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Industry : Telecom/ISP
Activity:  11 comments  586 views  last activity : 03 03 2011 14:13:34 +0000
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Ghanaian scientists say radio frequency (RF) radiation emitted by antennae on telecom towers are not harmful to human health.

The scientists, drawn from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Communication Authority (NCA), told journalists at a day's workshop that public anxiety about the health hazards of RF radiation from telecom antennae was unfounded.

The workshop was organised by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC), to educate the public through the media about the unfounded adverse effects of RF radiations, and the need for more telecom towers to improve coverage and quality of service.

There has been huge public anxiety about the spread of telecom towers in residential areas due to fears that radiation from the antennae is cancerous.

Complaints lodged with the EPA showed that the public is concerned about health effects of radiation, public safety and noise from standby generators on telecom cell sites among other things.

As a result, the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology has placed a temporary ban on the erection of telecom towers, pending new guidelines that would compel telecom operators to co-locate and ultimately reduce the spread of masts.

But Dr. Vincent Ahove from the WHO said thousands of studies conducted by the WHO across the world have shown no link between human health and exposure to radio frequency radiation.

He said the WHO had adopted the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines for its operations in Ghana, adding that no telecom antennae or mobile phone in Ghana emitted radiation anywhere close to what ICNIRP allowed.

"This means it does not matter whether people live close to or far away from telecom masts, because as far as exposure to RF radiations from telecom antennae are concerned, there is no proven link between emission and health effects," he said.

Mr Joseph Amoako, Head of Regulations at the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the GAEC said emissions from telecom antennae were non-ionizing radiations, which did not have the capacity to destroy human DNA and therefore could not be hazardous to human health.

He said research showed that in Ghana, the levels of radio frequency emissions from telecom towers and mobile phones were thousands of times lower than what is internationally allowed to be emitted.

Mr Amoako, however, cautioned that telecom towers should not be sited close to health facilities because the radiation waves could interfere with the operation of certain equipment.

Mr Ebenezer Ampah-Sampong from the EPA said there were, however, issues with the safety due to the structural integrity of the towers and also issues with community consent before towers were erected.

He noted that due to competition on the telecom market, some operators went ahead of the EPA's and other permits to mount towers at certain locations without permits and that led to most of the complaints from the public.

Mr Henry Kanor, Deputy Director of Engineering at the NCA, said telecom operators needed towers to improve coverage and quality of service.

He, therefore, called on the media to educate the public and disabuse their minds about the unfounded health hazards attached to RF radiation and the need for towers to improve quality of service.

"We can't reject the towers and yet call for quality of service - quality service goes hand in hand with increase in the number of towers," he said.

Mr Kanor said the new draft guidelines for citing telecom towers would compel operators to do co-location in order to reduce public anxiety about the spread of the towers.

 Top Comment : Prad Roy   | 12 06 2010 13:36:30 +0000
Not sure about Ghana and it's flora and fauna. As far as India is concerned, the effects are quite visible. If you observe the green coconuts (unripened, Kachcha Nariyal), dates etc. which grow on high rise trees you can see the effects on their outer surface. You will find lots of scars on the surface.......Also, how do you justify lesser birds on the trees specially sparrows...where have they gone?
 
11 comments on "Telecom"
  Commented by  Abhishek Gupta, Director , Skills Factory    | 03 03 2011 14:13:34 +0000
What can You do about IT ?? There sre so many issues and problem, which govt shud solve, but who is serious enough to find a remeady, All are chatters and bloggers, what if i tell there are co's available , who are engineering products , portable one to counter these ill effetcs, Will u Belive and enquire and spread the message ??
  Commented by  Abhishek Gupta, Director , Skills Factory    | 03 03 2011 13:45:02 +0000
Cancer researchers concerned with recent powerline issues are coming up with many reports on oncological effects of very low-level 1 mG ELF electromagnetic fields

Leukemia studies which link low level EMF fields                                      2 - 4 mG

A study (Ahlbom & Feychting, 1993) reported that at 2 mG and above, exposed children were 2.7 times as likely to develop cancer as unexposed children, and at 3 mG and above, the odds rose to 3.8 times as likely!

