Cellular Phones Catalyze Cancer!

Electro-magnetic radiation has a hazardous impact on human health. These hazards are due to increasing electromagnetic fields created by police radars and cellular phones etc. Cellular phones are believed to be catalytic to initiate cancer by some researchers because radiation from these instruments interferes with natural electric fields inside human cells.

For mobile phones, probabilistic elements are fewer as source, as the head in this case is close to the victim. Biological effects due to these radiations are areas of concern beyond thermal effects. Dr Ashish Sanyal of department of Information Technology says, there is an urgent need for a precautionary approach as outlined in the declaration principle 15, at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment in Rio De Jenero. In keeping with the same, European Commission adopted the approach in 2000 for protection of human health where scientific evidence is insufficient, inconclusive, and uncertain for risk analysis and management.

Electromagnetic radiation hazards (RADHAZ or EMR hazards) are hazards caused by a transmitter installation that generates radiation in the vicinity of ordnance, personnel, or fueling operations in excess of established safe levels or increases the existing levels to a hazardous level; or a personnel, fueling, or ordnance installation located in an area that is illuminated by radiation at a level that is hazardous to the planned operations or occupancy.

These hazards will exist when an electromagnetic field of sufficient intensity is generated to: (a) induce or otherwise couple currents and/or voltages of magnitudes large enough to initiate electro-explosive devices or other sensitive explosive components of weapon systems, ordnance, or explosive devices; (b) cause harmful or injurious effects to humans and wildlife; (c) create sparks having sufficient magnitude to ignite flammable mixtures of materials that must be handled in the affected area

Ionising and non-ionising radiations, in the era of exponential rise in devices and systems. Effects on female genital system, pregnancy and foetal development, blood and blood formation system, nervous system, cardio-vascular system, endocrine and metabolic system along with cataractogenesis have been observed through experimental results. There exists a close relationship between immunology and radiation exposure.

Case studies and epidemiological studies suggest that radiation exposure from power lines especially at high voltages, 11 KV, 66KV, 220 KV, 765 KV pose five times more risk for childhood cancer, excessive lung cancer in women, two fold increase in Leukemia in adults, mental depression and suicides and brain tumour to be 13 fold in case of high voltage electricity maintenance staff. Infant death or foetal loss has been reported at houses heated either by under floor or ceiling electrical cables.

Human beings are exposed to non-ionising radiations from AC Power, Radio and broadcasting operations. Average human height is almost one-fifth of wavelength corresponding TV/FM band of 30-300 Mhz.

Although studies are being conducted for more than three decades conclusive evidence for association of adverse health effects due to electromagnetic field emissions owing to non –availability of selected populations and non –availability of longtime exposure data. Even a reliable method to monitor radiation exposure for a long period is not in sight. There is an urgent need to conduct epidemiological geographic correlation studies along with disease cluster studies comparing disease rates among areas with potential radio frequency and similar radiation exposures.

The increased use of electromagnetic energy has led to national and international initiatives to protect the workforce and the general public from possible health hazards associated with EM exposures. Commercial and industrial companies need to be compliant with current exposure guidelines to help ensure safety from EM exposures.

Employers experience difficulties in assessing potential EM exposure of employees particularly where there are no standard assessment procedures specified for complex exposure scenarios. Given the wide range of applications of EM energy it is clear that many commercial and industrial companies, utilities and government agencies need to prepare safety cases and risk assessments. Failure to do so or failure to implement the existing guidelines completely could place the organizations and government departments at a risk of litigation.

Despite the fact that one committee has submitted its report on radiations hazards suggesting mandatory safety limits for occupational, general public and periodic checking on exposure at work places has not been taken cognizance of. The committee has sought industry compliance to the proposed limits as well but in India, there is no official radiation exposure standard till date as is the case in the developed countries.

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“Dr.George Carlo found that the rate of death from brain cancer is higher among mobile phone users and the risk of contracting a rare tumor on the outside of the brain is more than double.”

“Earlier this year British researchers found that mobile type radiation created mysterious hot-spots which could damage children's developing brains. The Government promised a rigorous investigation. Days later a study of 11,000 volunteers, the largest so far, found a link with headaches, dizziness and concentration lapses”