about coai emf... · 2017-04-21 · mobile phones periodically detect and access the net-work from...

COAI was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non-governmental society. COAI’s vision is to establishIndia as the global leader in innovative mobile communications infrastructure, products and services. TheAssociation is also dedicated to the advancement of modern communication systems and towards de-livering the benefits of innovative and affordable mobile and broadband communication services to thepeople of India. Visit www.coai.in

COAI’s role in allaying public concerns on emissions from mobile towers:v Works closely with the government in ensuring compliance of emission related normsv Ensures transparency in communicating the compliance levels to publicv Coordinates with various expert bodies on EMF, both nationally as well as internationallyv Ensures dissemination of WHO approved expert studies and information to the publicv Engages and sensitizes various stakeholders of the telecommunications ecosystem,

local government bodies and RWAsv Monitors EMF related issues across India and engages with them to make them conform

to national and international knowledge on the subjectv Ensures science-based public communication on the issue of emissions

ABOUT COAI

Contact

Contact us for any query at [email protected] more information, visit:http://www.coai.com/Indian-Telecom-Infocentre/Mobility-and-Health

COAI EMF Brochure-Rev:Layout 1 1/29/2015 6:28 PM

MOBILE TELEPHONYAND PUBLIC HEALTH


� India’s EMF emission norms are based on theguidelines for emissions recommended by theWorld Health Organisation (WHO)

� The Government of India has further lowered theemission norms to 1/10th of the norms recom-mended by WHO for abundant precaution

� Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring(TERM) Cells, an extended arm of the DoT (Depart-ment of Telecommunications) monitor and regulatethe operations of mobile towers across the country

� TERM cells are the nodal authority on any issue re-lated to emissions from mobile towers and phones

� Citizens who are concerned about emissions frommobile towers / handsets can contact the TERMCell offices in their respective states for assistanceand guidance

page 2 | Mobile Telephony and public health


Contents

1. Foreword by Director General, COAI

2. What is Electromagnetic Field (EMF)?

3. EMF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

4. World Health Organisation - Q&A on Mobile Phones and Health Risks

5. Fact Sheet on EMF

6. Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells

7. Views of the Minister of Communications & Information Technology

8. Links That You Can Use

Mobile Telephony and public health | page 3


ForewordRAJAN S MATHEWS, DIRECTOR GENERAL, COAI

India, like the rest of the world community, has rec-ognized that mobile telecommunication contributessignificantly to the speedy socio-economic devel-opment of a country.

We already have more than 900 million mobile phoneconnections in India and more than 80 percent of thepopulation has access to mobile telecommunicationtoday. In 1994 only eight out of 1,000 people had ac-cess to a telephone. With mobile phones, the commonman has been empowered. Many have described thisas India’s “Telecom Revolution”!

This growth, however, has given rise to concerns re-garding the danger to public health caused by the elec-tromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from the antennaeon cell towers and mobile handsets. Myths have beenfloated without any scientific basis by mischief mongerswith vested business interests that the EMF emissions

lead to cancer and skin allergies. In spite of a numberof rigorous, independent scientific studies and researchconducted in many countries, to date not an iota oftruth has been found to support these allegations.

Sensitive to the concerns of citizens, the Department ofTelecommunications (DoT), under the Government ofIndia, and the cellular phone industry, have undertaken ajoint exercise to ensure that all issues regarding the celltower installations and their functioning are addressed soas to dispel fears about the risks of emissions.

One such step was the decision by the DoT to directthe mobile tower operators to reduce the EMF emis-sions from antennae on cell towers by a sharp 90 per-cent from their previous levels. Indian emission normsare now at 1/10th of the international standards. Uni-form guidelines for the location and operations of thetowers have been formulated by the DoT, which are ap-plicable to all state governments and local civic bodies.

In view of public concerns, an Inter-Ministerial Commit-tee (IMC), consisting of officers from the DoT, IndianCouncil of Medical Research (ICMR), Department ofBiotechnology and the Ministry of Environment andForests, was constituted on August 24, 2010, to exam-ine the effects of the EMF radiation from antennae oncell towers and phones on human health.

After examining numerous international as well as na-tional studies, the IMC concluded that there is no directlink between the exposure to EMF emissions from theantennae on cell towers / mobile phones and humanhealth. Despite the lack of any scientific evidence, asan extra precaution the IMC recommended lowering ofthe mobile towers’ EMF radiation limits to 1/10th of the



ForewordRAJAN S MATHEWS,

DIRECTOR GENERAL, COAI

previously prescribed safety limit levels set by the In-ternational Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Pro-tection (ICNIRP).

The new emission norms for India came into effect onSeptember 1, 2012. (DoT link: http://www.dot.gov.in/ac-cess-services/journey-emf). This has been recently ex-amined and re-emphasized by the Expert Committeeconstituted by the DoT in its report to the AllahabadHigh Court.

The Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring(TERM) Cell, a field division of DoT, carries out regularaudits of cell towers to ensure that they are in compli-ance with the DoT-prescribed safety norms. (TERM de-tails: http://www.dot.gov.in/term/term security)

All cellular service providers in India are now in compli-ance with the revised EMF emission guidelines as pre-scribed by the DoT. Therefore, decommissioning orremoval of any cell tower/s due to unfounded concernsregarding EMF emissions, adversely affects the avail-ability of communication services, as well as the qualityof services for the customers who have to bear the in-convenience of poor connectivity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its associ-ated international agencies such as the InternationalCommission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (IC-NIRP) determine the global guidelines for EMF emis-sions. For its part, India had earlier adopted the ICNIRPsafety guidelines, but subsequently reduced them fol-lowing the IMC recommendations. The new safetynorms are now way below those adopted by over 95percent of the countries worldwide.

