Introduction

Cell phone is a radio device that uses radiofrequency energy

and remit electromagnetic radiation. Radiation which is called
“ionizing” can be absorbed by tissues and break molecules
apart, such as gamma rays and X- rays are known to cause
cancer. At sufficiently high flux levels, various bands of
electromagnetic radiation have been found to cause
deleterious health effects in people. High-power, extremely-
low-frequency RF with electric field levels in the low kV/m
range are known to induce perceivable currents within the
human body that create an annoying tingling sensation.

The operators are in reality wielding a double-edged sword. In a

bid to provide seamless service, they are installing these towers
wherever required. However, in doing so they are completely
neglecting adverse effect of cell phone radiations. The safety of
cell phone towers has been a subject of extensive scientific
debate for quite some time. There is a growing body of
scientific evidence that the electromagnetic radiation they
remit even at low level is dangerous to human health.
SOME COMMON FEATURES TO ALL
MOBILE HANDSETS

The common components found on all phones

are:
1. A battery, providing the power source for the phone
functions.
2. An input mechanism to allow the user to interact with the
phone.
3. The most common input mechanism is a keypad, but touch
screens. Are also found in most smartphones.
4. A screen which echoes the user’s typing, displays text
messages, contacts and more.
5. Basic mobile phone services to allow users to make calls and
send text Messages.
6. Individual GSM, WCDMA, IDEN and some satellite phone
devices are uniquely identified by an International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI) number.
What is a Base Station?

The term base station is used in the context of mobile

telephony, wireless computer networking and other wireless
communications and in land surveying: in surveying it is a GPS
receiver at a known position, while in wireless communications
it is a transceiver connecting several other devices to one
another and/or to a wider area. In mobile telephony it provides
the connection between mobile phones and the wider
telephone network.
Health Hazards Of Base Stations

Another area of concern is the radiation emitted by the fixed

infrastructure used in mobile telephony, such as base stations
and their antennas, which provide the link to and from mobile
phones. This is because, in contrast to mobile handsets, it is
emitted continuously and is more powerful at close quarters.
On the other hand, field intensities drop rapidly with distance
away from the base of transmitters because of the attenuation
of power with the square of distance. One popular design of
mobile phone antenna is the sector antenna, whose coverage is
120 degrees horizontally and about +5 degrees from the
vertical. Because base stations operate at less than 100 watts,
the radiation at ground level is much weaker than a cell phone
due to the power. Relationship appropriate for that design of
antenna, Base station emissions must comply with safety
guidelines.
Mobile phone and radiation health

The effect of mobile phone radiation on human health is a

subject of interest and study worldwide, as a result of the
increase in mobile phone usage throughout the world. As of
November 2011, there were more than 6 billion subscriptions
worldwide. Mobile phones use electromagnetic radiation in the
microwave range. Other digital wireless systems, such as data
communication networks, produce similar radiation. In 2011,
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified
mobile phone radiation as Group 28 possibly carcinogenic (not
Group 2A probably carcinogenic – nor the dangerous Group 1).
That means that there “could be some risk of carcinogenicity,
so additional research into the long- term, heavy use of mobile
phones needs to be conducted. The WHO added in June 2011
that “to date, no adverse health effects have been established
as being caused by mobile phone use”, a point they reiterated
in October 2014. Some national radiation advisory authorities
have recommended measures to minimize exposure to their
citizens as a precautionary approach.
Some Of The Potential Side Effects Of
Exposure To Electromagnetic Radiation

• Blurry Vision
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Neck Pain
• Memory Loss
• Leukemia
•Rare Brain Cancers
•Enzyme Changes That Affect DNA
• Birth Defects
•Changes In Metabolism
• Increased Risk For Alzheimer’s Disease
• Increased Risk For Heart Conditions
• Neurological Hormone Changes Linked Impaired Brain
Function
Effects Of Mobile Radiation On Living
Tissue

• RADIATION ABSORPTION
Part of the radio waves emitted by a mobile telephone handset
are absorbed by the body. The radio waves emitted by a GSM
handset are typically below a watt. The maximum power
output from a mobile phone is regulated by the mobile phone
standard and by the regulatory agencies in each country. In
most systems the cellphone and the base station check
reception quality and signal strength and the power level is
increased or decreased automatically, within a certain span, to
accommodate different situations, such as inside or outside of
buildings and vehicles. The rate at which energy is absorbed by
the human body is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate
(SAR), and its maximum levels for modern handsets have been
set by governmental regulating agencies in many countries. In
the USA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg, averaged over a volume of 1 gram
of tissue, for the head. In Europe, the limit is 2 W/kg, averaged
over a volume of 10 grams of tissue. SAR data for specific
mobile phones, along with other useful information, can be
found directly on manufacturers’ websites, as well as on third
party web sites. It is worth noting that thermal radiation is not
comparable to ionizing radiation in that it only increases the
temperature in normal matter, it does not break molecular
bonds or release electrons from their atoms.

