EFFECTS OF TELECOM MAST TO HEALTH

The increasing need for functional telecommunication networks to service the desires and need of the teeming users for effective communication and the use of mobile phones has increased dramatically over the last decade. Wireless digital telecommunications, the internet and information-communication technology have revolutionized the world and the impact of information technology (IT) has been felt in all economic and social activities in every conceivable manner. 

With diverse positive effects of having a telecommunication masts around human habitats which includes strong radio signals, better phone performance, speed internet connections etc some people have been nturing  the rumour about the telcom mast posing a serious threat to people that site their habour around it. 

SUSPECTED EFFECTS PEOPLE THINK IT HAS IN THE TIME PAST

A growing number of studies have linked electromagnetic field associated with the operation of mobile telephony with health hazards ranging from 
1. Changes in cognitive performance 
2. Serious illness 
3. Increasing cancer Possibilities specifically brain tumours and leukemia
4. Heart attack and heart disease particularly arrhythmia; 
5. Neurological effects including sleep disturbance, learning difficulties, depression and suicide;
6. Reproductive effects, especially miscarriage and congenital malformation; 
7. Viral and infectious diseases because of reduced immune system competency associated with reduced melatonin and altered calcium ion homeostasis.

With all these effects being listed as the result of having a telecommunication mast around one's house, Science research and scientists have not seen anything from their researches that is hazardous to health from the telecom mast as they claim that RADIATION EMISSION FROM THE TELECOMS MAST IS SO SMALL THAT IT POSE NO THREAT TO ANYONE STAYING AROUND IT. 

Mr Joseph Kwabena Amoako, Research Scientist of Radiation Protection Institute of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), explained that radiation emitted from antennas of erected masts as well as radios and televisions were too weak to cause any health problem to people.

He was speaking at a workshop organised by Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications to inform and sensitise the public on electromagnetic field of exposure in Ghana.

Mr Amoako said the perception that masts sited within communities caused cancer to people; was untenable because ionisation (energy) emitted from tall towers could not result in that.

He indicated that "unless one could climb that tall tower and touch the antennae before one could be exposed to the radiation that could be harmful".
    
However, Mr Amoako advised that authorities concerned should ensure early implementation of draft guidelines on siting of masts to allay fears and assured the people that operators were doing the right thing that could not compromise with their health.

Dr Jack Rowley, Director, Research and Sustainability, GSMA, an international trade association for mobile industry, said recent World Health Organisation (WHO) studies had proven that mobile phones had no cognitive effect on people neither did it have any long term cancer on animals.

He advised against the siting of antennas on high rise buildings to avoid the situation where masts had been scattered all around the city.

 The Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa Mobile Manufacturers Forum,   Mr Thomas Barmuller stressed the need to adopt and implement the guidelines of International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection, which many countries including China, Russia, India, Tanzania 

and Rwanda had adopted to streamline the activities of telecommunication operators.

The Minister of Communications, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu stressed that there was no available basis for fears being expressed by Ghanaians on health hazards of masts and that GIFEC owed Ghanaians that explanation on potential health hazards if any.
   
He announced that the ban on siting of masts in Ghana had been lifted and Cabinet would soon discuss new telecommunication guidelines to ensure smooth operations.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had also debunked claims that masts and towers are harmful and could cause serious health problems.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Kaduna yesterday, Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs of NCC, Femi Atoyebi, said it important to disabuse peoples' minds on the negative insinuations about telecom masts and towers, insisting that they are not harmful.

"The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) wishes to educate and enlighten the general public on the functionality of the telecom mast and towers and to also disabuse the minds of people that they have negative effect on human health. This is not true. Even the World Health Organization has given its position on the issue of masts and towers and their clear verdict as at today is that they are not harmful to human health. The consumer affairs bureau of the NCC has been inundated with questions regarding telecom masts and towers and their impact on health. That is why we are taking this bold step in going out to educate the general public and give them relevant information. The NCC is a responsible organization and it will not preside over an industry that will cause harm to the general public," he said.

He added that masts are part of telecommunication infrastructure and should be protected by everybody, irrespective of the service provider you subscribe to.

The deputy director however warned that a parameter of ten meters should be maintained between any telecom mast/tower or base station and the nearest habitable building or area so that the people will not be affected by smoke, noise and vibration from the generating set.

He called on the people to report cases of vandalism of telecom infrastructure to security agencies and relevant authorities because the telecom infrastructure is key to national development and should be protected by all and sundry.

On the complaints of poor services provided by operators, Atoyebi said the NCC is out to ensure quality service and will do all it can to make sure that customers get value for their money.

"One of our regulations called Quality of Service, which stipulates all the dos and don'ts for service providers and other stakeholders is meant to ensure that they do the right thing so that Nigerians can get value for their money.

"Let us not also forget however that the service providers also have their challenges which include epileptic power supply, vandalism, multiple taxation and multiple regulations. We are aware of these and the several other challenges they have. But again, that cannot make them to compromise quality," he said.