My dear colleagues sitting on the dais and senior officers of TERM Cells and TEC. I have immense pleasure to inaugurate the “Workshop on Electromagnetic Radiation” being conducted by TEC. In fact, this is the second in a series of workshops to be organized for keeping the officers of DOT and TERM Cells abreast about the topics of current importance.
You must be aware that very recently the TERM Cells have been entrusted with the job of audit verification of EMF compliance of Base Transceivers Stations of various CMTS and UAS service providers.
The increased use of mobile phones around the world has raised public interest in possible health issues associated with exposure to electromagnetic emissions. People are concerned about possible harmful emissions from mobile phone handsets and Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs). There has been a lot of public complaints arising from the apprehension of exposure from Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) from BTS’ antennae.
It has been known for many years that exposure to sufficiently high levels of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) can heat biological tissue and potentially cause tissue damage. This is because the human body is unable to cope with the excessive heat generated during exposure to very high levels of radiofrequency EMR. A biological effect occurs when a change can be measured in a biological system after the introduction of some type of stimuli. However, a biological effect does not necessarily mean there is a biological hazard. A biological effect only becomes a safety hazard when it causes impairment to the health of the individual or of his or her offspring. Studies have shown that environmental levels of radiofrequency EMR routinely encountered by the public are far below the levels needed to produce significant heating and increased body temperature. At relatively low levels of exposure to EMR, that is, field intensities lower than those that would produce measurable heating, the evidence for production of harmful biological effects is ambiguous and unproven. While there have been studies reporting biological effects at low levels, there has been no conclusive finding that such effects indicate a human health hazard, even with long-term exposure. In many cases, the studies have not yet been subject to scientific peer review or the results have not been replicated.
World Health Organization in its Fact Sheet No. 304, May 2006 on “Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health: Base Stations and Wireless Technologies”, has laid down that International guidelines developed by ICNIRP are based on careful analysis of all scientific and offer protection against all identified hazards of RF energy with large safety margins. Both measurements and calculations show that RF signal levels in areas of public access from Mobile Base Stations are far below the international guidelines, typically by a factor of 100 or more.
The general consensus of scientific opinion is that, provided the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones (in terms of SAR value) and BTS (Electric Field Strength/ Power Density) do not exceed the limits of recognized standards, i.e. ICNIRP guidelines adopted in India, do not indicate any human health hazard. We have to ensure that all BTS are compliant with ICNIRP guidelines.
TEC published Test Procedure for measurement of EMF from Base Transceiver Stations vide Document No: TEC/TP/EMF/001/01.SEP-2009. The procedure seeks for compliance of Electromagnetic Field exposure levels prescribed by ICNIRP.
TEC has also prepared a supplement to the Test Procedure for measurement of EMF (Sept. 2009 issue) based on the experience gained so far, to elaborate the methodology, calculations, measurements and report formats for verification of EMF compliance of a BTS, which is at the final stage of the issue.
I hope you will get a practical approach for the measurement of EMF and exposure to testing methods and testing instruments.
You must be aware that very recently the TERM Cells have been entrusted with the job of audit verification of EMF compliance of Base Transceivers Stations of various CMTS and UAS service providers.
The increased use of mobile phones around the world has raised public interest in possible health issues associated with exposure to electromagnetic emissions. People are concerned about possible harmful emissions from mobile phone handsets and Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs). There has been a lot of public complaints arising from the apprehension of exposure from Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) from BTS’ antennae.
It has been known for many years that exposure to sufficiently high levels of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) can heat biological tissue and potentially cause tissue damage. This is because the human body is unable to cope with the excessive heat generated during exposure to very high levels of radiofrequency EMR. A biological effect occurs when a change can be measured in a biological system after the introduction of some type of stimuli. However, a biological effect does not necessarily mean there is a biological hazard. A biological effect only becomes a safety hazard when it causes impairment to the health of the individual or of his or her offspring. Studies have shown that environmental levels of radiofrequency EMR routinely encountered by the public are far below the levels needed to produce significant heating and increased body temperature. At relatively low levels of exposure to EMR, that is, field intensities lower than those that would produce measurable heating, the evidence for production of harmful biological effects is ambiguous and unproven. While there have been studies reporting biological effects at low levels, there has been no conclusive finding that such effects indicate a human health hazard, even with long-term exposure. In many cases, the studies have not yet been subject to scientific peer review or the results have not been replicated.
World Health Organization in its Fact Sheet No. 304, May 2006 on “Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health: Base Stations and Wireless Technologies”, has laid down that International guidelines developed by ICNIRP are based on careful analysis of all scientific and offer protection against all identified hazards of RF energy with large safety margins. Both measurements and calculations show that RF signal levels in areas of public access from Mobile Base Stations are far below the international guidelines, typically by a factor of 100 or more.
The general consensus of scientific opinion is that, provided the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones (in terms of SAR value) and BTS (Electric Field Strength/ Power Density) do not exceed the limits of recognized standards, i.e. ICNIRP guidelines adopted in India, do not indicate any human health hazard. We have to ensure that all BTS are compliant with ICNIRP guidelines.
TEC published Test Procedure for measurement of EMF from Base Transceiver Stations vide Document No: TEC/TP/EMF/001/01.SEP-2009. The procedure seeks for compliance of Electromagnetic Field exposure levels prescribed by ICNIRP.
TEC has also prepared a supplement to the Test Procedure for measurement of EMF (Sept. 2009 issue) based on the experience gained so far, to elaborate the methodology, calculations, measurements and report formats for verification of EMF compliance of a BTS, which is at the final stage of the issue.
I hope you will get a practical approach for the measurement of EMF and exposure to testing methods and testing instruments.