• THERMAL EFFECTS
One well-understood effect of microwave radiation is dielectric
heating, in which any dielectric material (such as living tissue) is
heated by rotations of polar molecules induced by the
electromagnetic field. In the case of a person using a cell
phone, most of the heating effect will occur at the surface of
the head, causing its temperature to increase by a fraction of a
degree. In this case, the level of temperature increase is an
order of magnitude less than that obtained during the exposure
of the head to direct sunlight. The brain’s blood circulation can
dispose of excess heat by increasing local blood flow. However,
the cornea of the eye does not have this temperature
regulation mechanism and exposure of 2-3 hours duration has
been reported to produce cataracts in rabbits’ eyes at SAR
values from 100-140 W/kg, which produced lenticular
temperatures of 41 “C. This has known to cause premature
cataract in humans. An image via thermal scans showing
heating of the facial skin after 4 hours of phone usage. Thermal
effects have also known to cause harm to ear drum and impair
hearing in the long term.
• BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER EFFECT
Swedish researchers from Lund University have studied the
effects of mobile radiation on the brain. They found a leakage
of albumin into the brain via a permeated blood-brain barrier.
This confirms earlier work on the blood-brain barrier by Allan
Frey, Oscar and Hawkins, and Albert and Kerns. Professor
Leszczynski of Finland’s radiation and nuclear safety authority
found that, at the maximum legal limit for mobile radiation,
one protein in particular, HSP 27, was affected HSP 27 played a
critical role in the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.
•COGNITIVE EFFECTS
A 2009 study, examined the effects of exposure to
radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted by standard GSM cell
phones on the cognitive functions of humans. The study
confirmed longer (slower) response times to a spatial working
memory task when exposed to RFR from a standard GSM
cellular phone placed next to the head of male subjects and
showed that longer duration of exposure to RFR may increase
the effects on performance. Right-handed subjects exposed to
RFR on the left side of their head on average had significantly
longer response times when compared to exposure to the right
side and sham- exposure.
•GENOTOXIC EFFECTS
In December 2004, a pan-European study named REFLEX (Risk
Evaluation of Potential Environmental Hazards from Low Energy
Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Exposure Using Sensitive in vitro
Methods), involving 12 collaborating laboratories in several
countries showed some compelling evidence of DNA damage of
cells in in-vitro cultures, when exposed between 0.3 to Z
watts/kg, whole-sample average. There were indications, but
not rigorous evidence of other cell changes, including damage
to chromosomes, alterations in the activity of certain genes and
a boosted rate of cell division. Australian research conducted in
2009, by subjecting in vitro samples of human spermatozoa to
radio-frequency radiation at 1.8 GHz and specific absorption
rates (SAR) of 0.4 to 27.5 W/kg showed a correlation between
Increasing SAR and decreased motility and vitality in sperm,
increased oxidative stress and 8-Oxo-2’-deoxyguanosine
markers, stimulating DNA base adduct formation and increased
DNA fragmentation.
•Behavioral Effects & Sperm Count And Sperm Quality

A study shows that exposure to excessive mobile radiation

during pregnancy can cause a risk of ADHD in child. Exposure to
SAR values for long times for those men who keep the mobile
phones in their lower pockets for most of the time, increases
the temperature of groin and the radiation has known to cause
considerable lowering of the sperm motility and vitality of
sperm.
Tips For Reducing Potential Harmful
Effects of Mobile Phone Radiation

1. When on a call, use a wired headset or speakerphone

mode. Use a Bluetooth headset, which emits a smaller
amount of radiation, only when talking. When not using
the headset, keep it off your body.
2. Place the mobile phone away from your body when on a
call.
3. Do not carry mobile phones in pockets of pants or in shirts
or bras. Use a belt holster designed to shield the body
from radiation.
4. Avoid using a mobile phone in a moving car, train, bus, or
in rural areas at some distance from a cell tower. Distance
from a cell tower will increase the cellphone’s radiation
output.
5. Turn the mobile phone off when you don’t need to use it.
6. Use a corded landline phone instead of a wireless phone,
which also emits radiation.
7. Avoid using mobile phone inside of buildings, particularly
those with steel structures, which increases the device’s
radiation output because signals are not as strong.
CONCLUSION

The conclusion drawn from the investigatory project finally

states the mobile radiation is harmful to human health. The
effects may not be noted almost immediately but will be
causing adverse effects to the present as well the future
generations because of the ability of the radiations to effect
and mutate human DNA which have a high potential to cause
mutations and new diseases in the future generations. Mobile
radiations present a very high risk of brain cancer and tumors in
humans and most prominently in children below the age of 5
years.

Precautionary measure should be taken to protect one’s self

and family and friends from the harmful effects of mobile
radiation. J Mobile radiation might not seem harmful in almost
immediate effects but is such a slow poison to cause harmful
effects to us and even our future generations, in the long run.
BIBILOGRAPHY

Reference

•Biology textbook, NCERT

• www.wikipedia.com

• www.google/images.com

• www.NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute).com