Research bodies have spent around US$300 million sofar on research and monitoring of EMF emissions andits effects on humans. There is a need to create publicawareness about the facts on the issue to counter themisinformation which causes anxiety among people.Such misinformation damages the credibility of thework that the government and industry are doing to ad-dress these concerns.

In view of the vast amount of scientific research dataavailable in the public domain to show that EMF emis-sions from antennae on cell towers do not cause anyhealth hazard, consumers should be able to enjoy thebenefits of mobile telephony without any fear. The var-ious State government agencies should not becomevictims of the fear psychosis, half-truths and mythsfloated by vested interests.

This booklet is an attempt to highlight the industry’s ef-fort to be as transparent as possible, so that the publicat large can be reassured about obtaining the benefitsof this empowering, nation building technology withoutany fear – a technology which is currently being usedby billions of people across the globe, the numbers ofwhom continue to grow.

Warm regards,

Please refer to the link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAgK0Vsvp5o



What is Electromagnetic Field (EMF)?

“EMF is a property of space caused by the motionof an electric charge. A stationary charge will produce only an electric field. If the charge is moving, a magnetic field is also produced. The mu-tual interaction of electric and magnetic fields produces an electromagnetic field (EMF)” – Encyclopedia Britannica on “Electromagnetic field”

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been around sincethe birth of the universe and are a part of everyday life.They are emitted both by natural sources like the sunas well as by manmade sources including antennaefrom mobile phone towers, broadcast towers and radarfacilities. What is significant, however, is that the EMFsproduced by the antennae on mobile towers and mo-bile phones are at the lower end of the electromagneticemission spectrum and are “non-ionizing radiations”,i.e., by the principles of physics, the energy carried bythem is not enough to break the chemical bonds be-tween molecules.

In contrast, ionizing radiation, such as the X-rays, canstrip electrons from atoms and molecules, producingchanges that can lead to tissue damage and possiblycancer in living beings. However, as we all know, eventhese are used for benefit to humans based on speci-fied standards and radiation norms that make themsafe to use.

“Radio frequency waves are electromagnetic fields andunlike ionizing radiation such as the X-rays or thegamma rays, can neither break chemical bonds norcause ionization in the human body” – WHO Fact SheetNo. 193, dated June 2011. (Please refer to the WHOlink: http://www. who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/)

From a user’s perspective, the two key components ofa mobile telecommunication network are an individual’smobile phone handset and the mobile tower with anantenna – most often mounted on a rooftop or onground based towers.

Mobile phones periodically detect and access the net-work from wireless signals emitted from an antenna.The network is divided into geographic areas known asthe Cells, each of which is served by a tower, alsoknown as a base station. To communicate with eachother, the mobile phones and the base stations locatedat the tower sites exchange radio signals. The user con-nects to the base station via a mobile phone and thesystem ensures that the connection is maintained asthe user moves from one Cell (area) to another.

When a mobile phone is switched on, it responds tospecific control signals from the nearby base stations.Once it has located a suitable base station, the phoneinitiates a network connection. When a call is not beingmade or received, the mobile phone remains in thestandby mode.

The mobile connection may also be set up within build-ings using an indoor antenna called “In-building solu-tion,” as is done in the buildings which have a highdensity of users or where the signal coverage from theexternal base station/s is inadequate. The level of thewireless signal has to comply with the minimum Qualityof Service (QoS) levels specified by the telecom serv-ices regulator of the p articular country.

How does a mobile telecommunication service work?



The International Commission on Non-ionizing Radia-tion Protection (ICNIRP) is a non–governmental organ-ization that is formally recognized by the World HealthOrganization (WHO). The ICNIRP, in 1998, evaluatedscientific results from all over the world and formulatedguidelines recommending limits on the EMF emissionsexposure. These guidelines are regularly reviewed bythe ICNIRP an d suitable changes made based on theupdates.

The ICNIRP guidelines include a significant safety mar-gin in their prescribed EMF emissions exposure limits.To illustrate, ICNIRP’s 1998 guidelines state that evenat 230W/sq. mtr., the resultant rise in body temperatureis insufficient to affect human health. Notwithstandingthis, the ICNIRP, on a precautionary approach, hasspecified that the exposure level should be limited to0.45W/sq. mtr. (for 900 MHz frequency) for the generalpublic, which is 50 times lower than the safe exposurelimit.

This exposure limit is sufficient to protect all people, in-cluding children and adults of various sizes, and alsothose who, due to frailty or illness, have bodies that areless able to control the core temperature. In its 2009 re-view the ICNIRP stated, that for radiofrequency electro-magnetic field, the scientific literature published sincethe 1998 guidelines has provided no evidence of anyadverse effects below the basic restrictions and thusdoes not necessitate an immediate revision of its guid-ance on limiting exposure to high-frequency electro-magnetic fields.

Nearly 95 percent of the countries that have adoptedsafety standards for EMF emissions are following theguidelines set by the ICNIRP for mobile tower base sta-tions. Currently, two international bodies (¹, ²) have de-veloped exposure guidelines for workers and for thegeneral public, with the exception of those patients un-dergoing medical diagnosis or treatment. These guide-lines are based on a detailed assessment of theavailable scientific evidence.

1. The ICNIRP statement on the “Guidelines for limitingexposure to time-varying electric, magneticand electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz)”,2009.(Please refer to the link: http://www.icnirp.de/doc-uments/emfgdl.pdf)

2. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE). The IEEE standard for safety levels with respectto human exposure to Radio Frequency Electro Mag-netic Fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz, IEEE Std C95.1, 2005.

Safety standards for EMF

What is Electromagnetic Field (EMF)?



