Khushboo Sandhu Posted online: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 1040 hours IST
Chandigarh, March 13: Mobile phones are keeping the people connected all over the world but alienating nature from humans, a study has found.
This study, conducted by three department of the Panjab University, has found that cellphone towers are a dominating source of electromagnetic radiation. This radiation is harmful to plants and animals.
The study was conducted by the Centre for Environment and Vocational Studies, Department of Botany and Department of Zoology from December, 2005 to September, 2006. Dr V P Sharma, Dr R K Kohli, Dr H P Singh, Dr D R Batish and Dr Upma Bagai were its spearheads.
It is found there are 199 mobile towers in the city’s 52 sectors and industrial areas. Of these, 74 per cent are present in southern sectors and the remaining in the north.
The radiation was measured from a distance of 100, 200 and 300 metres with the help of RF Field Strength Meter. It was also measured at various heights — ground, 4 feet, 5 feet and above. Dr Kohli said radiation generates heat which kills micro-organisms in the soil near it. This, in turn, harms those organisms that feed on them, thereby disturbing the ecological cycle.
The towers continuously transmit radiation even when nobody is using a cellphone. In the city, the maximum radiation content was found in Sector 46. It was 97,926 micro watt/square metre. The minimum of 564 micro watt/square metre was in Sector 1.
Also, radiation was found to be maximum at 5 feet and above and minimum at the ground level. Professor Kohli said a Gujarat-based NGO has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, stating the maximum permissible limit should be less than 10 micro watt/square metre.
The present study draws references from several others conducted in different countries. They have found that continuous exposure to radiation can lead to sleep disorders, abnormal blood pressures, weakness, fatigue, joint pains, digestive problems, memory loss and leukaemia among children.
Kohli said another study is being conducted to see how the development of chicks and various plants is affected due to radiation. It has been found that blood circulation in chicks takes a hit though this is yet to be quantified.
