Presentation on EMF Radiation and Indian Case
Study
September 2013
R.K. Bhatnagar
Advisor(Technology), DoT
+91-9868133450
bhatnagarrk@gmail.com
bhatnagarrk@gmail.com; +91-9868133450
1
Growing Tele-Density
 Unprecedented growth in the communication sector in
recent years,
 Manifold increase in mobile voice & data traffic =>
 Exponential increase in a number of cellular towers in India
and more & more towers erected each year.
Telecom subscribers in India:
921 Million (Wireless segment is the Growth
Key Driver with 891 Million subscribers)
Tele-density:
76.14% (Wireless 73.59%, Wireline 2.55%)
November 2012 data
bhatnagarrk@gmail.com; +91-9868133450
2
 The popularity of cell phone and wireless communication
devices has resulted in a proliferation of cell towers across the
country. As on 31 Jan 2013, there are total 0.7466 Millions Base
Transmitting Stations (BTS) in the country.
 There has been public concerns on possible health hazards and
impact on biota & environment due to EMF radiation from
Mobile Towers /Handsets.
 Some
State Governments are imposing restrictions on
installations of towers in school/ hospitals/ playgrounds/ Jail etc.
 The License
conditions were amended on 4.11.2008,
directing the licensees to comply to ICNIRP prescribed
radiation norms.
 Instructions were issued on 8.4.2010 for compliance of the
radiation limits/ levels by way of self certification of their
BTS to the respective Telecom Enforcement Resource &
Monitoring (TERM ) Cells of DoT.

TERM Cells carry out the testing of radiation levels on
random basis for 10% of towers. If a site fails to meet the EMF
Radiation criterion, there is a provision of penalty of about
US$ 10,000 per BTS per service provider and directions to stop
radiating from site.

Based on the Recommendations of the Inter Ministerial Committee
constituted by DoT in the year 2010, the limiting reference levels of
Electromagnetic radiation from Mobile towers has been reduced to
1/10th of the limit prescribed by the ICNIRP with effect from
01.09.2012.
Frequency
ICNIRP Radiation
Norms
Revised DoT Norms
effective from 01.09.2012
900 MHz
4.5 Watt/Sqm
0.45 Watt/Sqm
1800 MHz
9.0 Watt/Sqm
0.90 Watt/Sqm
2100 MHz
10.0 Watt/Sqm
1.00 Watt/Sqm
 IMC also recommended adoption of Specific Absorption
Rate (SAR) limit to 1.6watt/Kg (averaged over 1 gm of
tissue):
Frequency
(10 MHz to
10 GHz)
ICNIRP
SAR Limit
Revised
SAR Limit effective from
01.09.2012
General Public exposure
2 watt/Kg (averaged over
10 gm tissue)
1.6watt/Kg (averaged over 1
gm tissue)
Number of Multiple Building/Structure distance from the antenna
antennas*
(safe distance) (in mtrs)
1
20
2
35
4
45
6
55
•GUIDELINES implemented 01.08.2009
http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Advisory%20Guidelines%20For%2
0State%20Govts%20effective%20from%2001-08-13.pdf
•Number of multiple antennas relates to same direction orientation.
•Alternately operators through actual peak traffic time measurements, need to
establish that exclusion zone does not cover areas with public exposure .
Wall Mounted/Pole mounted Antenna:
•Antenna height ≥ 5 metre above ground/road level on
flyovers.
•No Residential place /office directly in front of the
antenna at a height comparable to the antenna in the
exclusion zone.
 No restriction for installation of tower on/ near specific
buildings such as schools/ hospitals/ playground etc. as
new tougher standards based on precautionary principles
apply equally to all locations with human presence.



WHO Fact Sheet No. 193 of 2010
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/
states that “A large number of studies have been performed over the last two
decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk. To
date, no adverse health effects have been established for mobile phone use”.

WHO in its Fact Sheet No. 193 of June 2011, has stated that there are some
indications of an increased risk of glioma for those who reported the
highest 10% of cumulative hours of cell phone use, although there was
no consistent trend of increasing risk with greater duration of use.

Thus there is so far no conclusive scientific evidence of adverse health
effects due to RF emissions from mobile phone towers.

