The number of mobile users is increasing over time, and technology is constantly evolving to meet the demand for higher data rates than previous generations, which has a huge negative impact on biodiversity. Microwave cellular systems include TV, FM, and AM transmitters that use large amounts of power to transmit signals over long distances. WiFi and WiMAX are used in most developed parts of the world where high data rates are required. Both communication technologies have operating frequencies many times the GHz upper limit of the microwave frequency band. Microwave frequencies used in mobile phone communications produce thermal and non-thermal effects. Compared to thermal effects, non-thermal effects cause much more damage. Electromagnetic radiation is also considered a major cause of cancer. Electromagnetic radiation emitted from cell phone antennas at base stations affects the cellular structure of living organisms. Mobile devices used by users also have a specific absorption rate (SAR), which is a measure of the power absorbed by the human body when using the mobile device. This is considered a safe amount of radiation for humans to absorb. All the above broadcast and communication technologies have brought about revolutionary changes in wireless systems, causing the most devastating effects on living organisms. This paper will discuss various problems caused by wireless communication technologies and expected methods to reduce the impacts. There are international exposure limits and guidelines in the radio frequency sector. It will take an hour to understand the health problems caused by high frequency radiation and how to implement the guidelines.
Introduction
Mobile phones have been introduced for convenient communication. The number of mobile phone subscriptions has increased rapidly over the past two decades. Currently, more than 70% of the world’s population uses mobile phones. India has also experienced this growth and currently has about 910 million mobile connections. Although mobile phones have many benefits, they also have negative aspects. The effects of electromagnetic (EM) radiation emitted from mobile phone towers and mobile phones have many adverse health effects. As the number of mobile phones has increased, so has the number of mobile phone base stations. Utility poles installed on rooftops and in densely populated areas pose a major health risk. On May 31, 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that radiation emitted from mobile phones poses a carcinogenic risk to human health.
Electromagnetic Radiation: Electromagnetic radiation is described by the flow of photons in space. Each photon contains a certain amount of energy, and different types of radiation are defined by the amount of energy contained in the photon. The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation.
There Are Two Types Of EM Radiation
1. Ionizing radiation: These waves have high energy which overcomes the binding energy of electrons in atoms/molecules to form ions. Examples include ultraviolet light, X-rays, gamma rays, cosmic rays, etc.
2. Non-ionizing radiation: These waves do not have enough energy per quantum to convert atoms/molecules into ions. This is low frequency radiation. Examples are radio waves, microwave, infrared etc.
The effects of EMF radiation can be studied in two ways: biological effects and health effects.
1. Biological impacts are measured in response to atmospheric changes and do not necessarily harm our health. There are two types of biological effects: thermal and non-thermal. a) Thermal effect refers to the heat generated by the absorption of electromagnetic radiation. Using a mobile phone near the head may cause a heating effect and increase the temperature. Using mobile phone for a long time can increase body temperature. b) Non-thermal effects are caused by electromagnetic effects in the biological cells of the body and can cause harm to our body.
2. Health effects are short-term or long-term changes. These effects can stress the system and harm human health.
Sources Of Electromagnetic Radiation
A There are two main sources of electromagnetic radiation in mobile phone services:
a) Radiation from base stations (BTS)
b) Radiation from mobile phone Both the radiations are low energy waves and cannot break atoms into ions, hence they come under the category of non-ionizing radiation.
a) Radiation from Base Stations (BTS): The BTS establishes the wireless communication link between the user and the network. It consists of a set of radio transmitters that are coupled and wired via cables to the base station antenna. Thus, the total radiated power is equal to the sum of the power of each transmitter. The greatest radiation exposure occurs during peak hours when all channels are in use and sectors with the highest call volumes are subject to the greatest electromagnetic radiation exposure. Antenna gain and transmit power also play an important role in assessing the electromagnetic radiation exposure of the BTS. Omnidirectional antennas have higher gain than sector antennas, providing higher efficiency and coverage, but also increasing the risk of interference. The primary lobe has maximum radiation in the horizontal direction. Radiation from the secondary lobe ranges from moderate to weak. As you move from the antenna line to the side lobes, the radiation intensity decreases.
