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What are the Dangers of Living Near Cell Phone Towers?

by Rajesh chopra LiveIndia.com

German study: 3 times increased cancer risk

Several doctors living in Southern Germany city of Naila conducted a study to assess therisk of mobile phone radiation. Their research examined whether population living close totwo transmitter antennas installed in 1993 and 1997 in Naila had increased risk of cancer.Data was gathered from nearly 1,000 patients who had been residing at the same addressduring the entire observation period of 10 years. The social differences are small, with noethnic diversity. There is no heavy industry, and in the inner area there are neither highvoltage cable nor electric trains. The average ages of the residents are similar in both theinner and outer areas.What they found is quite telling: the proportion of newly developed cancer cases was threetimes higher among those who had lived during the past ten years at a distance of up to400m (about 1300 feet) from the cellular transmitter site, compared to those living further away. They also revealed that the patients fell ill on average 8 years earlier.

Computer simulation and measurements used in the study both show that radiation in theinner area (within 400m) is 100 times higher compared to the outer area, mainly due toadditional emissions coming from the secondary lobes of the transmitter.Looking at only the first 5 years, there was no significant increased risk of getting cancer inthe inner area. However, for the period 1999 to 2004, the odds ratio for getting cancer was3.38 in the inner area compared to the outer area. Breast cancer topped the list, with anaverage age of 50.8 year compared with 69.9 years in the outer area, but cancers of theprostate, pancreas, bowel, skin melanoma, lung and blood cancer were all increased

People who are living near mobile tower 400-500 metres should get their houses tested for radiation.

Across the United States, opposition to cell towers has continued to grow within residential areas.More than 500 cases have been heard nationwide involving efforts to stop cell phone towers frombeing placed within residential zones.Whether these cases are won or lost, the question still remains; are these cell towers safe?

Federal law eliminates one of the key arguments that some residents have against cell sites intheir neighborhood; the health factor. To date, no studies have shown absolute and conclusiveevidence that radio frequency [RF] emissions are harmful at levels allowed by the FederalCommunications Commission. As a result, the law strictly prohibits the rejection of a cell tower based on health risk.

However, there is also a clear lack of evidence showing that these towers are in fact safe.Because of this, a fear of the uncertainty remains among many neighborhoods across the UnitedStates.

Although residents cannot argue the health issues associated with living in the vicity of a celltower, they can make the argument that the perception of a health risk, combined with what mostconsider to be an eyesore, can drastically lower property values for those living near a cell site.

In recent years, there have been several different views taken on the health risks associated withcell towers.

In 2004, The International Association of Fire Fighters opposed the use of fire houses for celltower sites “until a study with the highest scientific merit” proves they are safe.

Read their full statement here.

The American Cancer Society's web site states that “because the [cell tower] technology is stillrelatively new, we do not yet have full information on health effects.” However, the organizationalso noted there was “no known evidence of a link between low-level emissions and cancer.”

Read the entire report here.

According to the Federal Government, no studies have shown conclusive evidence that radiofrequency emissions, a form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), from cell towers are harmful.The Food and Drug Administration states that, "RF [Radio frequency] exposure on the ground ismuch less than exposure very close to the antenna and in the path of the transmitted radio signal.In fact, ground-level exposure from such antennas is typically thousands of times less than theexposure levels recommended as safe by expert organizations. So exposure to nearby residentswould be well within safety margins."

However, the Federal Government also declared cigarettes safe at one time. Why shouldresidents have to be the “test group” to prove whether these towers are safe? How are we toknow what the long term exposure studies will show? Why should we be forced by the FederalGovernment to take that risk?

Cellphones, Cellphone Towers Cancer Connection - JNU

Two Tower on Single roof after just 1st. floor.

Cell phone companies also maintain that no risks exist from the towers. "There are no health risksposed by the towers. Independent scientific panels around the world have reached thisconclusion," said Russ Stromberg, senior manager of development at T-Mobile.Would we expect the cell phone companies to say anything less? Big Tobacco raved about thesafety of cigarette smoking for years; all the while knowing the underlying risks associated withtheir product. It came down to one thing; money.

So who are you to believe?

Several studies are now coming forward that seem to tell a different story regarding the safety of cell towers.

A study by Dr. Bruce Hocking in Australia found that children living near three TV and FMbroadcast towers (similar to cell towers) in Sydney had more than twice the rate of leukemia thanchildren living more than seven miles away.

Says Dr. Neil Cherry, a biophysicist at Lincoln University in New Zealand:"Public health surveys of people living in the vicinity of cell site base stations should be beingcarried out now, and continue progressively over the next two decades. This is because prompteffects such as miscarriage, cardiac disruption, sleep disturbance and chronic fatigue could wellbe early indicators of the adverse health effects. Symptoms of reduced immune system