Side effects of harmful radiation from mobile phones and towers

Side effects of harmful radiation from mobile phones and towers

In a reply to the Question raised by Shri Bhupinder Singh  (QUESTION NO  915) in Rajya sabha regarding ‘Side effects of harmful radiation from mobile phones and towers’, The Minister of State in The Ministry Of Health And family welfare Shri .Shripad Yesso Naik answered the following on 03-3-2015 in Rajyasabha.

“The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has informed that in number of studies it has been reported that exposure to radiation from mobile phones causes adverse health effects. But there is no conclusive data available so far on this issue, however the growing body of scientific evidences indicates some bio-effects and possible adverse health effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) which merit further investigations. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) (2011) after reviewing the studies published from year 2000 to 31st May 2011 classified the radio frequency electromagnetic radiations/field emitted from wireless phone under group 2 B-carcinogen category. Due to this fact number of countries have developed health based precautionary guidelines for exposure of EMF from cell phone towers including India.

ICMR has further informed that there is no scientific confirmed evidence that use of mobile phones causes mental and physical diseases. There is no proven scientific evidence yet to suggest that electromagnetic radiations emitted from mobile phone may lead to cancer, tumour, mental imbalance, dementia, headache and even it can damage DNA of a person.

ICMR is conducting a multi-disciplinary cohort study in Delhi & National Capital Region (NCR) to find out adverse effects of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR), if any, emitted from cell phone on adult Indian population. Under this study specific absorption rate, power density, wave length and frequency of RFR emitted from various types of cell phones used by the enrolled subjects as well as from cell phone towers installed at various places in Delhi are measured. The physical characteristics of RFR emitted from various cell phones will be correlated with the clinical & laboratory findings to examine whether use of cell phone is associated with reproductive dysfunctions, male infertility, neurological disorders (cognitive behavior, sleep related disorders, depression etc.), cardiovascular disorders, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) disorders and promote cancer if any, in Human Volunteers.

In addition to the above, the ICMR has also funded few studies on limited basis in India to address this issue.

Source: Rajyasabha