The cell phone tower is a type of infrastracture created to provide better cellular service. The rapid increase in the use of cell phones has led to a greater number of cell phone transmission masts in many places. Cellular towers are even installed by cell phone tower companies near homes, in public places and on building rooftops for efficient mobile coverage.
Cell phones communicate with cell towers through radiofrequency (RF) waves. RF waves are a form of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum between FM radio waves and microwaves. Radiofrequency waves can cause damage to human tissues at high intensity.
Mobile phone towers are just some of the many sources of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). The RF waves produced at the base station are given off into the environment as people use cell phones to make calls. People who live or work near these cellular phone tower antennas are exposed to emissions. Scientists are concern with the dangerous radiation from cell phone towers, which at close range exposure, can trigger symptoms of microwave sickness.
Dangerous Radiation From Cell Phone Towers
Wireless communication technology produces constant pulsed microwave radiation, which can exert subtle, non-thermal influences on any living organism. Adverse health effects may result from the non-thermal effects of extremely periodic -pulsed - HF-radiation. The pulsed microwave radiation used in cellular telecommunication has well defined frequencies, which living organisms can easily recognize. Moreover, microwaves emitted in pulses happen to be close to the frequencies of some of the brain’s own electrical rhythms. Thus, these can be easily amplified or interfered by RF/MW radiation.
The heating of biological tissue is a result of microwave energy absorption by the tissue’s water content. RF radiation may heat the body tissues in the same way that microwave ovens heat food. Radio frequency emitted from mobile telephone and cell phone towers is more hazardous to people living or working near the vicinity, including those within a five-mile radius. Occupants of buildings where a base station is installed could be more sensitive to the mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of the radiation. Children are more at risk because of their weaker immune system, their nervous system is still developing, and the rate at which their cells divide, making them more susceptible to genetic damage. Here are the adverse effects of being physically near to a cell phone transmission mast.
How Cell Phone Tower Affects Health
Cell phone towers emit radio frequencies (RF), a form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), uninterrupted, 24/7, 365 days a year. When a person makes a cell phone call, a signal is sent from the cell phone to the nearest tower. Then the base station responds to this signal by assigning the call to an available radio frequency channel. RF waves transfer the voice information to the base station. The same process occurs when using other functions of cell phones—text messages, web surfing, digital encoding, and others. Signals are relayed back and forth during the process.
The most basic fact about cellular towers and cellular phones is that these emit microwave radiation, which can cause a person exposed to suffer radiation related conditions. Allan Frey, in the 1970s, demonstrated that even low-level microwave radiation permanently damages the blood-brain barrier, the blood-vitreous barrier, and the placental barrier. The process of damage is by the transfer of heat, not the destruction of DNA. Biological effects that result from heating of tissue by RF energy are often referred to as "thermal" effects.
Symptoms of Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation/ Microwave Radiation
Microwave Sickness is the term commonly used for the effects of radiofrequency microwave (RF/MW) radiation exposure. The body operates on electrical impulses and is electrically sensitive to outside energy. Therefore, radiofrequency microwave (RF/MW) radiation can interfere with the body’s natural functions according to Dr. Henry Lai, leading researcher in this field and head of Washington University’s bioengineering department.
Signs and symptoms of microwave radiation usually appear when organs and tissues are heated. Symptoms of microwave radiation may be chronic headache, learning impairment, memory loss, sleep disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ALS. Nonvascular organs, such as the lens of the eye, heat up quickly. High-intensity microwaves may seriously affect the the testicles, and the mucosa of the stomach. Degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium and ulceration of the gastrointestinal mucosa may occur. In general, the greater the radiation exposure, the more severe the radiation symptoms will be.
Do Cellular Phone Towers Cause Cancer?
Perhaps not. The energy of RF waves given off by cell phone towers are not enough to break chemical bonds in DNA molecules, which is how stronger forms of radiation lead to cancer. On the other hand, RF waves have long wavelengths, which makes it concentrated enough to affect individual cells in the body. Adverse health effects are cumulative and may worsen over time. Chronic exposure could result to permanent, irreversible damages to health. An epidemiological study supports the claim that chronic exposure to low-level RF radiation can cause cancer. (Medical Physics, Vol. 35, No. 12, pp. 5203-5206, December 2008)
Cell masts adverse health effects on human health may result from prolong exposure to the radiofrequency and microwave emissions, even at very low levels. Animal studies indicate that a variety of behavioral and physiological disorders can be provoked by exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Wildlife biologist Alfonso Balmori, PhD of Valladolid, Spain has this to say, “Electromagnetic radiation is a form of environmental pollution which may hurt even wildlife. Phone masts are irradiating continuously and may make animals suffer long-term effects, like reduction of their natural defenses, deterioration of their health...”
The consequence of being physically near a cell tower increases risks to health conditions associated with physical proximity to radio transmission masts. Swedish researcher Olle Johansson, PhD with Karolinska Institute says, "Most worrisome to me are the constant and unavoidable EMF exposures from cell towers, cellphones, power lines, and other wireless technologies everywhere in our daily life that may affect the overall health of this and coming generations. I worry especially about the impacts on the immune system, our only real line of defense against disease."
Sources
- The Influence of Being Physically Near to a Cell Phone Transmission Mast on the Incidence of Cancer, Horst Eger, Klaus Uwe Hagen, Birgitt Lucas, Peter Vogel, Helmut Voit, Published in Umwelt·Medizin·Gesellschaft 17,4 2004
- HF-Radiation Levels of GSM Cellular Phone Towers in Residential Areas, Thomas Haumann, Uwe Munzenberg, Wolfgang Maes, Peter Sierck, German Research Article, PDF
- Physics and Biology of Mobile Telephony, G J Hyland, pdf, Ntua.gr
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Lizzie Elzingre - The Malay Temper is the main component of the Filipino Culture. The premier Malay characteristic described as pleasant and obliging is a ...
Join the Conversation