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EMF - Electro Magnetic Field is an invisible charge of force that is associated with
the use of electricity. Voltage in any wire creates an EMF around it. EMF is
intangible - you cannot feel it, touch it, smell it or see it. EMF is present
wherever electricity is used - all electrical appliances emit some EMF.
EMR - Electromagnetic Radiation is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic
waves.
Electromagnetic waves are part of everyday life
Any device that uses electricity emits some EMF - the questions are whether the
amount of EMF it emits is within recommended limits.
Radio waves are also electromagnetic waves like those emitted by other sources
shown ( TV, Computers, Microwave Ovens, Sun Light, FM Radio, Satellite TV,
Police Wireless etc).
Electromagnetic waves are divided into two categories - Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiations
Ionizing Radiations: Some electromagnetic waves carry so much energy that they have the ability to break bonds between molecules.
These are called Ionizing Radiation. Examples include gamma rays given off by radioactive materials, cosmic rays and X-rays. Thus when
we go to any hospital for an X-Ray or for CT Scan we find a sign board stating that CAUTION: X-Rays. This is because X-Rays are ionizing
radiations.
Non-Ionizing Radiations: Electromagnetic waves that do not carry sufficient energy to break bonds between molecules are Non-Ionizing
Radiations. All man made sources of EMF generally fall under non ionizing radiations. Also Non-Ionizing radiation are used safely in medical
applications like MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and Sonography. Both MRI and Sonography use radio waves.
Sonography Machine
MRI Scan
Photoelectric Effect
One of the classical ways of explaining the Energy of Photon is to study the Photoelectric Effect. The photoelectric effect is the observation
that many metals emit electrons when light shines upon them. Electrons emitted in this manner may be called photoelectrons.
The photons of a light beam have a characteristic energy proportional to the frequency of the light as discussed earlier. Albert Einstein
showed that the Photoelectric Effect is possible only above a threshold frequency above which the Energy of the incident Photon is
adequate to dislodge an electron (typically in the Ultraviolet band). If the photon energy is too low, the electron is unable to escape the
material. Since an increase in the intensity of low-frequency light will only increase the number of low-energy photons sent over a given
interval of time, this change in intensity will not create any single photon with enough energy to dislodge an electron. Thus, the energy of
the emitted electrons does not depend on the intensity of the incoming light, but only on the energy (equivalently frequency) of the
individual photons.
The Solar Cell uses the Photoelectric Effect to generate electric current.
This theory explained to the World as how important is the frequency of the Electromagnetic Wave since the Energy of its Photons depends
on the same. The Radio Waves have frequency as 6,00,000 times lower than that of Light Waves and are thus incapable of producing any
such effects which breaks a bond.
The above explains that even light waves are not able to break a bond below a threshold frequency and thus the RF Waves
which have energy 600000 (Six Lakh) times lower than light waves are harmless.
Mobile Telephony uses radio frequency (RF) signals to transmit and receive information by using extensive network of base stations. These
Radio Frequency Signals are electromagnetic waves. The Base Stations are further classified as Macro Cells or Mobile Towers as they are
commonly referred to and as Small Cells or Micro Cells or FEMTO Cells. Macro Cells are typically installed outdoors on rooftops or on ground
based towers for wider geographical coverage and thus emit higher powers. Small Cells are typically installed indoors or outdoors for
limited coverage and thus have lower power. The Electromagnetic Spectrum consists in order of increasing frequency the following - Low
Frequency Waves, AM/FM Radio Waves, TV Broadcast, RF Waves used by Mobile Towers or Cell Sites, Satellite TV, Infra Red Waves, Visible
Light, Ultraviolet Waves, X rays and Gamma Rays. Thus RF waves have even lower frequency than Visible Light and the effect of RF waves
is a small subset of Visible Light (Sun Light).
As discussed earlier, Mobile Telephony uses Radio Waves to transmit and receive information by using extensive network of Base Stations.
The Base Stations are further classified as Macro Cells or Mobile Towers as they are commonly referred to and as Small Cells (In Building
Solutions, Micro Cells, Femto Cells). While the former are typically installed Outdoors on roof top or on ground based tower for wider
geographical coverage and thus emit higher power, the latter are typically installed Indoor or Outdoors at lower height for limited coverage
and thus have lower power.
Two types of Tower are generally used in Mobile Telephony for Macro Cells as also depicted in photographs below
World Map showing the EMF Standards followed (India has stricter
Standard than Europe)
"Most of the World Follows the ICNIRP Standards"
Most of the countries in world follow the ICNIRP (International Commission for
Non Ionizing Radiation Protection) and FCC (Federal Communications
Commission USA).
ICNIRP is the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. It is
a publicly funded body of independent scientific experts consisting of a main
Commission of 14 members, its Scientific Expert Group and its Project Groups.
The expertise is brought to bear on addressing the important issues of possible
adverse effects on human health of exposure to non-ionising radiation.
In the year 2008, India has adopted ICNIRP guidelines, but consequently, to be
on safer side India has revised the Guidelines and adopted further stringent
guidelines (which are 1/10th of ICNIRP Guidelines, as detailed below) and were
made effective from 01/09/2012 and was applicable throughout the Union of
India.
a. f /2000 W / m2 for the range 400 MHz to 2 GHz
b. 1 W / m2 for the range 2 GHz to 300 GHz with f as frequency in MHz,
Thus for 900 MHz the EMF limit is 0.45 W/m2 for India. The above Standards are
applicable for all areas of Public Access. For Occupational Areas of exposure for
Technical Staff of Cellular Operator the limits are set as 50 times higher than
those for Public Access.
