OVERVIEW OF HAZARDS OF MOBILE RADIATIONS

Sushil Kumar Poonam Asstt. Prof., Deptt. of Computer Science

Asstt. Prof., Deptt. of Computer ScienceMLU DAV College,Phagwara. MLUDAV College,Phagwara.sharma.sushil1@rediffmail.com poonamtugnait85@gmail.com+91-9501118088 +91-9592901182

1. ABSTRACT

A blessing for improved communication, mobile phone usage howeverhas many health hazards. In this era, each and every individualall over the world uses mobile phone as a communication deviceevery day. Because of extensive broad utilization of the GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (GSM) mobile phones have becomenecessary communication tool. Some scientists believe the factthat ever-increasing usage of mobile phone in our surroundings isone of the reasons why some disease rates are mounting day-by-day. It is logically verified that the radiations generated bythe mobile phones influence particularly the brain of livingbeings. This influence arise the complications for them to adjustwith their systematic daily routine and sometimes serious healthissues. Radiation is a form of energy which is in motion. Theradiations emitted by mobile phones are electromagnetic in natureand can travel all the way through space at the speed of light.These electromagnetic radiations (EMR) are verytindistinguishable. They enter into our body and without ouracquaintance, they leave some scary results. As mobile phones arenew and continuously emerging technology which is becoming vitalfor each individual, but we can’t forget their scary andthreatening effects on biological system. It is always not

possible to verify or confirm that any technology is completelysafe or unsafe, but one can stay away from probable risks. Simplesteps can be followed to reduce the effects of electromagneticradiations. This is the reason why mobile users are advised tokeep distance from mobile, use a headset, limit the length ofmobile calls, use text as compared to voice call etc.. To put inthe nutshell, this paper includes simple but elaboratediscussions of all the hazards of mobile technology and theprecautions from mobile radiations while using it.

Keywords: Mobile phone, GSM, Electromagnetic radiations (EMR).

2. INTRODUCTION

The telecommunication industry is experiencing a robust growth ona global scale and the cell phones are becoming an essential toolin the global modern society as they allow peopleto maintain constant and continuous communication withouthampering their freedomof movement. Since the introduction of cell phones in the mid -1980’s, there has beensignificant increase in the number of cell phone users andinstallations of base stations. As of2005, statistics shows that there are 1.6 billion cell phonesubscribers worldwide and day-by-day it is increasing rapidly.Though phone manufacturers, regulatory agencies and serviceproviders assure that cell phones are safe, the global debatesand controversy over the health effects of these productscontinue. Several studies on health effects present evidenceconfirming

that increased occurrences of some symptoms and diseases aredirectly related to the exposure of cell phone operatingfrequencies . It is therefore a great demand for studying in thelaboratory about biological effects that can lead to healthimpairment. The renewal knowledge can be used as a foundation fornew exposure limits that take into account of thermal and non-thermal biological effects of microwave radiations from cellularphones and base stations. Motivated by the activities of cellphone concerning with human body we tried to pick up our bestassumptions by case study in this article and finally we havesuggested some suggestions.

3. Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phone

As time passes by technology are growing faster and move faster.The most important and common part of technology in our life ismobile phone technology. We bring mobile phone with us ineverywhere that we go and use it on a daily basis. It is beingthe part and parcel of our daily life. Mobil phones have beenaround for quite some time, but as time goes on, mobile phonescontinue to gain many features. A mobile phone started out assimple device that had only numbers, and most people used themfor emergencies only. Nowadays, cell phones have many featuressuch as phone calls, text messaging, taking pictures, accessingthe web, using calculator etc.as many accessories. People becomeaddicted in cell phone because they are getting many facilitiesby using it. For example whenever they go outside they can takethe phone with them because of its size, networking range, a fullcharge battery, essay connection etc. There is no doubt about thebenefits of mobile phones. Mobile phones have so many advantagesbut they have some disadvantages too. It has become a vitalelement for every person but nowadays it has also becoming anaddiction to the young generation. Nine out of ten young peoplein the town area, have owned a mobile phone. They use it in

various purposes. Their attraction of mobile phone is increasingday by day. Medical science says that the radiation of mobilephone is too bad for human health. In the arena of communicationmobile are becoming the latest fashion and also the mostessential means of communication. These mobile phones let usenjoy all the comforts within a single device.

4. EFFECT OF RADIATION EXPOSURE

The cellular phone has to emit radio frequency energy atlevels high enough to reach base stations (antenna towers). Sincethe energy is emitted as a microwave in the direct vicinity ofthe users head there are concerns about the safety from thistechnology. There are reports from cell studies as well as animalstudies that there may be a significant risk of developing cancertumors,foremost brain tumors in the user of cellular phones. Dependingon the level of exposure,radiation can adversely affect individuals directly and theirdescendants indirectly. Radiation canaffect cells of the body, increasing the risk of cancer orharmful genetic mutations that can bepassed on to future generations; or, if the dosage is largeenough to cause massive tissue damage, it may lead to deathwithin a few weeks of exposure.

5. SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATIO (SAR)

SAR is a measure of the amount of radio frequency (RF)energy that is absorbed by thetissue in the human body that is measured in watts per kilogram.This measurement is used todetermine whether a cell phone complies with the safetyguidelines. The exposure limit takes in

consideration with the body’s ability to remove heat from thetissues that absorb energy from the cell phone & is set wellbelow levels known to show biological effects. The U. S. FederalCommunications Commission (FCC) & International Commission onNon-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recommend thelocalized SAR in the head is to be limited to 1.6 –to - 2 Watts per kilogram averages over any 10g mass of tissuesin the head.

CNET and the Environmental Working Group, have produced charts that show the amount of radiation produced by popular phones.

from reviews.cnet.com

6. Reported symptoms & diseases

Following diseases or symptoms has been reported :

1. Headaches, warmth to the ear and burning sensations on thefacial skin.2. Memory loss, brain cancers and tumors and Alzheimer'sdisease. Decline in the level ofacetylcholine, a brain chemical crucial for memory and learning. 3. Intra-epithelial tumors, neurocognitive symptoms, nerve sheathtumors (including acousticneuromas) and sleep disorders.4. Blood pressure, kidney damage, Leukemia and other bloodcancers, lymphoma and melatonin reduction.5. Anxiety, birth defects, calcium ion changes, chronic fatigue,crohns disease, depression and heart disease.6. Diabetes, disorientation, epilepsy, facial rashes andswelling, genetic damage, fybromyalgia.

has the bee disappears from the surface of the7. Effect on Honey Bees

It has been quoted that Albert Einstein had said, ‘‘If the beedisappears from the surface of theveIt has been quoted that Albert Einstein had said, ‘‘If the beedisappears from the surface of theearth, man would have no more than four years to live.” In theUS, an abrupt disappearance ofbees was observed several years back and was associated with therising electromagneticpollution. This is known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) wherebees cannot find their wayback to the hive as a result of consistent electromagnetic background noise that seems to disruptintercellular communication within individual bees. CCD has sincespread to Germany,Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Scotland, Wales andnorth-west England. InEngland, the bee population fell by 54 percent between 1985 and2005 compared to an averageof 20 per cent across Europe.Recently, a sharp decline has also been noticed in commercial beepopulation in Kerala posing aserious threat to honey bees, hitting apiculture (the cultivationof bees on a commercial scale forthe production of honey). The State has the highest density ofmobile towers. Similar cases have

been observed in Bihar, Punjab, Nepal and other parts of Indiaand have been attributed toincreasing electro pollution in the environment. no more thanfour years to live.” In the US, an abrupt disappearance ofWhenhoney bee colonies were exposed with radiation, the honeycombweight and area were reduced and returning time of honey beesincreased compared to similar non-exposed colonies.

8. Effect on Birdsbees was observed several years back and was associated with therising electromagneticpollution. When birds are exposed to weak electromagnetic fields,they disorient and begin to fly in all directions, which explainmigratory birds undermining navigational abilities. A largenumber of birds like pigeons, sparrows, swans are getting lostdue to interference from the new "unseen enemy", i.e. mobilephone masts. Several million birds of 230 species die each yearfrom collisions with telecommunications masts in the UnitedStates during migration. Accidentshappen mainly in the night, in fog, or bad weather, when birdsmight be using the earth'smagnetic field for navigation, and could be seriously disorientedby the microwave radiationfrom telecommunication masts.During recent decades there has been a marked decline of thehouse sparrow population. Londonhas witnessed a steep fall in its sparrow population; a 75 percent fall since 1994. There havebeen dramatic declines, almost to the point of extinction inGlasgow, Edinburgh, Hamburg,Ghent, Brussels, Dublin, Belgium, etc. Studies show that thedisappearance of the sparrow andthe introduction of phone mast GSM towers correlate closely interms of time. In an experiment, 75% of chicken embryos that were exposed to aGSM mobile phone duringincubation died compared to 16%, who were not exposed to anyradiation. Birds having nest nearT towers were found to leave

their nests within one week. The eggs laid in nests near towersfailed to hatch.A general disappearance of birds like Kestrel, White Stork, RockDove, pigeons, Magpie hasbeen observed near base stations for mobile telecommunication.Locomotive problems, breedingproblems, and tendency to stay long in lower parts of the treesand on the ground have beenobserved. In some tracked nests (blackbird), the eggs neverhatched and also many deadspecimens were found near phone masts areas.A house sparrow is associated with human habitation. Being verysensitive to changes in theenvironment, it is one of the most preferred indicator species ofurban ecosystems. A stablehouse sparrow population indicates a healthy ecosystem for humanbeings in terms of air andwater quality, vegetation and other parameters of habitatquality. Whereas, a decliningpopulation of the bird provides a warning that the urbanecosystem is experiencing someenvironmental changes unsuitable for human health in theimmediate future. bee population fell y 54 percent between 1985and 2005 compared to an average per cent across Europe.