WHO regularly conducts a formal risk assessment of all studied health
outcomes from radiofrequency fields exposure.
 Department of Science & Technology (DST) constituted a committee on
01.10.2012 to examine the possible harmful effects from Cell towers on the
population living in the vicinity and to develop frame of reference for calling
RFP for scientific assessment of health hazards and adverse impact on ecology
in India specific context under the Chairmanship of Former Director General
ICMR with representation from :
 IIT Chennai,
 Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Lucknow,
 ICMR , Ministry of Health ,
 Department of Telecom,
 Ministry of Environment & Forest,
 Dept of Science & Technology
RFP INVITATION
 http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/748%20circular.pdf
More than 75 Proposals received as on 31.08.2013. Evaluation & award to
take place
Number of base stations (service area wise) in India as on 31st May 2013
Sl No.
Service Area
Number of BTS
1
Andhra Pradesh
60285
2
ASSAM
14152
3
Bihar
44283
4
Delhi
30900
5
Gujarat
45950
6
Haryana
17604
7
Himachal Pradesh
7021
8
Jammu & Kashmir
11115
9
Karnataka
54307
10
KERALA
32658
11
Kolkata
19609
12
MAHARASHTRA
64354
13
Madhya Pradesh
46423
14
MUMBAI
25535
15
North East
8634
16
Orissa
20795
17
Punjab
26959
18
RAJASTHAN
35560
19.1
Tamil Nadu excluding Chennai
45484
19.2
Chennai
21835
20
Uttar Pradesh (East)
45176
21
Uttar Pradesh (West)
37883
22
West Bengal
30080
Total
746602
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11
Visit of author to WHO and ITU : Feb 2013
 In a latest development, an Indian Delegation from DoT,
Government of India had visited Geneva from 19 to 22 Feb.
2013 to discuss EMF Radiation related health issues with
WHO Secretariat and Technical standards with ITU.
 WHO officials suggested that lowering of the EMF radiation
limit alone may not be adequate to achieve the desired
results, though a strong regulation on siting of BTS Tower
antennae could be more important. Few countries have
imposed restrictions specifying the horizontal distance in
regards to the installation of base station Antenna from
sensitive locations in the urban planning itself.
 Indian scenario with more than 10 mobile operators in each
service area along with high population density was
considered quite different from Europe
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12
Visit to WHO and ITU : Feb 2013
The conditions in India and other developing countries are totally different from
those in Europe in terms of
- mobile phone usages
- number of operators
- higher levels of population density
- in-organic growth in urban areas
- narrow lanes separating buildings
- lower body mass index & fat content
- lesser spectrum per operator
- radiated power being 20 Watt per sector
- higher levels of possible RF exposure on account of multiple operators having
BTSs on same tower, and Antennas mounted at lower heights ,
- Poor QoS also leads handsets to operate at higher levels of power
- Outsourcing of infrastructure installation & maintenance to third parties by
operators
- Inadequate technical expertise at field level and local authorities to understand
exclusion zone calculations based on ITU K series recommendations.
bhatnagarrk@gmail.com; +91-9868133450
13
Visit to WHO, IARC and ITU : Feb 2013
 Officials from International Agency on Cancer Research
(IARC) (Part of WHO) at Lyon, France indicated that in
Europe Mobile Towers are not considered as a threat as
Antennas are at higher levels /heights and fairly distant
apart.
 During discussions on Indian scenario, IARC felt that their
present research that is addressing only Mobile Handsets