Electromagnetic (EM) Radiation Depends On:
i. The frequency/wavelength of the transmitted RF signal.
ii. Radio frequency power radiated by an antenna.
iii. The duration of exposure to an RF signal at a particular distance from the antenna.
iv. Influence from other antennas in the area.
v. Duration/frequency of repeated contact. vi. Temperature and humidity.
b) Radiation from mobile phones: Electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones is within the range of about 1 W. The device operates within the prescribed specific absorption rate (SAR), which indicates the amount of radio waves absorbed by body tissues at a particular time when using a mobile phone. SAR is defined as the rate at which the human body absorbs energy when exposed to electromagnetic frequencies (EMF). It expresses absorbed power per tissue mass and is measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg). In areas with limited coverage and low field strength, the stated SAR value can be achieved. However, this does not take into account the unique transmission characteristics of each mobile phone. Only maximum values are shown, not actual or average values. Although SAR value is an important value for comparing maximum exposure to electromagnetic radiation, there is insufficient information on actual electromagnetic exposure to reliably compare individual mobile phone models. The radiation emitted from BTS and cell phones passes invisibly through the human body and has destructive effects on biochemistry. Exposure to electromagnetic radiation has been shown by many studies to increase the risk of many diseases including Alzheimer’s, heart disease, miscarriage, brain tumors, leukemia, stress, fatigue, depression, memory loss, sleep disorders, DNA damage, hormonal imbalance and much more.
Effects Of Electromagnetic Radiation
A. Effects on human health: Different people react differently to the same concentration of electromagnetic radiation. The radiation emitted from cell phones has different short-term and long-term effects. Short-term effects may include sleep disorders, headaches, depression, and memory loss, while long-term effects may include brain tumors, cancer, and DNA damage.
1. Cancer: According to a study conducted by doctors in Nella, Germany[3], people living within 400 meters of a mobile phone tower are three times more likely to be diagnosed with a new cancer than those who do not. Those who live far away. Breast cancer is one of the most common, but prostate, pancreatic, colon, skin, lung and blood cancers are also on the rise. Children and teenagers under the age of 20 are five times more likely to develop a brain tumor because their brain is not yet fully developed and radiation penetrates deeply. It is possible that today’s youth may suffer from an “epidemic” of this disease later in life.
2. Hormone imbalance: Research conducted by Dr. Charles Graham, a physiologist at the Midwestern Research Institute in Kansas City, has shown that electromagnetic radiation causes hormone imbalance. When women and men were exposed to high doses of electromagnetic radiation overnight in the laboratory, serum estrogen levels increased in the women and testosterone levels decreased in the men. Elevated estrogen levels increase cancer risk, while low testosterone levels are linked to the development of prostate and testicular cancer. Another hormone called melatonin, which is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain and is involved in the sleep cycle, is also affected by electromagnetic radiation. Melatonin levels are higher at night and lower during the day. It is made about 90 minutes after you fall asleep. When this hormone is disrupted by radiation, it causes a number of problems, including sleep disorders, insomnia and headaches. Cells are repaired and renewed during sleep, but lack of sleep can lead to the development of cancer.
3. DNA damage: Carl Brackman’s research showed that weak electromagnetic fields cause the release of calcium ions from cell membranes. Leakage of calcium ions into the cytosol acts as a metabolic stimulant, which is involved in growth and healing, and also promotes tumor growth. Loss of calcium ions causes leakage of lysosome membranes, leading to DNA release and DNA damage. Another possibility for DNA damage is increased production of free radicals in cells, which can cause further cellular damage to mitochondria.
4. Stress: Apart from mental blockages, cell phones can also cause physical stress in the body. When the body experiences a stressful event, the “flight or fight” response is triggered. Certain stress hormones are released by the adrenal glands, the first of which is adrenaline. The effects of adrenaline include increased heart rate, increased energy levels, increased blood pressure, muscle contractions, and faster breathing. These effects are harmless if they occur for a short period of time, but can be harmful to the body if they occur over a long period of time. Another chemical secreted by the adrenal glands is a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is the natural form of cortisone in the body. When the human body is exposed to chronic stress, large amounts of cortisol are released. These high levels of cortisol suppress the immune system, increase blood sugar levels and can cause insomnia. Over time a sustained stress response can eventually tire the adrenal glands and cause them to malfunction. Symptoms may include irritability, fatigue, anger, traffic aggression, high blood pressure, poor blood sugar control, low thyroid function, and weight gain.
