No evidence of mobile towers causing cancer: Medical body
Ravinder Sood
Palampur, January 21
The considerable increase in number of mobile phone users and accumulation of a large number of mobile towers in every nook and corner has raised questions on its probable impact on wildlife and human health.
Probe sought
- In one of the housing colonies, where a mobile tower was installed on the rooftop of a building a few years ago, six cancer patients have been detected
- Besides, six persons are also suffering from cardiac disease
- The colony residents have demanded an investigation by a credible agency
In one of the housing colonies of Palampur, where a mobile tower was installed on the rooftop of a building a few years ago, out of 20 houses in the vicinity six documented cancer patients have been detected in these localities. They are suffering from brain cancer, carcinoma of pancreas, breast cancer, carcinoma urinary bladder and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. All are under treatment in different hospitals.
Besides, six persons are also suffering from cardiac disease. During a visit to the colony today, victims say the disease affected them only after the installation of a mobile tower. In a single family, three persons were suffering from cancer, while one had already died. Likewise, in another family, two persons have been diagnosed with severe arthritis with autoimmune disease. They have demanded an investigation by a credible agency.
At a discussion between media and the local unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) here today, a number of medical experts are of the view that electro-magnetic radiations (EMR) released by the mobile towers are a major health hazard. They say more the antennas, more is the intensity of radiation in the nearby areas. The intensity of the signal is higher near the tower and it reduces as one moves away.
Dr Ashwani Milap, president of the local IMA, says when human beings are exposed to radiation for a longer period they are affected by the EMR released by the mobile phone towers.
He says in case of birds, there is a larger body-to-weight ratio in comparison to humans, so they absorb more radiation. Also, the fluid content in the body of the bird is lesser, so it gets heated up very fast. The magnetic field from the towers disturbs the bird’s navigation skills, hence when birds are exposed to the EMR, they disorient and begin to fly in wayward manner. “However, currently there is no evidence that exposure to radio frequency waves from cellphone towers causes adverse health effects such as cancer,” he adds.
A senior physician and consultant working in local hospitals says, “The World Health Organization (WHO) also confirmed that these radiations could have a negative impact on the human body and may become a cause of cancer, if exposed to them for longer periods, putting them into the same category as fumes and exhaust. The WHO has put these radiations in the 2B category, which classifies the reasons to cause cancer,” he said.
