Lead healthy lifestyle with mobile phones

It is true that mobile phones have brought in revolution in telecommunications industry. The expected mobile phone usage in India is projected to be 500 million (half of the population) within a short period of time. As per the recent reports, of the service providers are planning to erect over 90,000 base stations all over India to meet the ever increasing demand from rural areas! Mobile phone usage is very predominant in the new lifestyle adopted by younger generation. Mobiles are often given to children to play by the ever obliging parents. The scenario is not different in other countries.

Communication between a mobile phone and the nearest base station is achieved by the microwave radiation emissions from the transmitters connected to the antennas mounted at the base stations. These base stations are erected on top of buildings or specially built towers. There is much apprehension worldwide about the long-term health effects due to the exposure of people residing near the base stations and the mobile phone users to the radiofrequency emissions. Health effects such as heating of the exposed tissues, increased risk of malignant tumors (cancers) in the head and ears, genetic effects due to exposure of body cells to the radiofrequency (RF) radiations, etc. are reported in the literature.

Keeping in mind of the above uncertainties, including scanty nature of the studies and the gaps in our knowledge about the health effects of RF radiation, it is advised to keep the exposures much below the prescribed international guidelines. Use mobile phones for messaging only. Hand-free phones are safer. Since children are more sensitive to the radiation, mobile phones should be kept away from children.

There is a need for strict regulation to ensure that the manufacturers of the mobile phones maintain the radiation emission levels of the mobiles much lower than the standards. The base stations should be shared among the service providers to minimize the required number of base stations. Base stations near schools and crowded areas should be avoided.

There should be a dedicated regulatory body for strict regulation of the mobile phone usage. The regulators should periodically monitor the ambient RF levels near the base stations and display the readings for public knowledge and for checking compliance with the set limits by regulators. House insurance/health insurance schemes should also look into the safety of erecting antenna on the residential building tops.

What is dirty bomb?

A “dirty bomb” is not a nuclear weapon or bomb, the type of which was exploded over Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Dirty bomb is also called as “radiological dispersal device” (RDD) that combines a conventional explosive, such as dynamite, with radioactive material. Most RDDs would not release enough radiation to kill people or to cause radiation induced severe illness. However, the effects of the conventional explosive itself would be more harmful to individuals than the radioactive material.

Terrorist organizations may use this type of explosion to create panic and fear amongst the target population groups. Making prompt, accurate information available to the public could prevent the panic situation sought by terrorist organizations.

However, depending on the scenario, RDD explosion could create fear and panic due to the radioactive part of the bomb. This is the main motive behind using radioactive material in the conventional bomb. The explosion will contaminate property, may be a few blocks or a few kilometers depending upon the quantity, type of radioactive material used, method used for the dispersal and the weather conditions at that point of time. The clean up of the contamination is potentially costly, need expert’s guidance and time consuming.

Prompt detection of the type of radioactive material used will greatly assist local authorities in advising the community on protective measures, such as sheltering in place, or quickly leaving the immediate area. Radiation can be readily detected with equipment already carried by many emergency responders. There are expert groups identified by the government to respond to such type of emergencies within minutes. Media such as television and mobile messaging system come handy in informing the public as to the protective actions to be taken to minimize the exposure to radiation. The experts also will asess the radiation dose received by the exposed persons and suggest remedial measures, if required.

Thumb rules for the protection are: i) minimize the time spent near the affected area and ii) keep sufficient distance from the site of contamination. The inhalation of the airborne radioactive material can be prevented by using a wet handkerchief over the nose or a respirator normally used by the hospital staff.