The Dangers of Cell Phone Towers

In all my research into the harmful effects of radiation emitted by cell phone towers, one thing remains constant- there have been insufficient studies done on the effects of electromagnetic transmissions on human being. The question now begs itself- Why then is the government allowing the competing wireless providers to construct cell towers in residential areas- in people’s yards for that matter? In other words, with studies remaining inconclusive at best, and in some cases confirming our suspicions, why should we be putting our children’s lives at risk?

More studies must be conduced on the subject matter and in the meantime, the authorities should adopt a precautionary approach in terms of zoning these cell towers. Alas, we live in a Third World nation and the government could care less about the health and safety of its citizens. As a people, we tend to settle for less, without investigating the facts and ensuring our own safety.

Some communities have taken protests action against some of these cell companies, but the thing is, these said telephone giants have the money and resources to fight the long battle, and evidently, without any coordinated resistance, they will win. If it is so safe, they should build cell towers where some of these executives live.

In any event, I digress, and I must return to the subject of hand. I propose to demonstrate that although some research has been done claiming that electro magnetic emissions from cell towers do not pose a threat to humans, there exist some definitive studies that suggest otherwise- studies that will never see the light of day if the telephone companies would have their way.

Let us begin by illustrating how the process works. Cell phones use conventional radio waves for broadcasting which is non ionizing radiation. Non ionizing radiation refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy to ionize living material, that is, to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule.

After World War II, Dr. Ernest Hartmann, a German Physicist discovered that an electromagnetic network, much like the human body’s nervous system, covers the surface of the earth. This grid like formation of invisible wall of electro magnetic waves is a naturally occurring phenomenon. However, the intersection of the grid, called “knots” produce an abundance of electromagnetic energy which could be damaging to human health. These naturally occurring electromagnetic waves, combined with the electromagnetic pollution emanating from cell phone towers and even cell phones, computers and other such devices put humans at an unknown level of risk.

The effects of electromagnetic waves on the human body are not fully known yet our government turns a blind eye and allow these wireless providers to pay unsuspecting individuals $4000 in monthly rentals for a contracted period of ten years to have a cell tower constructed on the property, in some cases, right smack in the middle of houses. If the children from the area develop cancer or leukemia, what will the government tell those who will be left to suffer and die a horrible death. Mind you, this is not the good ole US of A so do not count on money from a lawsuit to bring comfort to their pain.

The technical community is evolving various studies on how the waves and the resulting radiation affect the human brain, organs, blood composition, and mental function. According to Elaine Fox from the Psychology Department of the University of Essex who is studying whether electromagnetic fields emitted from cell phone towers adversely affect humans - “At the moment, there are too few properly controlled scientific studies to draw any strong conclusions.” Even if this was to hold as true, then caution would dictate that the government plays an intervening role in protecting citizens from harm. In a third world country like ours, one only has to bribe a senior public official to circumvent the common good.

On the other hand, a study was conducted for the French National Institute of Applied Sciences in Lyon and published in the Journal Pathologie Biologie in 2002. The study focused on the health of people living in the vicinity of cell phone towers and was conducted by R and P Santini, J.M. Danze, P Le Ruz and M. Seigne. The study was done gathering information from 530 people [270 men, 260 women] living in the vicinity of a cell towers on 18 non specific health symptoms [NSHS]. Comparisons of complaint frequencies in relation to the distance from cell towers and sex show significant increase as compared to people living in excess of 300 meters.

The study suggests that people as far as 300 meters away from the cell towers may experience tiredness as a result of high frequency electromagnetic fields; 200 meters for headache, sleep disruption, discomfort etc; 100 meters for irritability, depression, loss of memory, dizziness, libido decrease etc. Women, significantly more than men complained of headache, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disruption, depression, discomfort and visual disruptions.

This study gives evidence of the fact that bio effects are reported by people exposed at up to 300 meters from cell towers. The number of reported symptoms is higher close to the cell tower and it decreases with increased distance from them. The study also states, “It is equally possible that the levels of electromagnetic fields around a cell tower would not be an exact representation of the levels of exposure to the populations. In fact, different parameters are likely to interfere to modify the levels and in particular fluctuations in emission strengths such as the number of calls handled by the tower, the reflection of electromagnetic waves etc…”

The study concludes in a manner that I had suggested earlier. It stated, “From these results and in applying the precautionary principle, it is advisable that cell phone towers are not sited closer than 300 meters to populations and most significantly because exposed people can have different sensitivities related particularly to their sex.”