EMF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the mobile tower emissions issue all about?Massive growth in the number of mobile phones hasgiven rise to concerns regarding public health - namelythe impact of electromagnetic field (EMF) emissionsfrom the antennae on the cell towers and from mobilephones on human health. Alarms, without any reason-able scientific basis have been floated by mischiefmongers with vested business interests, claiming thatEMF emissions lead to cancer, skin allergies and otherhealth hazards. However, to date, rigorous and inde-pendent scientific studies and researches across theglobe have not found even an iota of truth in theseclaims.

Is there any study conducted in India on the effectsof emissions from cell phones and cell towers onhuman beings?The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) hasundertaken a study to understand the implications andimpact of EMF emissions by mobile towers on humanhealth. The Tata Memorial Centre has also commis-sioned a study on the topic, in 2013, the results of

which are expected to become available in a couple ofyears. The Department of Science and Technology,which comes under the Ministry of Science and Tech-nology in India, has earmarked a separate fundingmechanism for the interested expert bodies to conductresearch on various aspects of the impact of mobileemissions.

Should I be concerned about the wireless (such asWi-Fi) network in my office or at my child’s schoolor at my home desk?The United Kingdom’s Health Protection Agency (HPA)advises that on the basis of currently available scientificinformation, Wi-Fi equipment satisfies the internationalEMF emission guidelines and, therefore, there is noreason why schools and similar bodies should not useWi-Fi equipment. In May 2006, the WHO said that“...there is no convincing scientific evidence that theweak radio frequency signals from the base stationsand wireless networks cause any adverse health ef-fects.”

“There is no cause of alarm with regard to possible ill-effects on human health by electromagnetic field emissionfrom cellphone towers and cellphones because the safety limits adopted in India take into account all biological ef-fects of radiation.” — An expert committee constituted in compliance to the directions of the Hon’ble High Court, Allahabad, LucknowBench, January 2014

….“we deem it necessary to mention that the concerned authorities should, by way of communication through T.V.,Radio etc. bring it to the notice of the people at large that there is no reason for them to fear the erection of the BaseTransceiver Station, known as the WIFI Mobile Tower.” — Hon’ble Gujarat High Court in SCA No. 5548 of 2014, dated 09 September 2014




I’ve read stories claiming that mobile phones canaffect male fertility and sperm quality. Is it true?Some preliminary scientific studies have reportedsome link to this effect. In general, however, these stud-ies have not properly taken into account lifestyle fac-tors, such as diet, smoking habits, lack of exercise, etc.The consensus view of the expert public health bodies,including the WHO, is that there are no adverse healtheffects associated with the radio signals used by mo-bile phones or mob ile tower base stations.

Why is there a restriction on using mobile phonesin hospitals?At short range, the radio signal from a mobile phonemay cause interference with the electronic medical de-vices used in hospitals. However, at distances greaterthan 1-2 m, the possibility of interference of radio sig-nals from mobile phones with the medical equipmentis substantially reduced. It is possib le to use mobilephones in the designated areas of h ospitals.

Are 3G, 4G and the other new radio technologiessafe?There is a large quantum of existing scientific researchon EMF emissions at frequencies above and belowthose for 3G, 4G services, and a number of technolo-gies are using these particular signals. Expert groupshave not been able to establish any signal-specific ef-fects on human health; so the scientific consensus isthat the compliance with the current EMF safety stan-dards provides more than adequate protection againstall kno wn health effects.

How are the emission norms related to mobile com-munications regulated in India?In 2008, the Government of India adopted the WHO ap-proved guidelines for mobile emissions, for limitingEMF exposure from antennae on mobile towers andhandsets. These guidelines are considered to be themost credible in the world with over 95 percent of thecountries of the world following them. WHO ad minis-ters the emissions norms th rough the ICNIRP.

“The WHO Fact Sheet states very clearly that the mobile phones do not causecancer. A number of studies conductedto ascertain the relationship between the electromagnetic radiation and cancer have not found anything to indicatemobile radiation causing cancer. The pregnant women should not worry about the EMF radiation from mobile towersand handsets as penetration depth of the EMF is only 1-2 mm, so it never really gets close to the foetus in any sig-nificant amount to cause any damage.” Please refer to the link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGbibsFL1dA I’ve read stories

Prof. Michael Repacholi Ex-EMF Project Coordinator, World Health Organization Chairman Emeritus, ICNIRP




Owing to public concerns, an Inter-Ministerial Commit-tee (IMC) consisting of officers from DoT, Indian Coun-cil of Medical Research (Ministry of Health),Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of Environ-ment and Forests • was constituted in August 2010, toexamine the effect of emissions from the base stationsand mobile phones on humans and the environment,including birds, insects, flora and fauna.

The IMC examined the environmental and health re-lated concerns and concluded that most of the labora-tory studies were unable to find any direct link betweenthe exposure to radio frequency radiation and humanhealth. The IMC recommended lowering the mobiletowers’ EMF exposure limits to 1/10th of the prevailingprescribed limit only as a matter of abundant precau-tion. This regulation came into effect on September 1,2012. It should be noted that the DoT set the safetynorms at levels that are sufficient to protect all seg-ments of the population (children, pregnant women,sick persons, students in schools, etc.) instead ofadopting different safety levels for different segments.

(Please refer to the DoT link: http://www.dot.gov.in/access-services/journey-emf)

The Telecom Enforcement, Resource & Monitoring(TERM) Cells, an extended arm of the DoT, conductsrandom audits to ensure compliance with the emissionnorms.

