and upheld that there is no evidence to substantiate their claims and that mobile tower radiation is too weak to cause any impact on the human body.
WHO has undertaken and participated in more than 25,000 conducted around the globe over the last 20 years and basis those, it states:
“Current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields.”In India, a committee formed by Hon’ble Allahabad High Court which consisted of experts from five IITs,
In India, a committee formed by Hon’ble Allahabad High Court which consisted of experts from five IITs, AIIMS (Delhi), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow, also concluded that basis the current available scientific evidence, studies and reports available, that there is no conclusive evidence which shows any dangers of EMF radiation.
Taking cognizance of the innumerable studies around mobile tower radiation, we can easily rest in peace as there is proof to support the claim that EMFs from mobile towers cause any damage to the human body.
Image Credit – Flickr
