TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS, HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH?
Published on 15 July 2013
in Health &
Environment
Sadeq Al-Wesabi (author)
In the past 10 years, around
50 towers have been built in the densely populated Noqom area of Sana’a
The spread of
telecommunication towers around Sana’a, especially in the mountainous Noqom
area, have engendered serious concern among those living nearby about the
possible adverse health risks associated with the technology.
All over the world cell
phone use has exponentially increased in the last decade. In Yemen
between 2010 and 2012, according to the Central Statistical Organization, the
number of mobile phone subscribers jumped from 11 million to 14 million, in a
nation with a World Bank estimated population of 24 million.
To keep up with this demand,
over the past 10 years, about 50 towers belonging to the Public
Telecommunication Corporation have popped up in Noqom, a densely populated area
in the Azal district of Sana’a with around 14,000 inhabitants. The
Telecommunication Corporation allows private cellular providers licenses to
operate the towers.
While the country’s cell
phone users are largely unaware of the towers and their location, residents in
Noqom believe they have led to elevated numbers of cancer cases in the area.
Locals say more than 40
people have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer nearby the towers.
Although there is a lack of
scientific evidence on his side, Yahya Abu Ghanem believes his three sons and
wife – who all have all been diagnosed with various forms of cancer – is a
result of their home’s close proximity to a tower, which is adjacent to a
building with a tower on top of it.
He said an official from the
Public Environmental Health Office in Sana’a visited his home and confirmed the
frequency of radiation emitted by the towers is high and may cause serious
diseases.
“We have complained about
the towers to the Telecommunications Ministry but they were elusive, claiming
that the towers are stationed in a place that is far from residential areas,”
Ghanem said.
Ghanem is in the middle of
filing a lawsuit against the Public Communication Corporation. His case
is currently sitting with a judge.
Amin Al-Hajj is another
resident in Noqom who is suspicious that his wife’s brain tumor is no accident.
“I’ve taken her to hospitals
outside Yemen and doctors have asked us whether we’re living near
telecommunication towers,” he said. “Doctors have told us that [is a possible
cause].”
There is much debate all
over the world about the links between cell phones and the devices used to
admit their signals and public health concerns.
The U.S.’s Environmental
Protection Agency says the data linking radio frequency and exposure to
electric and magnetic frequency is not conclusive but EMF and RF have been
found to be “potential carcinogens.” However, there is no direct link found to
date and they say experts worldwide continue to study the issue.
The World Health
Organization’s has a very similar statement.
In Yemen, the head of Public
Telecommunication Corporation, Engineer Sadeq Mosleh agrees and says there is
no scientific evidence to support claims against the towers stationed in Noqom.
He said the corporation adheres to rigorous international standards to avoid
such hazards.
“These towers are stationed
all over the world. The scientific research has proved that they [towers] have
no side effects,” he said. “Talks about health hazards as a result of these
towers is just a rumor that has circulated among people.”
Local cancer experts also
downplay Noqom residents’ claims.
The head of Yemen’s Oncology
Center, Dr. Afif Al-Nabhi, says people are dramatizing “so-called dangers of
the towers.”
“People’s exaggeration of
this matter is not logical,” Al-Nabhi said.
But, even local officials
are upset about the position of the towers.
“We are always restraining
angry people from storming the building by promising that we’re going to solve
the problem amicably with telecommunication,” Mohammed Jaghman, the secretary
general of Azal district told the Yemen Times.
But, so far Jaghman has had
no luck. Conclusive scientific evidence or not, he would like to see the towers
moved elsewhere considering Noqom’s schools and hospital are near towers.
Jaghman slammed the
‘insistence’ of telecommunication companies to try and save money by keeping
the towers in Noqom.
“Sana’a is surrounded with
many mountains that are far from residential areas but these areas need guards
to protect towers and [telecommunication companies] don’t want to spend money
on the guards,” said Jaghman.
Mosleh defends the
corporation’s decision to keep the towers in Noqom as it is appropriate for
their coverage operations.
Asked if the corporation
would be able to install towers in mountain areas away from residents, he
stated, “We decide where the proper places for these towers should go and it’s
our decision.”
The head of Yemeni Center
for Development and Environment Protection, Rami Al-Hammadi, told the Yemen
Times there are environmental requirements to set up these towers like the
towers being installed 50 meters above the ground surface, but the stipulations
are not always met.
“Unfortunately, there is no
[official] observation of these towers,” Al-Hammadi said. “[Telecommunication]
towers in Yemen are still ambiguous.”
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