Mumbai: You can reduce the radiation risks posed by cell phones if you religiously avoid talking on your mobile for more than six minutes. But since it can be an unrealistic target for many, using a speakerphone or headset and keeping the mobile at least a foot away from the body is the safest option, experts say.
Most importantly, reduce the number of calls from cell phones and use the SMS option instead, or landlines whenever possible. Above all, don't forget to check the specific absorption rate (SAR) while buying a phone, it should be strictly 1.6 watt/kg, suggest experts.
If you are exposed to radiation from cell towers, or if your residence or office is within 1km from a TV tower or within 500 meters of an FM tower, then growing plants or trees with more water content, or putting water curtains on windows or galleries could help divert radiation.
But the best option is to complain against such a tower. An inter-ministerial committee of experts formed by the ministry of communications and information technology to study hazards posed by mobiles and towers has already highlighted that the radiation creates serious health risks, including loss of memory, lack of concentration and sleep disorders. In June last year, the WHO and International Agency for Research on Cancer classified radio-frequency electromagnetic fields as Group 2B agents that could "possibly be carcinogenic to humans," or in simpler words cause brain cancer. Globally, researches are still trying to gauge health hazards caused by prolonged use of cell phones.
Senior consultant radiation oncologist Dr Anusheel Munshi said while more data is awaited, preliminary findings could be strong enough for people to think prevention. "So far, prolonged usage for at least a decade has been linked with brain tumours. It is believed that constant exposure of certain regions of the brain to electromagnetic radiation is to blame for tumours," he said. Munshi also suggested that plug-in ear devices should be used often and even texting could be used more frequently than talking. Endocrinologist Dr Shashank Joshi agreed, saying said texting, emailing or using instant messaging applications can save us from cell phone hazards.
A paediatrician from civic-run Sion Hospital said cell phone usage should be kept to minimum for children. "The damages could be more in case of children as their skull bones are thinner than adults and therefore electromagnetic radiation could penetrate deeper," the doctor said.
"From September 1, 2013 only mobile handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6 watt/kg will be permitted to be manufactured or imported in India," said R K Bhatnagar, advisor (technology) to DoT. He said devices to help officials randomly check the SAR of the new imported or manufactured stock of handsets will arrive soon, at a cost of Rs 15 lakh each.
Similarly national engineering standards for handsets are also being framed to offer more health-friendly handsets. Manufacturers have to self-declare theSAR value in the brochure of the handset. "If any company selling handsets in India does not comply with the norms then action will be taken against it," said Bhatnagar.
He said corrective action such as reducing the frequency of antennas, changing their position and direction can also help reduce the effects of radiation on humans. "Re-engineering is possible in most cases, which can give lot of relief but in extreme cases removing them can be the final option," he said.
Consumer activist and expert Achintya Mukherjee said telecom companies should connect base stations and subsidiary stations with optic fibre cables and then create wireless-like in-building solutions to disseminate low wattage signals with less radiation.  |
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