Seven months from now, all mobile phone handsets sold in India, including the imported ones, will have to meet stringent electromagnetic emission limits. The yet to be notified regulations will make mobile handsets relatively less harmful to use compared with the ones sold prior to September 1. The decision to reduce the specific absorption rate (SAR) — the amount of radio frequency energy absorbed by the body when using a phone — is a prudent one. India has taken a leaf out of the United States Federal Communication Commission (FCC) by adopting a stricter SAR limit of 1.6 watts per kilogram averaged over a volume of 1 gram of tissue for the head. The SAR value currently in effect is 2 watts per kilogram averaged over a volume of 10 gram of tissue. Another significant aspect is the requirement to compulsorily mention the SAR value on every handset so that consumers are aware of it. Until now, companies have been tucking this information in the handset manuals or their websites. But the worse culprits are the cheap phones sourced from a few countries that have much higher emission levels than the currently permitted SAR limit. It is quite unlikely that even the mandatory requirement of having the SAR value embossed on every unit will prevent such gadgets from being sold.
The solution, therefore, is to spread and increase awareness of the possible risks of long-term exposure to radio frequency radiation. Radiowaves, unlike X-rays and gamma rays, are non-ionising in nature and do not have the energy to damage cellular DNA. Several studies, including a 2001 and 2006 follow-up Danish study, found no link between long-term use and risk of cancer. However, a 2009 Swedish study found such a link in those people who had used mobile phones for at least ten years, especially those below 20 years of age, even though the precise mechanism by which the cancer is caused is not known. Hence it is wise to adopt a precautionary approach to minimise radiation risk as there has been increased usage and for a longer duration. The percentage of children, including younger children, using mobile phones is also rising. It is a fact that close contact of the phone with the ear heats up the tissues after prolonged use. This can be eliminated and the risk greatly minimised by using mobiles only for short calls, using texting options, and relying on hands-free modes for communication. Needless to say, younger children should be discouraged from using cellular phones as their skulls are thinner than adults and the cells are likely to be more sensitive to mobile phone radiation as they are still in a growing state.
Keywords: mobile handsets, mobile phone radiation, mobile phone health hazard, electromagnetic emission, mobile SAR tag
On one hand, India is ready to go nuclear with France and on the other, is winsome enough in battling its own domestic radiation piercing through the ears of younger generation, moreover in the form of music. This issue can't be left at a distant periphery & needs to be dragged to the attention of every common individual from the bay. This might sound bogus and the radiation looks like innocuous but its pernicious effects have already accumulated lot of accolades beyond the SAP rate. As they say, prevention is better than cure, so is the solution. The first and the foremost single major step that should be taken to curb the radiation is to spread the awareness on social networking sites, spread the topic through mail-chain in oraganizations, introduce it under health columns and request the celebrities to step up for the cause. At times, we need to look beyond the breast & cervical cancer towards this plague else this satan's gonna play the havoc and will create palpable public outrage
The Hindu's editorial should be emulated by all other national news papers. More so it should be peneterated to the rulal folks who get to know seldom of the adverse implications of using a mobile & in particular cheap hand sets. Word of mouth is the best for campaign & going by the present trend of reading vernacular papers whenever the villagers assemble in the nearest 'Tea shops' or in other village forums, the awareness program of the excessive use of mobile handset leading to a health hazard to grown-ups & children can be made as a powerful media. Efforts should be simultaneously taken by the Schools right from secondary level onwards so that the risks & after effects are registerred in the young minds. This will go a long way in curbing the excessive use of mobile phones in their own interest
We are only talking about SAR but what about CO2 emission done by the
captive diesel power plant of these mobile tower.In india new policy
is introduced by government that each mobile tower company has to
generate power through renewal energy sources for green enviroment.
So long as the Govt. allows the use of Cheap Chinese model the risk is always there But the Govt. did not take any measure to ban the use of these cel phones eventhouth they mey not be able to curb this menace because of its route through Nepal The Central Excise authorities should check this import
The ubiquitous presence of cell phones is an undisputed fact. Its percolation into the children's domain is also a painful reality that cannot be contested. However, the ill effects of the mobile phones by way of dangerous radiation that affects the human brain have made no impact on its popularity or proliferation. The reason for it engenders either from a stance of defiance or a lack of awareness on the part of its users. In the former case, nothing can be effectively done to achieve any positive results. Nevertheless, in the latter case benefits can sure be reaped by adopting a suitable campaign. It is also imperative that the sneaking into the maket of foreign traders who spread cheap versions of the handsets must be ruthlessly curbed, as the damage done by such instruments can never be evaluated.
This regulation is a welcome step.But, it should have been brought a lot earlier considering ignorance of public on the issue.In India, cellphone usage increased drastically in last 8-10 years and perhaps its harmful effects are not yet visible but it might be clearly discernible in a decade or two.Despite high stakes involved in this business,civil society and government must initiate mass awareness drive regarding judicious usage of technology targeting younger generation for whom it is the biggest addiction.Otherwise, we may not be able to optimally utilize our 'demographic dividend'.
Very nice article by Hindu.. A very nice move to motivate people. The
present generation is such that a mobile phone is a part of their body.
This article should alert all those users who use their mobiles
continuously..
This was an eye-opener for me. One can imagine, how many crores of people would be ignorant of this side effect of using mobile phone. The government must immediately start an awareness campaign similar to the one it does for tobacco effects. It must also make it mandatory to mention on the box the emission levels of the mobile so that customers can see this when they search the label to know the price.
The panic button pressed in the editorial warning 60 crores and above cellphone users in India on SAR exceeding the permitted level of 1.6 is hard to ignore. The impending hazard, haunting more so the infants is an added owe. The greedy,unethical race among the manufactores of cellphones prompts them going in for cheaper varieties,compromising on safety. Let us join chorus against the unethical corporatation,the shameful offspring of globalisation, which the centre cradles and coddles.
There are several health hazards due to the radiations from the cell towers to the humans,birds,animals and environment.In India we have adopted very relaxed radiation forms of 4.7w/m^2 for GSM900,where as serious serious health effects have been noted as low as 0.0001w/m^2.According to Australian Health Research Institute, if this trend continues, by 2020 - "2 Billion People will suffer from cell phone cancer". Even if 1% comes true, it will have devastating consequences to so many of us.Solution is to have more number of towers with less transmitted power.When power transmitted is reduced it will not require power hungry power amplifiers having lower effeciency.Heating effect also be reduced,so lesser cooling or no cooling will required.All of these reduce power requirement,which can also be met by solar panel.Thus high power generators will also be not required,it will reduce the carbon emission and we can earn from carbon credits.Self certification by the operator must be abolished
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