Computer Monitors - VDTs should produce magnetic fields of no more than 2 mG at a distance of 30 cm (about 1 ft) from the front surface of the monitor and 50 cm (about 1 ft 8 in) from the sides and back of the monitor. 
  Commented by  Abhishek Gupta, Director , Skills Factory    | 03 03 2011 13:32:08 +0000
there is evidence that electromagnetic waves can create dangerous interference with other necessary electronic devices like pacemakers, defibrillators, and hearing aids. In addition, some experts have noted alterations in brain activity, 

a slowing of reaction times, and an adaptation of sleep patterns in people that are exposed to electromagnetic radiation in large quantities. With all of the potential risks mentioned, it is no wonder why people are growing more and more concerned with electromagnetic radiation, the potential risks, and the need to develop safety measures.

It is recommended that one avoid EMF waves, if it is at all possible. A homeowner should keep away from the electrical panel in the home when it is possible to do so, and if one's bed or furniture is near the box it is recommended that the homeowner rearrange his or her furnishings to change the situation as soon as possible. It is also recommended that a homeowner remove as many electrical devices from one's sleeping area as possible. One may want to eliminate the use of heating blankets and heating pads, and a homeowner will also want to unplug electrical devices when not in use, too. These small steps help to lower one's overall exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
  Commented by  kinshuk prawal, B.E.(mech)/MBA(marketing)    | 03 03 2011 12:36:12 +0000
cell phone towers emit ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD(or EMF Pollution) that cause devastating effect on health distorting the biofield of body,damaging the cells and DNA,other effects are excluded.However,since the telecom towers cannot be shut,one can take some precautions such as- wearing a pendant,keeping away the mobiles and clocks,far from the head while sleeping,using chips on the phones and not sleeping on tanned bed,including living away from the towers of course. 
But,these effects can't decline a fact that this ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD is root of all major developments and achievements in communication sector..
  Commented by  sandeep negi, 3G engineer, ericsson    | 12 06 2010 16:20:49 +0000
telecomm towers are harmfull to human radiations,radio frequency are much more harmfull
  Commented by  Priti Tiwari, AM Engineer, Nokia Siemens Network    | 12 06 2010 15:10:13 +0000
you all r right,but this is time that Govt should think about this...
  Commented by  Prad Roy, Lead Developer, Avaya India Pvt Ltd    | 12 06 2010 13:36:30 +0000
Rating : +3 
Not sure about Ghana and it's flora and fauna. As far as India is concerned, the effects are quite visible. If you observe the green coconuts (unripened, Kachcha Nariyal), dates etc. which grow on high rise trees you can see the effects on their outer surface. You will find lots of scars on the surface.......Also, how do you justify lesser birds on the trees specially sparrows...where have they gone? 
  Commented by  pradeep, B.Tech/B.E. student, srikavithaenggcollege    | 12 06 2010 11:16:47 +0000
as radiation penetrates it certainly effects our health ,body.wht do u say folks  
  Commented by  STEPHEN HENRY, Head -Operations , LEading Realty Major    | 07 19 2010 09:08:13 +0000
I think the waves  definitely affects your brains since I have seen its effect on the computer monitor near me 
  Commented by  Priya Varadan, Independent consultant, Self employed    | 07 19 2010 08:24:23 +0000
if one talks for a while on mobile phones, ears feel the affect, so towers...whom do we b;live?  media groups that recently covered this issue or this one?
  Commented by  Ravali, Sub Editor/Reporter, Creative Advertising    | 07 19 2010 07:09:21 +0000
Yes no one is concerned about the health of the public..... they just want to make profit... So we should adopt technology that has less effects on people :) 
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you all r right,but this is time that Govt should think about this...
thanks for the information...and i think u Eric Schmidt should know about that..
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