BY giving approval for the construction of mobile phone towers, property owners or local councils may be risking litigation in the event that radiofrequency radiation (RFR) is later proven to cause health problems. Known as a base transceiver station (BTS) or cell site is a piece of equipment that facilitates wireless communication between user equipment (UE) and a network. A number of studies show that radiation from these ‘mobile towers' can cause health problems at a later date, though these findings have not been unequivocally scientifically proven yet. According to the Australian Emraa organization, however, towers emitting RFR is a fact that the world needs to start waking up to. In many cases, these towers are located on devalued properties so people do not normally choose to live on surrounding properties. However, some people have no choice but to live in such close proximity to a tower. These days, however, these towers are being constructed in the middle of housing districts; telecom companies have done this to provide better network facilities to customers. However, families living near these towers told Saudi Gazette that they do fear the damaging impact radiation can have on their health. “Isn't it enough that we have health problems from using the mobile phone itself; now I have a mobile tower next to my house and it is really frightening me, but nothing can be done,” said Abdullah Al-Mehdar, a 43-year-old resident of Jeddah. Another resident is a retired colonel, Abdulaziz Hussain, who told Saudi Gazette that the mobile phone network in his area is very weak so his telecom company has offered to locate one of its towers on the roof of his building. “I refused to rent my roof to them since I don't want to cause harm to my children or neighbors because of the radiation, even if it hasn't been scientifically proven yet,” he stated. Despite the telecommunication industry's maintained position that radiation from mobile phone towers does not pose a health risk, there is evidence that it might. RFR has been associated with a range of health problems including brain tumors, lymphomas, memory learning problems, memory concentration problems, changes to brain patterns and genetic cellular effects. Studies reveal that adverse effects occur at very low levels of exposure to RFR, such as that emitted by the towers, and these include changes to cell proliferation, chemical mutation in the blood, breaches of the blood brain barrier – which can lead to diseases such as Alzheimer's – and changes in brain patterns. The Ministry of Health maintains that there are no studies which prove the impact of the RFR from mobile phone towers on human health. Dr. Khaled Marghalani, the spokesman for the ministry said in a previous interview with Saudi Gazette: “There are no scientific studies that prove the effects of mobile towers on human beings; cardiologists and oncology specialist agreed on this fact as well.” Likewise, the telecommunication industry claims that cellular antennas are safe because the radiation they produce is too weak to cause heating. They point to “safety standards” from groups that have explicitly stated that their claims of “safe levels of exposure” are based on thermal levels. The same stance is maintained for mobile phone handsets. “There is no scientific evidence showing that mobile phones cause adverse health effects and our handsets operate within World Health Organization guidelines,” remarked Abdulmuhsin Rashed, a technological specialist. Some research, however, suggest the emissions from phones may damage human DNA. A Dutch study says that brain functions such as memory and reaction times may be affected by exposure to mobile tower signals. German research has previously showed an increasing number of cancer rates around mobile phone base stations. In fact, the county of Palm Beach, FL in the state of California, and New Zealand have both prohibited cellular antennas near schools due to safety concerns.