may have to be reassessed to include Mobile Towers also.
 A research project focusing on measurements of exposure
levels from base stations in densely populated areas and
areas covered by many base stations, level of usage, and
measurements of emissions from regular and counterfeit
mobile phones, was considered to be of great scientific
interest by IARC.
 Based on the suggestions from IARC, Mobile Handset usage
study was taken up by licensor in India.
bhatnagarrk@gmail.com; +91-9868133450
14
Visit to WHO, IARC and ITU : Feb 2013
 IARC Monographs 102 released in April 2013 states:
“Radiofrequency Electromagnetic
CARCINOGENIC to humans (Group
Fields
are
2B)” Page 421
Possibly
 DoT obtained the latest version of ITU’s EMF estimator Software and
organized an ITU Workshop on 21st & 22nd May 2013 at Delhi. The
Workshop has facilitated Indian Telecom Service Providers for better
evaluation on the human exposure to electromagnetic field from
multiple sources of communication installation, and for taking steps to
reduce the radiation levels in the areas around transmitting stations.
 Minutes of Usage/ Hours of Mobile Hand Usage by Indian Service
Providers has been collected from Indian Mobile Operators across
various Licensing Service Areas, based on IARC suggestion. There are 22
Licensed Service Areas and on an average, there are 10 Mobile Operators
in each Licensed Area.
bhatnagarrk@gmail.com; +91-9868133450
15
Visit to WHO, IARC and ITU : Feb 2013
 Typical Results show that on an average more than 100,000
Mobile users of one operator in one licensed service area
have about 2 hours of mobile usage per day. Taking on an
average 10 operators in all the 22 service area in India, at
least 20 million mobile users have mobile usage of 2 or more
hours per day. More data obtained later covering 95
Licenses from 6 Operators further confirmed the above
findings.
 In Europe, the tariff for mobile service is higher than fixed
telephone service and the Tele-density for both Mobile &
Fixed Lines phones is comparable to the level of 100+ in
Europe and that explains lower levels of usage of mobile.
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16
INDIAN CASE STUDY
CARRIED out based ON Suggestions
FROM
WHO, IARC & ITU
In Feb 2013
Actual CDR Based Data used from 94
Licensees out of 200+ Indian Mobile
Licensees spread over 23 Licensing Areas
for Quarter 1 2013
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17
Licensing
Area
LA1
LA2
LA3
LA4
LA5
LA6
LA7
LA8
LA9
LA10
LA11
LA12
LA13
LA14
LA15
LA16
LA17
LA18
LA19
LA20
LA21
LA22
LA23
Top 100
Top 500
Top 1000
Top 5,000
Top 10,000
Top 50,000
Top 100,000
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
8.42
9.57
7.83
9.62
9.12
11.30
7.36
6.19
7.97
8.98
8.03
8.80
10.94
13.93
8.23
7.03
6.62
10.46
9.08
10.94
9.20
8.98
8.20
6.55
7.16
6.33
6.71
6.82
7.97
5.50
4.90
6.19
6.70
5.85
6.53
7.79
9.87
5.93
5.18
5.42
7.50
6.73
7.50
6.96
6.36
6.27
5.90
6.23
5.74
5.84
6.02
6.81
4.83
4.39
5.55
5.95
5.11
5.77
6.73
8.45
5.27
4.61
4.93
6.55
5.90
6.46
6.24
5.57
5.60
4.58
4.36
4.46
4.27
4.50
4.67
3.47
3.25
4.18
4.52
3.70
4.31
4.90
5.76
3.95
3.45
3.86
4.81
4.37
4.69
4.87
4.15
4.24
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4.08
3.67
3.97
3.72
3.94
3.97
2.94
2.80
3.64
4.00
3.18
3.76
4.25
4.84
3.44
3.00
3.41
4.18
3.83
4.10
4.33
3.61
3.71
3.03
2.32
2.92
2.62
2.82
2.65
1.84
1.81
2.46
2.93
2.13
2.59
2.92
3.08
2.39
2.01
2.44
2.91
2.71
2.93
3.18
2.45
2.59
2.61
1.83
2.50
2.20
2.40
2.17
1.44
1.43
1.98
2.52
1.72
2.12
2.42
2.45
1.98
1.62
2.05
2.42
2.28
2.49
2.71
1.99
2.14
18
GSM SERVICE PROVIDER "B" WITH DATA for 22 LICENSING AREAS
HANDSET USAGE IN HOURS/ DAY
Licensing
Area
LA1
LA2
LA3
LA5
LA6
LA7
LA8
LA9
LA10
LA11
LA12
LA13
