During use mobile phones and cord-less phones emit RF
radiation. Other sources of the radiation are mobile phone base stations, Wi-Fi
access points, lap tops and tablets. The exposures to RF radiation can be
long-term or round-the -clock. Cancer risks of radio-frequency
radiation [RF] emitted by some devices in the frequency range of 30 kHz -300
GHz was also evaluated by the IARC for any possible risk for head and brain
tumours. It was found that it is Group 2B – a possible human carcinogen. The
data based on animal studies and epidemiological studies.
It is important that ambient levels of RF radiation in
different locations should be measured to address the public health concern of
RF radiation. International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation
Protection [ICNIRP] standards are implemented by the industry to ensure public
safety. However, as of now, the standards are based on thermal effects of RF
radiation and non-thermal biological effects [stochastic] to the brain as a
target organ are not considered.
The guidelines provided by ICNIRP, the threshold level
for behaviour changes in animals quoted is not a clear line between safety and
hazard. It only indicates that EMF exposure below the threshold is safe.
However, it is not correct to assume that above the given level the exposure is
harmful. A safety factor of 10 is applied to the threshold level to obtain the
occupational exposure limit. A safety factor of 50 is applied to obtain the
guideline limit for the general public.
The Radio-frequency fields (measured in the units of microwatts/cm2)
are generated by most of the mobile towers and modern wireless gadgets. The mobile
towers catering to the upcoming 5G system for seamless connectivity will emit enhanced
levels of RF fields, which will be of major public health concern.
References
Hardell, L., WHO, Radiofrequency radiation and health
– a hard nut to crack [review], Int. J. of Oncology, 51, 2017, 405-413
ICNIRP EMF Guidelines for limiting exposures to
time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields-up to 300GHz, Health
Physics, 74 [4], 1998, 494-522 [Being revised]
ICNIRP EMF Guidelines for limiting exposures to
time-varying electric and magnetic fields, 1Hz-100kHz, Health Physics, 99[6],
2010, 818-836