Therefore, India has adopted one of the safest EMF safety standards in the world
with emission levels more than 500 times lower than safe limits for its people
across all age-groups.
The ICNIRP guidelines (and similar IEEE Guidelines) are endorsed by WHO (World
Health Organization), are internationally recognized, globally accepted and
It is mandatory for all the Telecom Operators across India to comply with these
Guidelines. All the Compliance to the EMF standards is ascertained using the
following methods
a. Calculation Method based on ITU T recommendations.
b. Software Simulations Method for electromagnetic mapping.
c. Broadband Measurements
d. Narrow Band for Frequency Selective measurements
Exposure Zones - the area surrounding a Base Station can be divided into 3
categories Compliance Zone where EMF Signals are below the Standards of
public access, Occupational Zone for Employees and Technicians of Cellular
operator and the Exceedance Zone where the EMF Signals exceed the Safety
Standard. All areas of Public Access must fall in the Compliance Zone.
Thus the EMF Standards are 2200 times lower than the Power Density received
from the Sun (1000 / 0.45).
Let us see a case study done in Mumbai on a building wherein 4 operators were
sharing a Cell Site.
The Energy received from the Sun in one hour has been compared with the RF
Energy in 3 combinations-
With an average human life of 80 years, the life time RF exposure at just 20 m in
line of sight from the antenna is equivalent to 40 hours in Sunlight, in the floor
below as less than five hours in Sunlight and at 100 m is less than two hours of
Sunlight.
RF Waves Properties
RF Waves are like Sun Light, they decay very rapidly with distance and
have very low energy
The results shown are for 900 MHz for which the Standards have the
lowest limit (f/2000) - thus if the same is achieved then the limit for higher
frequencies would automatically be achieved
By the time it reaches the street below or the next building at 10 metres
away, it is more than 1,00,000 times lower than the original emission
value.
Thus if the EMF Standards are complied with in front of the Antenna then
at 10 metres away the compliance is achieved by a further factor of
1,00,000 times.
Distance
RF Signal Decay
Factor
1m
2m
1/4
0.001
th
4m
1/16
th
8m
1/64
th
16m
1/256 th
Thus while the Standards are important, more critical is to assess the
Power Density in actual areas of Public Access wherein it falls below
thousands of times lower than the Standard.
As per measurements on the street in front of the Cell Sites the Power
Density is more than 1000 times lower than the EMF Standards and is in
the range of W/m2
Photo3 - Chindwara in MP
The above photographs clarifies abundantly the myth being circulated that
Radio Waves impact Bees.
the World moves towards the next generation of Mobile Phones i.e. 5G, we need
to ensure that we keep pace and ensure that economic and social growth
system continue of which the Mobile technology is now an inherent part.
of DoT (TERM Cells) carry out monthly audits and there are strict penalties for
non-compliance. Penalty of INR 10 Lakhs per Technology per location is levied in
case any Cell site exceeds the Safety Norms.
Thus RF waves energy is so low that strict adherence to these norms ensures
there are no health hazards.The ICNIRP Standard has a built in safety factor of
ensuring that RF Waves Power Density is 50 times lower than safe limit. In India
this Safety Factor has been made 500 times in the Standards itself.
The RF energy from a Cell Site installed on a building doesnt radiate vertically
down towards the top floor and instead radiates horizontally in front of the
antenna and doesnt cause adverse health effects on the residents of the
buildings where mobile tower set up is installed as is also confirmed by actual
measurements.
Department of Telecom (DOT) has made it mandatory that even the rooftops
housing the antennas are compliant to the norms.
The RF field weakens very quickly as it moves away from the antenna and its
power is minuscule (very low) even as compared to Sun Light and reduces by
100,000 times by the time it reaches the street below or the next building.This
ensures that RF Power Density is lower by Lakhs of times than the Safe Limit by
the time it reaches the next building.
The Energy Received from standing in the Sun for One Hour is equivalent to that
received at 20 mtrs from antenna for Two years.
During night time with reduced voice and data traffic, the emitted power is
generally half of that during the day which is another salient feature built by
default in all equipment.
With the safety aspect taken care of, there is absolutely no need for restricting
the installation of towers & Cell sites on schools and hospitals as the current
guidelines provide added safety margins for all sections of the population at all
locations.
In times of emergency, all of us need the mobiles to communicate with our
loved ones.
Please always think of the analogy with the Sun the next time we come across
such misleading information linking Mobile Towers to cancer. Also it is learnt that
certain vested interests after creating fear in the minds of the public then
market their so called anti radiation products. We need to guard against such
activities.
Mobile Communications is a boon to the society and the world is making great
strides in the same. India has adopted more stringent standards than even
European Countries and strict compliance is being ensured for them as well.
Lastly, in the recent Uttaranchal floods with the help of telecom infrastructure,
the stranded people could communicate and many lives were saved due to the
same. Some time back about 6 boys lost their way in a National Wild Life Park,
after many hours of struggle in this leopard infested jungle, one of the boys
could get some signal on his mobile and all of them got saved. No helpline
numbers for fire/ safety/ medical help can be reached in emergency if we do not
have mobile coverage. No internet site can be reached as well.
This list is endless and goes on to say that from Luxury, to Good to have to
Bare necessitymobile phones have become integral part of our lives, as both
life support and life management tool and these would not work if cell towers
are removed .v