LA14
LA15
LA16
LA17
LA18
LA19
LA20
LA21
LA22
LA23
Average
MOBILE
Top 100
Top 500
Top 1000
Top 5,000
Top 10,000
Top 50,000
Top 100,000
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers Average
9.72
11.66
10.86
12.86
13.42
8.58
10.04
13.34
8.73
7.81
12.66
14.96
12.41
14.92
10.92
11.09
8.89
13.00
8.08
11.31
10.35
11.08
11.21
6.46
8.61
8.00
8.82
8.43
5.66
7.23
9.89
6.13
5.04
8.04
10.84
7.72
7.75
7.93
7.95
6.39
7.88
5.77
8.05
7.31
7.96
7.63
5.43
7.42
7.08
7.48
6.92
4.76
6.25
8.40
5.25
4.20
6.66
9.14
6.45
6.12
6.73
6.89
5.45
6.40
5.01
6.97
6.27
6.80
6.46
3.62
5.08
5.24
5.11
4.40
3.03
4.37
5.52
3.55
2.62
4.37
6.23
4.26
3.82
4.40
4.80
3.67
4.20
3.54
4.90
4.27
4.67
4.35
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2.98
4.25
4.51
4.29
3.58
2.40
3.66
4.51
2.92
2.05
3.61
5.32
3.51
3.12
3.55
4.03
3.03
3.48
2.99
4.14
3.52
3.95
3.61
1.77
2.57
2.92
2.64
2.07
1.17
2.16
2.46
1.68
0.94
2.16
3.59
2.05
1.84
1.87
2.45
1.71
2.07
1.87
2.51
1.96
2.56
2.14
1.36
1.95
2.31
2.01
1.57
0.78
1.57
1.65
1.25
0.59
1.62
2.93
1.52
1.40
1.29
1.86
1.22
1.55
1.46
1.88
1.40
2.04
1.60
19
CDMA SERVICE PROVIDER "C" WITH DATA for 22 LICENSING AREAS
USAGE IN HOURS/ DAY
Licensing
Area
LA1
LA3
LA4
LA5
LA6
LA7
LA8
LA10
LA11
LA12
LA13
LA14
LA15
LA17
LA18
LA19
LA20
LA21
LA22
LA23
Average
Top 100
Subsribers
Average
7.57
9.25
8.57
5.40
9.93
8.37
4.35
0.06
4.60
6.54
8.68
9.67
8.65
5.46
6.85
9.42
5.37
10.12
8.49
7.73
7.25
Top 500
Subsribers
Average
5.41
6.99
5.98
3.85
8.13
5.50
3.00
0.01
3.41
4.82
6.14
6.93
5.95
3.98
4.52
7.36
3.90
7.15
6.17
5.54
5.24
Top 1000
Subsribers
Average
4.95
6.17
5.19
3.24
6.84
4.70
2.50
0.01
2.95
4.35
5.41
6.04
5.21
3.41
3.75
6.15
3.37
6.18
5.45
4.74
4.53
Top 5,000
Subsribers
Average
3.93
4.55
3.52
2.12
4.85
3.15
1.50
0.00
2.00
2.96
4.17
4.48
3.75
2.27
2.36
4.48
2.33
4.43
3.88
3.12
3.19
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MOBILE HANDSET
Top 10,000
Subsribers
Average
3.25
3.91
2.87
1.71
4.04
2.60
1.11
0.00
1.64
2.37
3.43
3.82
3.14
1.82
1.88
3.75
1.95
3.76
3.21
2.53
2.64
Top 50,000
Subsribers
Average
1.92
2.53
1.62
0.90
2.31
1.54
0.39
0.00
0.90
1.31
1.91
2.36
1.96
0.92
0.91
1.84
1.16
2.36
1.83
1.33
1.50
Top 100,000
Subsribers
Average
1.48
2.00
1.17
0.59
1.74
1.16
0.20
0.00
0.63
0.95
1.42
1.81
1.54
0.59
0.57
1.26
0.85
1.82
1.34
0.93
1.10
20
GSM SERVICE PROVIDER "D" WITH DATA for 18 LICENSING AREAS
HANDSET USAGE IN HOURS/ DAY
Licensing Area
LA1
LA2
LA3
LA4
LA5
LA8
LA9
LA10
LA11
LA13
LA15
LA16
LA17
LA18
LA19
LA20
LA21
LA22
Average
MOBILE
Top 100
Top 500
Top 1000
Top 5,000
Top 10,000
Top 50,000
Top 100,000
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
9.26
9.69
10.50
7.70
12.20
7.81
12.59
8.05
9.81
8.72
7.64
8.48
10.06
6.57
8.91
9.04
10.93
9.72
9.32
6.72
7.46
8.16
5.24
9.13
5.71
9.56
5.72
7.08
5.74
5.47
5.98
7.60
4.11
6.87
6.45
8.29
6.98
6.79
5.61
6.55
7.23
4.48
7.88
4.88
8.40
4.94
6.04
4.66
4.69
5.11
6.65
3.28
6.03
5.63
7.29
6.02
5.85
3.54
4.64
5.36
3.15
5.29
3.16
6.09
3.38
4.08
2.86
3.14
3.44
4.73
1.76
4.15
4.16
5.30
4.23
4.03
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2.83
3.89
4.59
2.69
4.38
2.46
5.22
2.81
3.38
2.27
2.59
2.84
3.98
1.29
3.43
3.65
4.53
3.58
3.36
1.54
2.36
2.90
1.78
2.56
1.09
3.34
1.68
1.97
1.20
1.50
1.72
2.36
0.56
1.98
2.62
2.86
2.22
2.01
1.13
1.81
2.20
1.44
1.90
0.70
2.56
1.26
1.46
0.86
1.12
1.33
1.75
0.35
1.48
2.22
2.19
1.68
1.52
21
GSM SERVICE PROVIDER "E" WITH DATA for 6 LICENSING AREAS
HANDSET USAGE IN HOURS/ DAY
Licensing Area
LA1
LA3
LA6
LA13
LA21
LA22
Average
MOBILE
Top 100
Top 500
Top 1000
Top 5,000
Top 10,000
Top 50,000
Top 100,000
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers Average
9.95
11.65
13.90
11.77
12.21
12.18
11.94
7.13
9.20
10.85
8.84
9.69
9.52
9.21
6.19
8.25
9.38
