Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Are Cell Towers Dangerous to Your Health?

Cell tower radio emits energy 100 to 5,000 times lower than a TV transmitter; some liken the power level to that of a light bulb. 

The weight of evidence suggests that if radio-frequency emissions have any effect on humans at all, it is, according to the World Health Organization, about on par with other possibly carcinogenic items including coffee, mate tea,  glass containers, some pickled vegetables. 


A variety of studies have found "no health effects," according to WHO, with "No statistical significance" or "no evidence" of potential harm. 

Other studies show "no adverse health effects"or an "actual risk appears to be zero." And despite the concern that millimeter waves might be more dangerous, higher frequencies actually are safer.

One study, suggesting that mobile signals are "possibly carcinogenic" also classifies at the same level of risk products such as aloe vera, pickled vegetables and coffee.

In fact, to the extent you might ever be concerned, it is not the cell tower radios one needs to be concerned about. Those signal sources nearly always are so far away that logarithmic signal decay dramatically reduces power levels. 

The bigger issue, if you are concerned, is the mobile device itself, transmitting from a location next to your head. 


Compare the power levels of radio frequency signals from a variety of sources:
  • natural electromagnetic fields (like those created by the sun): 200 V/m
  • power mains (not close to power lines): 100 V/m
  • power mains (close to power lines): 10,000 V/m
  • electric trains and trams: 300 V/m
  • TV and computer screens: 10 V/m
  • TV and radio transmitters: 6 V/m
  • mobile phone base stations: 6 V/m
  • radars: 9 V/m
  • microwave ovens: 14 V/m

Note the low levels of power from cell towers, compared to the other sources, less than the levels from a computer screen, for example.

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