What is the opinion of reputed national and interna-tional agencies on mobile phone tower emissionsand public health?In its recent advisory on health risks associated with themobile phones and mobile base stations, both theWHO and a French government expert group, theAgence Nationale De Securite Sanitaire (ANSES) theFrench Organization for Food, Environmental and Oc-cupational Health & Safety have said that there is nohealth hazard to humans and other living beingscaused by the emissions emanating from mobilephones and the antennae on towers.

The WHO, in its advisory dated September 20, 2013,

“The RF waves used in the mobile phone technology are probably at the lowestend of the electromagnetic spectrum and do n ot cause any DNA kill.”Please refer to the link: h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QoX4Fz1Agk

Dr. Rakesh JalaliProfessor, Radiation Oncology and Convener,NOG, Tata Memorial Centre




has said, “Studies to date provide no indication that en-vironmental exposure to Radio Frequency fields suchas from base stations, increases the risk of cancer orany other disease. Scientists have reported certainother health effects of using mobile phones includingchanges in brain activity, reaction times, and sleep pat-terns. These effects are minor and have no apparenthealth significance.”

In another related development, the French govern-ment agency ANSES, in its recommendation said that“Given this evidence, proposing new exposure limitsfor the general population on health grounds does notseem justified.”

The Mobile Telecommunications and Health ResearchProgramme (MTHR) of the UK recently completed an11 year long study, and despite exhaustive research, itfound no evidence of risks to health from the radiowaves emitted by mobile phones or their base stations.The MTHR says that “there is no link between mobilephones and any health problem.”

Professor David Coggon, Chairman of the MTHR, said:“This independent programme is now complete, anddespite exhaustive research, we have found no evi-dence of risks to health from the radio waves producedby mobile phones or their base stations. Thanks to theresearch conducted within the programme, we cannow be much more confident about the safety ofmodern telecommunications systems.”

What are the views of national and international or-ganizations about mobile phone and tower emis-sions and their impact on the environment andbio-diversity? The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)has taken up several studies and research projects tostudy the impact of mobile phone and tower emissionson the environment and bio-diversity. One of the pop-ular misconceptions is that the emissions result in adecrease in the bee colonies which, in turn, affects thepollination process which is essential to preserve na-ture’s eco-system. The UNEP commissioned a studyon the issue in 2011, which concluded that the key rea-

“The results from several of my acute and chronic exposure studies have revealedthat the RF radiation emitted from the mobile phones does not havesufficient energy to cause ‘breakage’ in the genetic material in human andanimal cells. Researchers in the other parts of the world have also reportedsimilar observations.”

Dr. VijayalaxmiDepartment of Radiation Oncology,University of Texas Health Science Center




son for instability in the bee population is the deterio-ration of habitats due to human activities. These activ-ities include acquisition of land, creating increasing airpollution, agricultural practices such as spraying ofchemicals/pesticides, increasing pathologies and has-tening of climate change. The rise in invasive species/parasitesis also affecting the bee population and be-havior.

The non-sighting of sparrows from urban areas is also,at times, attributed to mobile towers. A recent study bythe University of Sheffield in the UK concluded thaturban noise limiting communication between parentbirds and their young may be the key cause of declin-ing sparrow populations.

A project called ‘Citizen Sparrow’ in India concludedthat the changes in the use of land have caused asteep decline in the sparrow population. Constructionusing modern architectural forms has created a nestingproblem for the birds. The use of pesticides has alsohad a negative impact on the sparrow population.

Is there any ongoing monitoring mechanism in theworld on this issue?The WHO constantly monitors the research and studieson EMF emissions conducted across the globe. TheWHO experts analyze the research results of variousbodies across the globe on an ongoing basis and re-lease position papers and advisories from time to time.The WHO also continuously follows developments onthe subject in various countries including India. It en-courages member countries to participate in all delib-erations of the group monitoring the effect of mobileemissions on public health.

What is the mobile phone industry’s stand on thisissue?The mobile phone industry has voluntarily initiatedproactive measures, undertaking a massive transitionin its network infrastructure, which was redesigned sub-stantially to meet the DoT-prescribed norms. Consider-ing the scarce spectrum resources available in Indiacompared with the other growth markets, the popula-tion density and traffic, redesigning of the network in-

“The cell phone photons do not have enough energy to cause a mutation in your DNA. Period. No matter what theirpower is. The power density from the sun received on the earth is typically 1000 Watts per square meter, while thatat the base of a cellphone tower is ten thousand times smaller at about 0.1 Watts per square meter.”

Prof. Vasant NatarajanDepartment of Ph ysics Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru




frastructure was an extremely challenging task, but wascompleted with the industry’s proactive participation.

As part of the various measures initiated by the Indiangovernment, a specific recommendation of the Inter-Ministerial Committee regarding the need to set up acommon online portal has been accepted by the gov-ernment. This portal will provide the public all relevantinformation on the status of each mobile tower’s EMFemissions compliance. Work on this portal is being un-dertaken by the government supported by the industry.This will make the system much more transparent andmake such vital information accessible and availableto the public. The finalization of guidelines for the in-stallation of telecom towers and establishment of theportal indicating all emissions levels of all antennae willprovide comfort to citizens about the safety of the mo-bile towers and their emissions.

The industry has also organized various outreach pro-grammes to sensitize and educate citizens on theissue. Lecture tours by eminent experts on the topic,including members from the medical fraternity, havebeen organized to address queries and concerns of thepeople. Media workshops have also been organizedand sensitization programmes are held with the Resi-dent Welfare Associations and other citizens’ forums todiscuss and deliberate on the issue.

All cell phone operators in India are in full compliancewith the revised set of guidelines and significant transi-tions and redesigning have been carried out in the net-works to ensure that the revised norms can beimplemented. The industry is fully committed to theneed to ensure public health, and takes stringentmeasures to comply with the regulations in this regard.

