Mobile tower radiation can have hazardous health and environmental effects. Mobile towers emit high-frequency radio waves or microwaves that can travel long distances. Different countries have set different safety limits for radiation exposure. Exposure limits in India are outlined in the Indian Wireless Act and Telegraph Act. Radiation can impact humans, plants and animals. It has been linked to headaches, genetic damage, and increased cancer risks in humans. Birds and bees can experience disorientation and declining populations near mobile towers. Reducing mobile phone use and carrying phones on the body can help lower exposure risks. Stricter safety regulations and siting of mobile towers are needed to protect public health and the environment from electromagnetic radiation pollution.
2. CONTENTS
• Introduction of Mobile Tower.
• Range.
• Mobile tower radiations.
• Hazardous effect of mobile tower radiation.
• Radiation limits and Regulations – A Global Scenario.
• Legal reference on Radiation – India.
• Effects of Mobile Radiation On Environment.
• Suggested solutions.
• Conclusion.
3. Introduction of Mobile Tower
Mobile tower is a cellular telephone site where antennae and
electronic communications equipment are placed, usually on a
radio mast, tower or other high place, to create cell in cellular
network.
In simple terms, Mobile towers help mobile phones and other
devices to function by providing waves and signal.
4. RANGE
The working of the range of a Cell Site (the range which mobile
devices connect reliably to the cell site) is not a fixed figure. It
depends on number of factors:-
Height of antennae.
The frequency of signal in use.
The transmitter rated power.
The directional characteristics of the site antennae array.
Reflection and absorption of radio energy by buildings or
vegetation.
It may be limited by local geographical or regulatory factors
and weather conditions.
5. Mobile Tower Radiation
• We are exposed to 100 million times more electromagnetic radiation
than your grandparents were, and part of the reason is radiation from
cell phone towers and microwave antennas.
• Human population centers are flooded with massive amounts of
powerful wireless microwave radiation. Cell phone towers emit high-
frequency radio waves, or microwaves, that can travel as far as 45
miles over level terrain. The closer you are, the greater the danger.
6.
7. Radiation limits and Regulations –
A Global Scenario
A number of countries have specified their own radiation levels keeping
in mind the environmental and physiological factors. The International
Standards are as:
12 USA, Canada and Japan
9.2 ICNIRP and EU recommendation 19988
9 Exposure limit in Australia
2.4 Exposure limit in Belgium
1.0 Exposure limit in Italy, Israel
0.5 Exposure limit in New Zealand
0.4 Exposure limit in China
0.1 Exposure limit in Poland, Paris
International Exposure limits for EMF IN W/m2(1800 MHz)
8. Legal reference on Radiation - India
Some section summarizes legal aspects on the subject of
radiation.
The Indian Wireless Act, 1933.
The Indian Telegraph Act,1885.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act,1997.
9. Microwave Radiation Effects
• Microwave radiation effects are classified as:
- Thermal
- Non- Thermal
• The current exposure safety standards are mainly based on the
thermal effects, which are inadequate.
• Non-Thermal effects are several times more harmful than
thermal effects.
11. People living within 50 to 300 meter radius are in the
high radiation zone and are more prone to ill effects of
electromagnetic radiation.
12. Effects of Mobile Radiation On
Environment
On Plants
On
Humans
On
Animals
13. Effect of Mobile Radiation
On Plants- Tops of trees
tend to dry up when
they directly face the cell
tower antennas and they
have their roots close to
the water.
On Animals-
1-Effect on Farm animal
2- Effect on Bees
3- Effect on Birds
14. On Birds-
It is estimated that
towers kill about 6.8
Million Birds a year.
Alters their navigation
and reproduction
processes.
On Bees-
Bees have been
getting sick and
disoriented, and
whole hives are
being deserted.
Vanishing Bee
Syndrome.
15. Effect On Humans
Headache
Impaired immune system
Genetic Damage
Eye problems
Memory loss
Brain tumors
DNA Damage
Fatigue
Cardiovascular stress
Changed brain electrical activity
Break in blood brain barrier
Reduced melatonin
Melanoma of the eye
Interference with Pacemakers
16. Suggested Solutions
• Avoid using cell phone when the signal is weak
• Avoid carrying cell phones on our body at all times.
• Children should use mobile phones for emergencies.
• Do not sleep with cell phone powered on.
• Use home and office corded landline for most conversation.
• Use cell phone with lower SAR value.
• Do not keep cell phones in hand / pocket for long.
17. Conclusions
• Until now , man has been absorbing the harmful,
unseen EM Radiations without even being aware
of it, but now, with rapid advent in technology
this RF radiation pollution has started having ill
effects on human health as well as on
environment.
• Hence, there is an urgent need to take
precautionary steps.