7.57
8.71
8.50
8.10
4.34
6.20
6.35
5.20
6.66
6.43
5.86
3.68
5.41
5.31
4.39
5.88
5.63
5.05
2.40
3.67
3.34
2.83
4.21
3.91
3.39
GSM SERVICE PROVIDER "F" WITH DATA for 3 LICENSING AREAS :
HANDSET USAGE IN HOURS/ DAY
Licensing Area
LA6
LA7
LA14
Average
1.92
2.94
2.63
2.26
3.52
3.20
2.75
MOBILE
Top 100
Top 500
Top 1000
Top 5,000
Top 10,000
Top 50,000
Top 100,000
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers Average
9.14
10.55
11.17
10.29
5.83
7.56
8.45
7.28
4.71
6.46
7.27
6.15
2.72
4.22
4.90
3.94
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2.05
3.36
4.01
3.14
0.92
1.61
2.17
1.57
0.61
1.05
1.46
1.04
22
SERVICE PROVIDER "A to F" WITH DATA for 94 LICENSING AREAS
IN HOURS/ DAY
Licensing Area
Top 100*94
Top 500*94
Top 1000*94
Top 5,000*94
Average Hours/
Day for Service
Provider
Subscribers
Mobile Handset
Usage in Hours /
Month
Mobile Handset
Usage in Hours /
Year
Subsribers Average Subsribers Average
MOBILE HANDSET USAGE
Top
10,000*94
Top
50,000*94
Top
100,000*94
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers
Average
Subsribers Average
Subsribers Average
9.44
6.79
5.86
4.11
3.46
2.15
1.67
9,400
292.74
47,000
210.49
94,000
181.78
470,000
127.47
940,000
107.39
4,700,000
66.73
9,400,000
51.81
3,512.88
2,525.88
2,181.34
1,529.65
1,288.66
800.78
621.74
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23
INTERPHONE STUDY used by WHO
MAJORITY OF USERS WERE NOT HEAVY MOBILE PHONE
USERS WITH TODAY’s STANDARDS.
MEDIAN LIFETIME PHONE USAGE WAS 100 HOURS
MEDIAN PER MONTH USAGE OF 2 to 2.5 HOURS
CHANGING USAGE PROFILE ESPECIALLY by YOUNGSTERS
FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON HIGH USERS
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NEED FOR EMF ESTIMATOR UPDATE
 Though ITU Recommendations on EMF calculations
including exclusion zone distance calculations and EMF
Estimator Software are available, but further upgradation of the software is required.
 India has already written to Secretary General (ITU) &
Director TSB (ITU) with a request to make it more user
friendly and a special feature incorporating
acceptance of Excel data based BTS data inputs by
EMF Estimator software and avoiding manual
keying of all the data. Further, linkages with 3D
maps have also been requested.
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Additional Inputs from ITU Workshop at Turin Italy
 ITU Workshop on Human Exposure to Electromagnetic
Fields (EMF) at TURIN, ITALY on 9th May 2013
 Issued “”Turin Call to Action” on compliance with
harmonised EMF Standards and addressing public
concern regarding human exposure to EMF and
possible health effects.
 ITU Study Group 5, Working Party 2, Question 7 has
called upon to collaborate with Policy Makers,
Standards Development Organisations, ICT Industry,
and relevant international and regional organisations
on:
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OVERVIEW OF INDIAN POLICY “Electro Magnetic
Field(EMF) Radiation from Mobile Towers & Handsets”
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/climatechange/emf1305/Documents/Presentations/s2part2p3RKBhatnagar.pdf
INDIAN STUDY RESULTs On EMF compliance Networks
and Devices
http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/climatechange/emf1305/Documents/Presentations/s3p5-RKBhatnagar.pdf
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Additional Inputs from ITU Workshop at Turin Italy
Compliance with harmonized EMF Standards and addressing public concern
regarding human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and possible health
effects
 “Turin Call to Action”
 http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/climatechange/emf-1305/Documents/Turin-Call-toAction.pdf