What are the guidelines for installation of mobiletowers across the country?The telecom service is a centrally-administrated indus-try. The DoT licenses telecom operators to providecommunication services (mobile, landline and internet).The Government of India, through the DoT, has issuedcomprehensive guidelines for the installation of mobiletowers across India. As a licensing authority, and alsoas the country’s only technically-competent agency, theDoT administers the norms related to emissions fromtelecom towers. The details of the guidelines are avail-able on the official website of DoT on the link:http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Advisory%20Guidelines%20For%20State%20Govts%20effective%20from%2001-08-13.pdf

What are the guidelines for mobile handset emis-sions in India?The specific absorption rate (SAR), which is a measureof the rate at which energy is absorbed by the humanbody when exposed to a radio frequency (RF) electro-magnetic field, adopted by India for mobile phones ismuch lower than the world average. The WHO-admin-istrated norm for SAR is 2W/kg (averaged over 10g oftissue), while India has adopted 1.6W/kg (averagedover 1g of tissue) The updated details provided on theDOT website are as per th e link: http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Revision%20of%20SAR%20Limit%20mobile%20handsets.pdf

Who should one contact in case of doubts in theminds of customers in India about mobile emis-sions?The TERM Cells enforce the emission levels in all telecomcircles. The officers from the TERM Cells are responsiblefor ensuring compliance by all telecom towers and also




by the mobile handsets. Indian citizens can contact themacross the country. The details of this enforcement body(TERM Cells) can be obtained from the DOT website athttp://www.dot.gov.in/term/ term-security

Can the levels of the EMF emissions from cell towerantennae be accurately measured by citizens usinghand-held devices marketed by certain companies?The key instruments required to accurately test the lev-els of EMF radiations from the cell tower antennae arethe Field Strength Meter or Spectrum Analyzer, an an-tenna to sample the field and a computer to processthe measured results. These instruments and acces-sories have the capability to measure in the frequencyrange of interest. A Field Strength Meter of required ca-pabilities is needed to measure electromagnetic fieldand power density in the specified frequency range inV/M, W/square meter as per the DoT limits.

These sophisticated and expensive instruments need tobe calibrated and certified by trusted bodies with the req-uisite technical expertise to ensure accurate results asper the requirements of the tests. The low-cost hand-helddevices that are offered by some companies in the mar-ket are neither certified by the government nor do theyfulfill the testing requirements as specified by theTelecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) operatingunder the DoT. These instruments are marketed by someorganizations to make money out of the unwarrantedscare created on the issue of emissions from mobile tow-ers, but they do not provide accurate readings that canbe measured against the DoT sa fety norms.

Can certain devices (including paints, curtains,shields, etc.) marketed by certain companies pro-

tect from the so-called health hazards of the EMF?Products like shield cases, buffer-pads, antenna covers,absorber chips and radiation armors, as marketed bysome companies are not certified by any governmentbody nor by any expert organization of repute. Somecompanies are marketing these products for financialgain despite their efficacy being unproven. In fact suchdevices may be counter-productive as they tend to heatup the mobile phones, increasing their transmissionpower and reducing the battery life. Thus anything thatshields the phone, like these devices, will cause thephone to consume more power in order to catch the sig-nal and this, in turn, reduces its operational efficiency.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear SafetyAgency (ARPANSA) has said that there is no evidenceto support the claimed safety benefits of the so-called“shielding” devices which “are attached to the handsetand take the form of shielded cases, earpiece pads/shields, antenna clips/caps and absorbing buttons.” Inits new consumer Fact Sheet, “How to reduce exposurefrom mobile phones and other wireless devices”,ARPANSA says that such devices could force handsetsto work at higher power because they interfere with themobile phone technology known as automatic powercontrol which automatically reduces the phone’s powerto the lowest level to maintain the quality of call.ARPANSA has also warned consumers that the slew of‘neutralizing’ products often sold in the form of pen-dants, necklaces or stickers to be placed on the backof phones, also have no proven health benefits.(Please refer to the link: http://www.arpansa.gov.au/Ra-diationProtection/Factsheets/is_Wireless.cfm)



World Health OrganizationWHO Q&A ON MOBILE PHONES AND HEALTH RISKS

Q:What are the health risks associated with mobilephones and their base stations?A: This is a question that the WHO takes very seriously.Given the immense number of people who use mobilephones, even a small increase in the incidence of ad-verse effects on health could have major public healthimplications. Because exposure to the radiofrequency(RF) fields emitted by mobile phones is generally morethan a 1000 times higher than from base stations, andthe greater likelihood of adverse effects being due tohandsets, research has almost exclusively been con-ducted on possible effects of mobile phone exposure.

Research has concentrated on the following areas:•Cancer•Other health effects•Electromagnetic interference•Traffic accidents

CANCER: Based on mixed epidemiological evidenceon humans regarding an association between the ex-posure to RF radiation from wireless phones and thehead cancers (glioma and acoustic neuroma), the RFfields have been classified by the International Agencyfor Research on Cancer (IARC) as possibly carcino-genic to humans (Group 2B). Studies to date provideno indication that environmental exposure to the RFfields, such as from the base stations, increases therisk of cancer or an y other disease.

OTHER HEALTH EFFECTS: Scientists have reported otherhealth effects of using mobile phones such as changes inbrain activity, reaction times and sleep patterns. These effectsare minor and have no apparent health significance. Morestudies are underway to try to confirm these findings.

ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE: When mo-bile phones are used very close to some medical de-vices (including pacemakers, implantable defibrillatorsand certain hearing aids), there is the possibility ofcausing interference with their operation. The risk ismuch reduced for 3G phones and newer equipment.There is also the potential of interference between mo-bile phone signals and aircraft electronics. Some coun-tries have allowed mobile phone use on aircraft duringflights using systems that control the phone outputpower.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS: Research has shown an in-creased risk of traffic accidents, some 3-4 times greaterchance of an accident, when mobile phones (eitherhandheld or with a “hands-free” kit) are used while driv-ing due to distraction.

CONCLUSIONS: While an increased risk of brain tu-mors due to the use of mobile phones is not estab-lished, the increasing use of mobile phones and thelack of data for mobile phone use over time periodslonger than 15 years warrant further research of mobilephone use and brain cancer risk. In particular, with therecent popularity of mobile phone use among youngerpeople, and therefore a potentially longer lifetime of ex-posure, WHO has promoted further research on thisgroup, and is currently assessing the health impact ofthe RF fields on all studied endpoints.



Fact Sheet on EMF Issues and Mobile Towers

1. EMF STANDARDS ACROSS THE WORLDExtensive radiofrequency research has been under-taken by the researchers of the highest integrity for sev-eral decades at organizations like the WHO, the BritishMedical Association (BMA), the Royal Society ofCanada (RSC), ICNIRP, the Independent Expert Groupon Mobile Phones, the Swedish Radiation ProtectionInstitute, the Food & Dru g Administration (USA),ARPANSA, and ICMR. All of the studies conducted sofar do not demonstrate any substantive link betweenhuman health risks and either the use of digital mobilephones or residing near base stations.

Further, many expert panels have reviewed the largebody of existing scientific literature and have consis-tently concluded that compliance with the existing sci-entific standards is adequate to protect public healtheven with a conservative approach. These reviews haveconcluded that for exposure to radiofrequency energyup to the safety limit levels prescribed by the ICNIRP –and endorsed by the WHO – there is no substantive orconvincing evidence of biological effects on humanhealth and environment.

As specified by the WHO, “Radio frequency waves areelectromagnetic fields, and unlike ionizing radiationsuch as X-rays or gamma rays, can neither breakchemical bonds nor cause ionization in the humanbody.”- WHO Fact Sheet No. 193 dated June 2011http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/

The WHO further states that, “A large number of studieshave been conducted over the last two decades to as-sess if mobile phones pose a potential health risk. Todate, no adverse health effect has been established asbeing caused by mobile phone use.”

2. GUIDELINES ON MOBILE TOWERS: RECENT UP-DATES a) The DoT has developed standardized guidelines forthe installation of mobile towers across the countrywhich shall be applicable to all states in India. A copyof the guidelines can be accessed at the DoT website:http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Advisory%20Guidelines%20For%20State%20Govts%20effective%20from%2001-08-13.pdf

“A number of researches and studies have been conducted around the globe to ascertain if there is any relationshipbetween the RF emissions from the mobile phone and cancer. However, there is not enough evidence proving mobilephones cause cancer in humans.” Please refer to the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbiJTrcao9E

Dr. Rajesh DikshitDepartment of Epidemiology, Urology (DMG), and Tata Memorial Centre



Fact Sheet on EMF Issuesand Mobile Towers

b) The DoT guidelines have been developed after closescrutiny of all parameters and detailed consultations withall stakeholders involved. Hence, they would be ade-quate to address all issues related to installation of mobiletowers across India.

c) On August 1, 2013, the DoT also issued an advisoryto all State Governments across the country, recom-mending uniform implementation of the new DoTguidelines across all states in India. The new guidelineshave clearly stated that all EMF related aspects, com-pliance of the RF exposure field emissions, issues re-lated to the Standing Advisory Committee on RadioFrequency Allocation (SACFA) and licensing etc. are tobe handled solely by the DoT’s TERM Cells.

They will have the responsibility of auditing the emis-sion levels from the mobile base stations and ensuringthat all general public areas are within the safe EMF ex-posure limits as prescribed by the DoT. The guidelinesalso clarify that no suo-moto demolition or sealing of amobile tower for EMF r elated issues will be permittedwithout the consent of the TERM Cell.

3. VERDICT FROM THE KERALA HIGH COURT The Hon’ble Kerala High Court in the W.P. (C) No. 24569of 2012, vide its judgment dated 9th July 2013, held that,“Whether the commissioning of a telecommunicationtower would affect the health of the people of the area isan issue which is still being debated among the scientistcommunities all over the world. This Court has, in two de-cisions, held that there is no evidence that the same willaffect the health of the people. Whether it will affect thehealth of the people or not, it is an undisputed fact that weare bound to live for the rest of our lives with mobile phonesin our pockets. The statute prescribes certain licenses andpermits for erecting telecommunication towers. All what wecan ensure is that such requirements are complied with inthe erection and operation of the towers. In the above cir-cumstances, if the petitioner has obtained necessary per-mits and licenses, nobody can prevent them from erectingand commissioning telecommunication towers.”

4. JOINT SUBMISSION BY LEADING ACADEMI-CIANS OF INDIA In a submission to the Ministry of Communications andInformation Technology, twenty-five leading academi-

“We have been using X-ray radiations for more than 115 years, and we still haven’t been able to establish the rela-tionship of cancer and radiation to any great extent. And the mobile tower radiation is inherently a type of radiationthat we believe does n ot produce any kind of sign ificant harm to humans.” Please refer to the link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-Cy-pFtgAU

Dr. Bhavin JankhariaPresident, Indian Radiology and Imaging Association



Fact Sheet on EMF Issues and Mobile Towers

cians from the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology(IIT) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc)in India, haveurged the government to “exercise caution to avoid ad-hoc decisions regarding the restrictions of tower locationsand avoid unnecessary panic and fear among citizens”.The statement says that based on all the facts there is nofurther knowledge available that warrants a change in thesafety recommendations of mobile emissions. Further,this committee of academicians has requested the gov-ernment to create a public database where all study re-ports (Pros & Cons) on the health implications of the EMFemissions should be housed. All these academicianshave worked on Research and Development in the tele-com sector for between five to 35 years.

