Mobile tower radiation clips
sparrows' wings
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Radiation from
mobile towers is not only taking a toll on human health but is also blamed for
sparrows vanishing into thin air.
An environmental science expert
team - led by Sainudeen Pattazhy - attributes the disappearance of sparrows to
the electromagnetic fields and radiation effects created by mobile towers and
mobile phones.
"Navigation skills of the
birds and earth's magnetic system are correlated. Natural electromagnetic
radiation (EMR) and the earth-oriented magnetic vibration are directly
proportional, whereas technology-induced EMR is inversely proportional,"
Sainudeen Pattazhy, an environment scientist and associate professor at S N
College, Kollam, told TOI.
All mobile phone towers emit
microwave radiation, which is radio frequency radiation (RFR), part of the
spectrum of electromagnetic waves. Long-term exposure to low level RFR has
damaging effects on the nervous system and immune system of small animals. Studies
indicate that short-term exposure of pulsed mobile phone radiation with carrier
frequency 900 MHz reduced the reproductive capacity of insects by 60%.
Sainudeen Pattazhy suggests
regulation of mobile towers in thickly populated areas and restricting them to
remote areas. If a tower is installed at a place, another tower should not be
permitted within a radius of one kilometre, he says.
"Birds are good ecological
indicators for low-intensity electromagnetic radiation, they have thin skulls
and their feathers can act as dielectric receptors of microwave radiation. Many
species use magnetic navigation and microwaves can interfere with their sensors
and misguide them while navigating and preying," says Pattazhy.
According to a survey in 2010, the
number of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) has declined in coastal areas,
including Kerala, by 80% and by 2003 the sparrows had almost disappeared from
the capital city. However, a survey by Travancore Natural History Society in
2012 in Thiruvananthapuram had identified about 300 sparrows, mostly around
granary stores and market yards.
Various other reasons are cited for
the disappearance of house sparrows such as introduction of unleaded petrol -
combustion of which produces compounds such as methyl nitrite which is highly
toxic for insects that form a major part of young sparrow's diet- widespread
use of garden pesticides, vanishing open grasslands, rising air temperature and
modern bird-unfriendly architecture.
Various reasons are cited for the
disappearance of House Sparrows such as introduction of unleaded petrol -
combustion of which produces compounds such as methyl nitrite which is highly
toxic for insects that form a major part of young sparrow's diet, wide spread
use of garden pesticides, vanishing open grass lands, rising air temperature
and modern bird-unfriendly architecture. Beyond that, experts indicate that
electro-magnetic fields created by the increase in mobile towers have led to
disappearance of house sparrows.
"Navigation skill of the birds
and earth's magnetic system are correlated. Natural electromagnetic radiation
(EMR) and the earth oriented magnetic vibration is directly proportional,
whereas technology induced EMR is inversely proportional," Dr. Sainudeen
Pattazhy, an environment scientist and associate professor at SN College,
Kollam told TOI on Tuesday. It was in recognition of his work that NASA and
International Astronomical Union had named a minor planet after him, 5178
Pattazhy planet.
He had submitted a memorandum to
the Union government and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
last year which prompted the Union government to order a three-year project to
investigate into the decline of house sparrows. "Birds are good ecological
indicators for low-intensity electromagnetic radiation, they have thin skulls,
their feathers can act as dielectric receptors of microwave radiation, many
species use magnetic navigation and microwaves can interfere with their sensors
and misguide them while navigating and preying," Pattazhy explains.
According to a survey in 2010, the
house sparrow (Passer domesticus) has declined in coastal areas including
Kerala by 80 per cent and by 2003 the sparrows have almost disappeared in the
state capital city. However, a survey by Travancore Natural History Society in
2012 in Thiruvananthapuram had identified about 300 sparrows mostly around
granary stores and market yards.
All mobile phone towers emit
microwave radiations, which is radio frequency radiation (RFR), part of the
spectrum of electromagnetic waves. Long-term exposure to low level RFR has
damaging effects on the nervous system and immune system of small animals. Studies
indicate that short-term exposure of pulsed mobile phone radiation with carrier
frequency 900 MHz resulted in 60 per cent decrease of the reproductive capacity
of insects.
Indicating the need to control the
unscientific proliferation of mobile towers, he suggests regulation of mobile
towers in thickly populated areas restricting it to remote areas. If a tower is
installed at a place, another tower should not be permitted within a radius of
one kilometer, he says.
Quoting Dr.Neil Cherry, he says his
studies indicate how electromagnetic fields and radiation damage DNA and
enhance cell death rates. A study conducted by researcher P Rajendra and his
team reveals the biological effects in the developmental of chick embryo
exposed to electro-magnetic fields.
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