Shaping the Global Agenda through ITU Recommendations

Lead with vision adopting best practices & effective policies consistent with WHO

Harmonised EMF standards & measurement procedures

Promote EMF information and education resources

Share knowledge and raise resources

Enhance cooperation between organisations, standardisation bodies, R&D units, Governments on EMF
compliance

Support WHO and other stakeholders on clarification of EMD Scientific uncertainities

Identify strength & weaknesses of compliance implementation

Mobilise EMF expertise for further collaboration on projects with WHO/ ITU

An Annual EMF Information Forum
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Additional Inputs from WHO Seminar on RF Fields at
Paris, France
 International Stakeholder Seminar on Radiofrequency Policies
 5 June 2013 Paris, France
(hosted by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health &
Safety, ANSES)
 Summary Analysis of WHO 2012 Survey on Risk Management Policies regarding EMF
 Policies on exposure from Mobile Devices, Tower Installations, Occupational exposure
 Policy Patterns based on
- Evidence
- Precautionary Principles
- Voluntary
- Consultation
•
Indian policy implemented on 1st Sep. 2012 put under ‘PRECAUTIONARY Approach’
•
WHO accepted the suggestions that inputs from all parts of world should be considered
while finalising any Reports/ Guidelines.
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Additional Inputs from WHO Seminar at Paris, France
 Presentations included from
- WHO : International EMF Project
- ITU Activities on EMF
- IARC EMF Activities
- ICNIRP Activities on EMF
- IEC 7C106 EMF Activities
- European Union activities concerning EMF
- Public Health, England
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)
- Research Review of Laboratory Studies
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30
Additional Inputs from WHO Seminar at Paris, France
 Summary Analysis of WHO 2012 Survey on Risk
Management Policies regarding EMF
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WHO International EMF Project
ANSES, Paris, France 6 - 7 June 2013
Country Specific EMF Reports
- Argentina , Australia
- Bahrain,
Belgium,
- Canada,
Cyprus
Bulgaria
- Finland,
- Germany,
Greece
- Iceland,
India,
Israel
- Korea
- Malaysia
- Newzealand, Norway
- Palestine,
Peru
- SouthAfrica, Sweden Switzerland
- Turkey,
Tunisia
- UK
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32
IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic
Risks to Humans Volume 102 (2013)
Non-Ionizing Radiation, Part 2: Radiofrequency
Electromagnetic Fields
full volume (460 pages, 6 Mb)
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol102/
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Page 419 (421/480) IARC Monograph 102 Chapter 6
6.1 Cancer in Humans
There is limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of
radiofrequency radiation. Positive associations have been observed
between exposure to radiofrequency radiation from wireless phones
and glioma, and acoustic neuroma.
6.2 Cancer in Experimental Animals
There is limited evidence in experimental
carcinogenicity of radiofrequency radiation.
animals
for the
6.3
Overall
Evaluation
Radiofrequency
electromagnetic fields are possibly carcinogenic
to humans (Group 2B).
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Summary Analysis of WHO 2012 Survey on Risk Management Policies
regarding EMF
Exposure Limits Mobile Devices (85 countries)
- 62 countries follow 2 W/ Kg
- 15 Countries no policy
- 7 countries 1.6 W/Kg
- 1 country to go based on evidence
Information to Consumers on Mobile Devices
- 20 countries Yes
- 48 countries No
- 8 Yes though not part of policy
It could be on device, packaging, display shelf, internet
Mobile Phone Usage Limitations on Children
25 countries voluntary measures by children with 12 restricting in schools.
Some countries restrict advertisements targeting children while some do not
issue SIM to children.
Advice on reducing Personal Exposure to RF Fields emitted by Mobile Devices
- 44 out of 75 : Yes
with 24 having special messages for children,
9 for pregnant ladies and
13 for those with biomedical devices
-
Reduce Call Time
Text messages
Avoid calls in low signal conditions
Use phones with low SAR
Maintain body/ ear distance from handset