5. UNITED KINGDOM’S MOBILE TELECOMMUNICA-TIONS AND HEALTH RESEARCH PROGRAMME(MTHR)UK’s MTHR very recently completed an 11 years longstudy and despite exhaustive research, they found noevidence of risks to health from the radio waves pro-duced by mobile phones or their base stations. Thereis no link between mobile phones and any health prob-lems, the report has concluded. The study also foundno evidence that exposure to base station emissionsduring pregnancy increases the risk of childhoodleukemia. The MTHR programme was the UK’s largestresearch programme to look at possible health risksassociated with mobile phone technology. ProfessorDavid Coggon, Chairman of MTHR, said: “This inde-pendent programme is now complete, and despite ex-haustive research, we have found no evidence of risksto health from the radio waves produced by mobilephones or their base stations. Thanks to the researchconducted within the programme, we can now bemuch more confident about the safety of modern

telecommunications systems.”

6. REPORT BY EXPERT COMMITTEE FORMED BYDOT AS PER THE ALLAHABAD HC ORDERA report submitted by a 13-member committee consti-tuted by the DoT, based on an Allahabad High Courtorder, dated January 10, 2012, has observed that thereis no cause for alarm with regard to possible ill-effects onhuman health by electromagnetic field (EMF) emissionsfrom antennae on cell towers and cellphones, becausethe safety limits adopted in India take into account all bi-ological effects of radiation. The committee also took noteof the actions taken by DoT with respect to the recom-mendations of the Inter-Ministerial Committee. The com-mittee observed that DoT has taken adequate steps toincrease precautionary limits for EMF emission from an-tennae on cell towers as well as from cell phones. Mem-bers of the committee include professors from



Fact Sheet on EMF Issuesand Mobile Towers

IIT-Kharagpur, IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Roorkee and ex-perts from the ICMR, All India Institute of Medical Sci-ences, Department of Science and Technology andIndian Institute of Toxicology Research, besides repre-sentatives from the DoT.

7. JOINT INITIATIVE BY THE GOVERNMENT ANDTHE INDUSTRY As part of the various measures instituted by the govern-ment, the specific recommendation of the IMC regardingthe need to set up a common online portal has been ac-cepted by the government. This portal will provide to thepublic all relevant information on the status of each tower’sEMF emissions compliance. Work on this is being under-taken by the government, and supported by the industry.This will make the system transparent and make such vitalinformation accessible and available to the public. The fi-nalization of the guidelines for installation of telecom tow-

ers and establishment of a portal indicating all emissionslevels of all antennae will p rovide comfort to citizens aboutth e safety of th e towers and their emissions.

8. EMF EMISSION STANDARDS IN OTHER COUN-TRIESCountries following ICNIRP Guidelines for Mobile TowerAntennae (Power density 9W/m2 for 1800 MHz spectrum)Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia,Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Finland,Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Ireland,Malaysia, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nor-way, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines,Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain,Sweden, Thailand, Taiwan, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, UK,Venezuela and Switzerland (excluding sensitive areas).

Countries following IEEE 1991/NCRP 1986 standard(FCC) for Mobile Tower Antennae (Power density 10W/m2for 1800 MHz spectrum)Bolivia, Canada, Es tonia (IEEE1991), P anama, USA.

Countries below ICNIRP and IEEE India, Belarus, Bulgaria, Chile, China*, Israel, Lithuania,Poland, Russia* Belgium, Greece, Italy, Liechtenstein.

* China & Ru ssia made d ecision to move to ICNIRP f orSAR



Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cells

Who to contact to if there are questions regarding EMF radiations from telecom towers?

All issues related to the emissions from the mobile towers (EMF) are regulated and monitored by the TERM Cells ofthe DoT, which are appointed in all telecom circles. They continuously monitor the emission levels of the mobile towerson a random basis and take punitive action (fine up to INR 10,00,000) if the EMF emission levels are found to beabove the government-prescribed norms.

The Central government has prescribed the EMF emission levels at 1/10th of the WHO recommended norms.

The WHO has recommended that EMF emissions from the cell tower must not exceed 4.5W/ square meter for900 MHz frequency band. The Government of India has decided that the emission levels must be below0.45W/square meter which places India amongst the countries with the lowest permitted emission levels.

The Government of India has adopted the lowest (and the safest) EMF emission norms, taking into consider-ation the fact that Indian urban settings are not set up zone-wise and institutions like schools and hospitalsare spread across the area. By bringing down the emission levels to 0.45W/square meter, the government hastaken into consideration the population density as well as th e vulnerabilities of v arious population segments.

The government has mandated the TERM Cells as the final authority for the administration, regulation and penalactions on all issues related to emissions from the cell towers. The citizens can contact the local TERM Cells incase of any issues related to the emissions from the mobile towers. The contact details of the TERM Cell officialsof each circle can be found at the following link: http://www.dot.gov.in/term/term-security



Views of the Minister of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India inLok Sabha on 7th July 2014, in a written Q&A

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2 ANSWERED ON 07.07.2014

INSTALLATION OF MOBILE TOWERS

Question by Shri Devji Mansingram Patel, Memberof Parliament(a) Whether the th reat of occu rrence of f atal diseaseslike cancer is rising d ue to in stallation of mob ile tow-ers in the p opulous areas in pr ominent cities of th ecountry in cluding Jalore-Sirohi districts in Rajasthan;

(b)If so, whether the Government has fixed any timelimit for removing these towers from these areas;

