This document discusses and debunks some common myths about cell tower radiation. It presents some outlandish claims people make about health effects of cell towers, such as that cell tower radiation causes sweat glands in ears or can transmit STDs. It then provides facts from scientific organizations like WHO and ICNIRP that no health effects have been proven from cell tower radiation levels and that anti-radiation products are unproven. The document encourages verifying information from credible sources rather than social media.
2. Introduction
There is a lot of ongoing hoopla about cell tower radiation and its
effects on health
With more and more information made available on the web, there
is an equal amount of bogus information that's getting propagated
The result- confused public blaming cell towers for everything!
While conducting research for my next blog, I came across some
hilarious masterpieces.
LET ME SHARE THEM WITH YOU
3. Now, that’s
hilarious!
This is news
to me. I didn’t
know our
ears had
sweat glands!
4. Huh? Where did
you find these
strange women in
the first place??
New age
passive
smoking?
5. Facts:
Well the truth is, that not even International Commission on Non-
Ionising Radiation Protection has stated for sure that cell phone
radiation causes any harm to human health.
In the case of potential long-term effects of exposure, such as an increased risk of
cancer, ICNIRP concluded that available data are insufficient to provide a basis for
setting exposure restrictions,
Epidemiological research has provided suggestive, but unconvincing, evidence of
an association between possible carcinogenic effects and exposure at levels of 50/60
Hz magnetic flux densities substantially lower than those recommended in these
guidelines
Link: http://www.icnirp.de/documents/emfgdl.pdf
6. Well, I don’t know about
that. But I’m sure you’re
in for some serious
fashion faux pas!
7. Facts:
The concept of wearing a tin foil hat for protection from such threats
has become a popular stereotype and term of derision
The phrase serves as a byword for paranoia and persecutory
delusions, and is associated with conspiracy theorists
The notion that a tin foil hat can significantly reduce the intensity of
incident radio frequency radiation on the wearer's brain has little
scientific validity
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_foil_hat
8. Err.. What
exactly are
you trying to
ask Ma’am?
Sir, I don't think
you can contract
an STD even if
you are humping
the tower!
10. Facts:
The use of commercial devices for reducing radiofrequency field exposure has
not been shown to be effective.
-WHO Fact sheet N°193 dated June 2011
Link: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/index.html
Various products are being marketed that claim to increase the safety of mobile
phone use. These products generally take the form of shielded cases, earpiece
pads/shields, antenna clips/caps, special batteries and absorbing buttons
A mobile phone automatically operates on the lowest power necessary to
maintain call quality. When an add-on device adversely affects the phones
antenna, the phone will attempt to transmit more power up to its specified
maximum
Scientific evidence does not indicate any need for shields on mobile phones.
They cannot be justified on health grounds and the effectiveness of many such
devices in reducing exposure is unproven
-GSMA Association Health Booklet
12. Facts:
You would be fine unless one of the wires was split open and you
touched it. It would be like holding a working electrical cord.
If you touch the top you would get a slight shock but not
electrocuted just like when your friend with slippers, rubs them on
the carpet and pokes you and shocks you.
14. Facts:
What you are referring to is colony collapse disorder (CCD)
In a majority of colonies tested in a specific scenario, a particular
type of fungus was found in colonies experiencing CCD
From USDA site:
"A new parasite or pathogen may be attacking honey bees. One
possible candidate being looked at is a pathogenic gut microbe
called Nosema. Viruses are also suspected."
Link: http://www.ars.usda.gov/News/docs.htm?do…
15. Conclusion
There is indeed a large
amount of misinformation,
ambiguity and absolutely
crazy claims doing the
rounds when it comes to
mobile phone and cell
tower radiation
It is advised to verify facts
with credible sources like
WHO, ICNIRP, IARC, etc
and not any and every
post shared via social
networking sites and
forums
16. Links You Can Use
FAQs on cell tower radiation answered by the National Cancer Institute
Link: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/cellphones
Sparrows leave cities because of noise pollution and lack of space,
rather than radiation
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/Noise-pollution-cause-
of-dwindling-sparrow-population-Study/articleshow/17365478.cms
A summary of different studies on Cell tower radiation
Link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/To-date-no-proven-
health-issue-over-mobile-use-but-studies-
differ/articleshow/17422585.cms
17. A blog post on the truth about anti-radiation products and whether
they really help
Link: http://rivetingrevelations.blogspot.in/2012/11/tall-claims-but-no-
guarantees.html
Miscelleneous studies on the effects of cell phone radiation
http://www.willitsnews.com/ci_22066913/are-mobile-phones-
hazardous-your-health
Main stream media unwittingly disseminate disinformation on cell
phone tower radiation- Former secretary, AERB
India http://bit.ly/VsAqnm