Pune, March, 2006

Controversy: Healthy Spaces

Is living near a cell tower dangerous? Building biologist Mayank Barjatya believes that damn straight it is! He tells Citadel that in Pune, we have been voluntarily surrounding ourselves with Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation (RFER) in guise of all those cell towers perched on your terraces and rooftops and those tension wires running parallel to your high-rise buildings. He wonders aloud at the wisdom of exposing not just ourselves, but our children as well to this radiation for, the next twenty years…

Cell phones. Everyone uses them, all over the world: tens of millions of people are pressing them against their heads for hours every day. Down in our little slice of Paradise it is estimated that there were at least a hundred thousand cell phone users. Know what? That number continues to climb. So what's the fuss? A cell phone and a household cordless phone use a low level form of microwave radiation to send and receive their signals. In fact, microwaves, as you know, are used to cook food. As the radiation penetrates tissue it causes it to heat. Is this a problem for us with cell phones? As a matter of fact, the founder behind Vastuworld and building biologist insists that there is! Therein lies the current debate.

Hey! You won't get an argument from us that thanks to cell phones: communication in this deadline-riddled, fast paced cyber age has definitely eased up. And, we are, but slaves of modern technology. On the other hand, it is also true that this wireless world has also exposed us to low power radio wave devices that transmit and receive signals from a network of fixed low power base stations. What's worse, to facilitate better connectivity, service providers ensure that cell towers are placed in strategic spots to enhance the connectivity ...sometimes right on top of our heads, we kid you not! You don't believe us? Then perhaps you ought to cast a glance heavenwards - no, not to seek heavenly intervention (though that might help too!) - to check out those conically shaped metal structures jutting out of your office building or perched loftily on top of your terrace in your spanking new high-rise building.

Sounds familiar? Well, according to a recent report filed by the World Health Organization, a cell tower has to be erected approximately 400 feet from our house or work area. But the reality is that those suddenly mushrooming cell towers, which are actually needed to facilitate cell phone communication, are stirring plenty of concern, are actually in the midst of our neighborhood and even right there on the roofs of the buildings you work in. Primarily that this constant exposure to the electromagnetic radiation from them is harmful. Mayank Barjatya, founder-director, Vastuworld has prepared a very grim case for us to check out. "At the last count there were 232 + 79 towers erected by various cellular phone companies all over Pline. Majority of these 311 towers are located bang in the middle of the congested Peth areas of the city. As a matter of fact, Sadashiv Peth tops the list with as many as 32 transmission towers," Barjatya quotes the grim statistics.

So what does this mean? "It means that the potential effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) exposure from these cell towers are on immune function and other aspects of human health," he explains patiently. Barjatya strongly believes that the radiation emitting from them poses a health hazard. "You ever wondered why you are constantly irritated, nurse nagging headaches, have problems with your vision, perpetually complain of aches in various parts of your body mainly in your neck and back regions?" he wonders aloud and continues, "If you have answered in the affirmative to all of the above, then chances are that you lead an extremely stress-filled life or that you are within an uncomfortable distance to a cell tower either at home or your work place." he shrugs.

There is a robust and ongoing controversy on about the many aspects of RF health effects. While no one disagrees that serious health hazards occur when living cells in the body are heated, as happens with high intensity RF exposure (just like in a microwave oven), scientists, healthcare providers and activists are currently investigating the health hazards of low intensity exposure. Incidentally, low intensity exposure is exposure, which does not raise the temperature of the living cells in the body. While the debate rages far and wide. the telecommunications industry claims cellular antennas are safe because the radiation they produce is too weak to cause heating a "thermal effect". But there is a flaw in their reasoning. Case in point, the groups have explicitly stated that their claims of "safe levels of exposure" are based on thermal levels. Thus the claim that the RF exposure is harmless rests on the fact that it is too weak to produce a rise in temperature a "thermal effect."

So the actual question of the hour is: What does one do to prevent this, considering one cannot physically remove the cell towers from one's vicinity? The legalities and the logistics behind such an act simply bring on the memory of that nagging headache we so recently mentioned! Neither can one move away from one's residence or shift office space overnight The impracticalities of such a plan simply boggle the mind! Barjatya and his team have a remedy that might just help reduce the impact of the Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) and RF exposure, if not completely eliminate it. Says he, "We would like to bring to the notice of cellular companies like say, Airtel, AT&T. Hughes, BSNL. Reliance, and Tata Telecom, who spend millions on advertisements and promotion that they should go in for shielding and corrective measures to safeguard the health of the residents who live in and around the buildings where they have erected their cellular towers. This might sound a trifle corny, but at Vastuworld we have devices to probe and prove these radiations. In fact our offices at Vastuworld based in East Galleria, and homes are equipped with shields, which safeguard us. We haven't broken down or modified any of the existing infrastructures to protect ourselves."

Barjatya believes that to address the issue raised by the so called thermal exposure,' it is necessary to look beyond the current exposure limitations. Through a review of existing research on exposure to radio frequency fields that are below the levels, which result in tissue heating, it is possible to identify a range of numbers below which no adverse effects have been noted (or which have been noted only in limited or questionable studies), and above which potentially adverse effects have been seen in a number of different studies. This range of numbers can form the basis for a 'precautionary guideline.' The science from which it is derived is not, at this time, sufficient in strength or consistency to permit the revision of existing standards. However, reference to such a precautionary guideline will permit those who seek a level of protection beyond that conferred by existing standards to do so in a rational manner, while research continues on this important public health issue.

So apparently. EMF Services by Vastuworld conducts testing and site assessments for individuals, institutions, or municipalities who wish to bone up on the RF levels at a location near cell phone or broadcast towers. The report that they provide permits "comparison of existing levels with Maximum Permissible Exposures (MPEs), precautionary guidelines, and routine background levels for comparable environments. If new transmitting facilities are planned for your location, our site survey can be used to establish a baseline RF level for later comparison. The purpose of this service is to empower you to make responsible, fact-based decisions regarding the RF environment surrounding your community, facility, or home," says the building biologist.

By the way all his services are handled by a team of highly qualified professionals who come armed with several years of experience in planning and directing the installation of radio communication facilities, using equipment with current factory calibration certificates tucked under their belts. "Actually." Barjatya admits that they are "reluctant to provide these testing services when the primary purpose is to use the information to contest the sitting of cell phone towers or to seek their removal once sited. Understand this: This position is not the result of an alliance between FMF Services of Vastuworld and the cellular service providers - they are not our clients." he says candidly, "Rather, it represents an effort to avoid leading you down the path toward a disappointing result. The RF levels near a cell tower will not approach Maximum Permissible Exposures at ground level where people are present. Therefore, from a legal perspective, grounds for such an action do not exist. Further, a Court of Law is not the venue for a challenge to the science on which existing standards are based. The inevitable result is disappointment and a wasted financial expenditure. The best reason for testing and measurement services to understand the field levels that exist, and what can be done to reduce them..." concludes the affable architect who has been specially trained in this field in Germany.

But in the end only one question remains: What's your take on the possible health dangers of cell towers'