(c) If so , the de tails thereof;

(d) Whether the mobile towers installed in all theschools and hospitals premises of Rajasthan havebeen removed;

(e) If n ot, the r easons therefor; and

(f) The steps taken by the Government in this regard?ANSWER:

SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASADHon’ble Minister of Communications & InformationTechnology and Law & Justice

(a) to (c) Madam, the World Health Organization (WHO) inits Fact Sheet No. 304, May 2006 on ElectromagneticFields and Public Health (Base Stations and Wireless Tech-nologies) has concluded that “considering the very low ex-posure levels and research results collected to date, thereis no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RadioFrequency (RF) Signals from base stations and wireless



Views of the Minister of Communications & Information Technology, Government of India inLok Sabha on 7th July 2014, in a written Q&A

networks cause adverse health effects.” “From all evi-dence accumulated so far, no adverse short or long termhealth effects have been shown to occur from the RF Signals produced by base stations (mobile phone towers)”.

WHO has recommended that ‘National authoritiesshould adopt international standards to protect their cit-izens against adverse levels of RF fields. They shouldrestrict access to areas where exposure limits may beexceeded.’ WHO has referred to the International Ex-posure Guidelines developed by the International Com-mission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has alreadyprescribed stricter precautionary limits for electromag-netic field (EMF) radiation from mobile towers. Thepresent prescribed limits for EMF radiations from BaseStations in India are one-tenth (1/10th) of the interna-tionally prescribed limits of ICNIRP.

Further, in a Writ Petition filed in Hon’ble High Court Alla-habad, Lucknow bench, the Hon’ble Court vide its orderdated 10.01.2012 constituted a committee consisting ofMembers of the IITs, Bombay, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Delhi,Roorkee and other prominent persons of other scientificinstitutions of the country like AIIMS (Delhi) and the IndianCouncil of Medical Research which submitted its Reporton 17-01-2014. After due consideration of the humanhealth concerns on account of EMF radiation being raisedin public as well as the Report of the Committee, the Gov-ernment has decided in February 2014 that the presentprescribed precautionary EMF safe exposure limits ar eadequate and need no further change at this s tage.

In order to ensure compliance with the prescribed stricterprecautionary norms of EMF radiation from mobile tow-ers, an extensive audit of comprehensive compliance

self-certificates being submitted by telecom serviceproviders and base transceiver station (BTS) sites is car-ried out by the TERM field units of DoT. This is regularlydone by TERM units for the purpose of limiting the EMFradiation exposure and keeping general public areas inthe vicinity of towers safe. Such audits are being con-ducted in all the License Service Areas in the country, in-cluding the Jalore and Sirohi districts in Rajasthan licenseservice area. If any BTS site is found to violate the pre-scribed EMF norms, actions are taken to impose apenalty of INR 10 lakh per BTS per incidence, as w ell asclosing of th e BTS site as p er the prescribed procedure.

In Jalore and Sirohi districts, the Rajasthan TERM fieldunit of DoT has randomly tested 77 BTSs on a samplebasis up to 31/05/2014 and all sites were found com-pliant with the radiation norms prescribed by DoT. Onecomplaint was received from Mount Abu, Sirohi, re-garding EMF radiation from the base transceiver station(mobile tower). This was tested by the TERM field unitRajasthan and it w as found to be c ompliant with theradiation norms prescribed by DoT.

(d) to (f) Hon’ble High Court of Rajasthan in Writ PetitionNo. 2774/12 had inter alia directed removal of Mobile Tow-ers from hospitals and schools within two months. Twohundred and four mobile towers installed in the schoolpremises of Rajasthan have been removed in compliancewith the interim order dated 22/08/2012 passed byHon’ble Rajasthan High Court. However, regarding re-moval of mobile towers installed at hospitals, the Hon’bleSupreme Court of India had extended time limit for com-pliance with the order of Hon’ble High Court of Rajasthanon 21/01/2013 by two months. Subsequently the Hon’bleSupreme Court of India has extended the time limit till further orders, and the matter is su b judice.



Links That You Can Use

l http://w w w.dot. gov.in/access-ser vices/journey-emf

l What is the WHO EMF Project about:ohttp://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/project/EMF_Project/en/index.htmlohttp://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/project/EMF_Project/en/index1.htmlohttp://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/project/EMF_Project/en/index2.html

l Excerpts from the WHO Fact Sheet on Mobile Phones (#193 June 2011):http://w w w.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/

l Excerpts from the WHO Fact Sheet on Base Stations and Wireless Technologies (May 2006):http://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/index.html

l Excerpts from the WHO Fact Sheet on electromagnetic hypersensitivity (December 2006):http://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs296/en/index.html

l Excerpts from the backgrounder of WHO’s Cautionary Policies:http://w w w.who.int/docstore/peh-emf/publications/facts_press/EMF-Precaution.html

l What are electromagnetic fields, including the Q&A:http://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/http://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.htmlhttp://w w w.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index5.html

l The Communications Minister ’s endorsement of the WHO view:http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/psearch/QResult16.aspx?qref=26

l A website with credible information on the topic of radiation and medicine:http://radiationdoctor.org /

l Prof. Michael Repacholi, former WHO, EMF Project Coordinator, and an ex-Chairman of ICNIRP on various queriesrelated to emissions from mobile towers:Question about Mob ile T owers a t Sch ools- h ttp://youtu.be/t0vdj6ayu3EQuestion about Rad iation Shield s- h ttp://youtu.be/zYU4fjF6vqMQuestion about emission s fr om TV Se ts- h ttp://youtu.be/E-OamZzGpaIQuestion about e xcess use of mob ile ph ones- h ttp://youtu.be/03UdfEPnE8I



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