9. Effect on mammals and amphibians

The study in Germany showed that cows grazing near celltowers are more likely to experience still births, spontaneousabortions, birth deformities, behavioral problems and generaldeclines in overall health. Moving cattle herds away from suchtowers has reportedly led to immediate health improvements.Exposing dairy cows to magnetic fields can also result inreduction in milk yield, changed milk composition and fertilityproblems. Recently, a significant increase of micronuclei inerythrocyte in the blood of cattle grazing on a farm near atransmitting facility was discovered. This is an indication of a

genotoxic effect of the exposure, which means the change willpass on to their subsequent generations.

Similarly, impaired immune system in sheep, reproductive anddevelopmental problems in dogs and cats, anxiety and alarm inrabbits, frequent death of domestic animals such as, hamsters,and guinea pigs living near base stations of mobiletelecommunication towers has been observed. Electromagneticpollution is a possible cause for deformations and decline ofsome amphibian populations too. Morphological abnormalities,allergies, changes in blood counts, increase in the heart rate,arrhythmia and increased mortality has been found in amphibianslike Newts and frog tadpoles. Bat activity is significantlyreduced in habitats exposed to electromagnetic field. During astudy, in a free-tailed bat colony, the number of bats decreasedwhen several phone masts were placed 80m from the colony.harpdecline has also been noticed in commercial bee

Most of the transmission signals are lost in space, as thesignals are sent out 360 degrees from the cell's antenna. Only a small percentage hitthe tower.

10. PRECAUTIONS:

Radiation is strongest when the signal is very weak. In weaksignal areas, the cell phone cranks up its power to connect to the base station. Keep this in mind in buildings as well as when traveling -- as towers come in and out of range, youare being exposed to larger amounts of radiation. Also, if

you are in a rural location, far from a cell tower, and yourcell is constantly trying to connect, reconsider using your cell.

Your cell phone is a tiny transceiver: a combination transmitter and receiver. The radiation is strongest in transmition mode. Tilting the phone away from your ear as you speak will help reduce radiation zapping your head when the cell is transmitting to the tower.

Always hold the phone 2 inches from your ear and you will dramatically reduce the amount of radiation penetrating into

your head.

Keep the phone at least a foot away from your body and use the speakerphone setting.

Use a headset. A wired headset may still transmit radiation through the wire – but it is at a reduced level. Best, is topurchase a ferrite bead, which is a clip you put on the wireof a headset. The bead absorbs the radiation and none reaches your head. You can find numerous ferrite beads on your computer cords, on the side they plug into the computer, the ferret beads are integrated into the cord and reduce static. Ferret beads are available at stores or online ($15 or less). Hollow tube earpieces reduce most radiation as well, but I have yet to find one that works well.

Use a Bluetooth earpiece, which still emits radiation, but some models reduce the radiation by 100 times. Some, emit much more radiation. Check the radiation levels on each Bluetooth carefully. Keeping in mind that although the radiation is much lower, the source is in your ear, and therefore really close to your brain. Due to the constant low radiation of the blue tooth, one should take it out of the ear when not in use.

Don't talk, text.

Buy a low radiation phone.

The FCC has set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg, averaged over a volume of 1 gram of tissue, for the head. The FCC ID number usually is shown somewhere on the case of the phone. Use that number and the FCC ID Search Form to learn more about your cell phone’s SAR limits.

When on a call, use a wired headset or speakerphone mode. Usea Bluetooth headset, which emits a smaller amount of radiation, only when talking. When not using the headset, keepit off your body.

Place the mobile phone away from your body when on a call. Do not carry mobile phones in pockets of pants or in shirts orbras. Use a belt holster designed to shield the body fromradiation.Avoid using a mobile phone in a moving car, train, bus, or inrural areas at some distance from a cell tower. Distance from acell tower will increase the cellphone's radiation output. Turn the mobile phone off when you don't need to use it.Use a corded landline phone instead of a wireless phone, whichalso emits radiation.Avoid using mobile phone inside of buildings, particularly thosewith steel structures, which increases the device's radiationoutput because signals are not as strong. Do not allow children, whose bodies are more vulnerable toabsorbing radiation, to sleep with a cellphone beneath theirpillow or keep it at the bedside. Do not allow children under 18 to use a mobile phone except inemergencies. When making a call, do not hold the phone to your ear untilafter the person on the other line answers. The device emits moreradiation before a call goes through.

11. CONCLUSION

The use of cell phone is increasing tremendously day-by-day butmost of the people o (who use cellular phone) have no knowledgehow the cell phones impact on humanhealth. It is almost clear from the research that the radiationfrom cell phone is responsible for many diseases like braintumor, headaches, short-term memory loss, different types ofheart diseases etc. In the presence of various RF sources,including cell phone handsets and broadcast antennas whichcontribute the overall environmental exposure has become a greatconcern about safety of this new technology and as well as humanhealth. However we should contribute more efforts to transformmobile radio communication to an efficient, secure and convenientsystem useful for the welfare and positive advancement and forthe global society. And for this the Government should takenecessary steps for the mobile industry with properregulations.And people must use precations while using mobiles.

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