5. Miscarriage and high blood pressure: Exposure to cell phone radiation can increase high blood pressure. A German study published in The Lancet reported that a group of volunteers experienced an increase in blood pressure when their mobile phones were randomly turned on and off without the participants’ knowledge. Another risk associated with exposure to electromagnetic waves is miscarriage. One of the studies conducted in this area showed that exposure to moderate to low levels of radiation increases the risk of miscarriage by 180%.
Prevention Of Electromagnetic Radiation
A. Safety Guidelines to Prevent Health Harm from Electromagnetic Radiation: Invisible radio signals are all around us. We cannot avoid radiation, but we can reduce the health threat of this radiation by following the safety guidelines of various organizations.
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) is an independent organization that studies the adverse effects of non-ionizing radiation on human health. It is composed of experts from various fields including epidemiology, biology, dosimetry and photoradiation. According to ICNIRP guidelines, the following protection levels are applicable:
In India, the radiation emitted by BTS is monitored by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). DoT has issued instructions to determine the permissible limits of EMF radiation and the testing procedures to be followed. The Telecom Enforcement Resource and Monitoring (TERM) Cell, a division of DOT, will test up to 10% of randomly selected BTS sites. Additionally, BTS sites where complaints against BTS have been received will also be inspected by TERM cells. In 2008, DoT adopted ICNIRP guidelines, which set antenna (base station radiation) limits/levels for the general public. The safe radiation level should be considered to be 0.01 W/m2, which will reduce the transmit power of each cell tower. More repeaters and fiber optic solutions should be installed. Antennas should not be installed in front of houses/buildings. The antenna should be installed away from densely populated areas.
To avoid potential risks, some simple steps can be taken to reduce the exposure and effects of RF radiation:
1. The time people spend using mobile phones should be reduced.
2. If you need to talk on a mobile phone for a long time every day, you should maintain a distance between your body and the source of electromagnetic radiation so that your exposure is minimized. For example, using a headset with your mobile phone can help you maintain distance between your body and the mobile phone receiver.
3. A device sold under the name Cell/Wave Guard significantly reduces radio frequency radiation and can be used to prevent these radiations from entering the body. Although this represents a significant reduction, it is not clear whether it is enough to prevent all potential effects. However, it is the best technology currently available.
4. You can use digital mobile phones instead of analog phones, as they emit less electromagnetic radiation, reducing potential adverse effects.
5. Most mobile phone companies provide information about the SAR values of these mobile phone batteries, so when purchasing, you should give preference to mobile phones with low SAR values.
6. People who wear pacemakers should take some simple precautions to ensure that mobile phones do not cause problems for them. For example, place the mobile phone on the opposite ear of the pacemaker on your body. A certain distance should be maintained between the pacemaker and the phone. Mobile phones should not be kept near the pacemaker. Keep it in your shirt pocket. By following the safe mobile phone usage habits described above and avoiding excessive use, you can reduce the health risks from mobile phone radiation.
Conclusion
Mobile phones are widely used around the world to facilitate connectivity and wireless communications. Mobile phones also have a downside, they emit electromagnetic radiation which causes many health risks. Antennas used in mobile phones and wireless communications have been investigated as the main sources of electromagnetic radiation. This article also looks at the long-term and short-term effects of mobile phones. Long-term use of mobile phones can lead to health risks such as cancer, high blood pressure, miscarriage, DNA damage and hormone imbalance, while short-term use can lead to ailments such as insomnia, depression, headaches and sleep disorders. To reduce health problems associated with radiation exposure, you should follow safety guidelines from various organizations such as ICNIRP. By following some simple mobile phone usage habits such as time and distance between the mobile phone and your body, you can avoid various health risks caused by mobile phone radiation.
Read Also:
- History and Uses of Mobile Phones
- A Study on Market Segmentation of Samsung Electronics Ltd. with Special Reference to Mobile Phones
- Introduction To Mobile Phones
- Adverse Effects and Probable Solutions of Mobile Phones
- 37 Positive and Negative Sides of Mobile Phones
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