Use external car antenna
Advice Information to Consumers through
- Printed material
- Website
- Mass Media/ Radio / TV
- Individual personal8 Yes though not part of policy
Answers to Health Queries
44 out of 75 respond to individuals on health concerns including medical consultancy
support in some.
Exposure Limits from Mobile Towers
- 77 out of 85 : Yes
with 55 with ICNIRP standards,
4 countries with their own scientific evidence based limits
2 with FCC limits
16 with lower limits (13 based on precautionary approach)
Emission Limits in one form or other
- Specified in 31 (Low Power/ High Power/ Radio/ TV etc)
- 43 countries : Not Specified
Restrictions on Public Access
- 56 out of 74 : Yes
through signage, physical barriers, safety zones with access to authorised personnel
Measurements
- 60 out of 76 : Yes
Entitled Parties & Payment
Accreditation schemes in 31 and no schemes in 29 countries
Recording Measurements/ estimates
required in 47 countries out of 75
Authorisation for Fixed Installations
Yes in 62 out of 77
Spatial Distribution Provisions
Yes in 39 out of 74
RECOMMENDATION
IARC and WHO need to go further from IARC
Monographs’ 102 findings with focus on latest available
inputs from developing world outside Europe. Inputs
from Indian Case Study as above, is an example.
ITU needs to have a relook at all EMF related initiatives
through Study Groups. Possibly a new ITU Focus Group
on ‘EMF Radiation & Health Issues’ cutting across ITUT, ITU-R and ITU-D needs to be constituted for delivery
of time bound results instead of 4 years cycle.
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An ITU Handbook on EMF Radiation could also be taken up in the
proposed Focus Group.
It can include ITU’s generic guidelines on EMF including safe distances to
be maintained for populated location directly falling within the main
radiated lobe coverage based on typical shared sites radiating at say 20
Watts/ sector along with other safe usage instructions.
The Handbook should also include “How to minimize exposures to EMF
Radiations from Mobile Towers and handsets”, Do’s& Don’t related to
mobile phone usage, clarifications on various myths regarding
deployment, use of Radio waves / Safety Standards and frequently asked
questions relating to Mobile phones & Human health.
The Handbook shall help in facilitating the right inputs for world telecom
community and create an environment where everyone can use the radio
wave safely.
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39
Some Additional Inputs for ITU-TRCSL Workshop Participants
A.
ITU-D SG1 Final Report on Question 23/1 (30th September 2013):
Strategies and policies concerning human exposure to electromagnetic fields includes
INDIAN EMF Case Study
B.
Indian EMF Case StudyITU-D SG01
Study Group 1
Contribution 278
Received on 2013-08-01 From India (Republic of)
Related to question(s) : Q23/1
Meeting 2013-09-09
Word 2010 802150 bytes 2013-08-13 11:04:58 [278]
PDF (acrobat) 2908476 bytes 2013-09-26 13:02:11 [278] Annex 1
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Some Additional Inputs for ITU-TRCSL Workshop Participants : Issues referred in Presentation
of 3rd October 2013
1.Interconnect Exchange Case Study by Rakesh Kumar Bhatnagar: ‘Sharing of Infrastructure’ : Year
2004
http://www.itu.int/ITUD/treg/Interconnection_Prices/Bhatnagar_INTERCONNECTION_PAPER.pdf
2.Interconnection Report ITU-D SG1 as Chairman Project Group on Interconnection (2002-2006
cycle): Published year 2004
http://www.itu.int/itudoc/itu-d/question/studygr1/q6-1-1.pdf
3.Indian IPv6 Deployment Roadmap version II : March 2013
http://www.dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Roadmap%20Version-II%20English%20_1.pdf
4.Question 10-3/2:
Telecommunications/ICTs for rural and remote areas: Document 2/320-E
Sharing of Active and Passive Infrastructure along with sharing of Spectrum resources is already
in some countries in their National Telecom Policy.
New licensees with the support of universal service fund and sharing of active, passive network
elements based on Reference Offers along with spectrum resources can service rural and remote
areas with incremental addition of their own network infrastructure elements, billing systems
and customer services & independent tariff plans.
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