Cellular Operators Association of India take on radiation

Cellular Operators Association of India take on radiation

TNN | Jun 8, 2013, 01.14 AM IST

Rajan S Mathews, director general of COAI, has expressed his views on the article 'Radiation Trap'appeared in TOI edition dated June 7. The excerpts from his views. 

At the outset, let me say that the article is misleading as it is based on wrong benchmarks by the researchers of the Jadavpur University. 

Your correspondent has rightly stated in the article that the maximum permissible RF exposure from radiation sources as limited by Government of India is .92 watt per meter square at 1800 Mhz, which is equivalent to 920,000 microwatt per meter square. And similarly, it is .47 watt per square meter (470000 microwatt per square meter) at 900 Mhz. 

However, the reference taken by the Jadavpur University team, that the maximum permissible RF exposure is considered as 1 to 10 microwatt per square meter as the safe limit of exposure had led to misinterpretation, wrong inferences and erroneous results as published in the article. Let us make it abundantly clear that the reference taken by Jadavpur University does not confirm to safety limits of exposure set by either Government of India or the International regulatory bodies such as WHO or ICNRP. Your report also does not indicate that the equipment used for measurements taken by the university researchers are certified by the appropriate authorities, as there are too many spurious radiation measuring equipment in the market. 

We may also point out that such erroneous reports will only create unwarranted doubts and panic in the minds of your readers, who otherwise are enjoying the benefits of the seamless communication provided by the mobile networks. 

Let us also clarify in no uncertain terms that cellphone tower emissions do not cause any health concerns. World Health Organization (WHO) reports that "considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from cellphone towers and wireless networks cause adverse health effects". 

We take this opportunity to draw your attention that an Inter-Ministerial Committee, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Environment, Indian Council of Medical Research, Standing Committee of Parliament on ICT are conducting various studies to understand the health effect of radiation levels from Mobile Network and so far no one has concluded that India's emission standards are of any worry.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Cellular-Operators-Association-of-India-take-on-radiation/articleshow/20484919.cms