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~ www.jerseymastconcern.co.uk ~
Why the Concern
There is increasing evidence that the electromagnetic radiation omitted by mobile phone antenna (many of which are placed on masts) are seriously harmful to health, especially children's health.
Currently, guidelines exist to protect the public from mobile phone mast emissions, but these cater only for the short-term thermal effects - that is, tissue heating. Provided a mast emits radiation below a set level, it is deemed to be 'safe'. You will constantly hear the argument that masts 'comply with ICNIRP guidelines' - this means nothing in terms of long-term biological effects which cause cell changes and DNA damage, especially (although not exclusively) over long periods of time. These effects on our bodies are not considered to be a problem by the Health Protection Agency and Government, both of which continue to claim that the technology is safe! Biological effects and long-term exposure are NOT regulated, so there is no measure and no control and NO research - except on the population of Great Britain and our home, Jersey!
It has been identified that:
Information carrying RF waves trigger the cell membrane protective response which leads to harmful effects
Specific types of damage occur inside the cell. First, you have increased free-radical concentration that leads to both disruption of DNA repair (micronuclei) and cellular dysfunction. When the cell loses its function, it goes through apoptosis (programmed cell death). In apoptosis, the micronuclei formed from the disrupted DNA repair are released into nutrient rich interstitial fluid and they are free to clone and proliferate -- that is the most likely cancer mechanism.
Specific damage occurs to proteins on the cell membrane -- the effect is that intercellular communication is compromised. Cells can't talk to each other and that damages tissue, organ and organism function. Overall, almost all of the acute and chronic symptoms seen in electrosensitive patients can be explained in some part by disrupted intercellular communication. (www.safewireless.org)
Mast Sanity (a major UK based concern group) is currently collecting evidence from several sites around the United Kingdom where cancer clusters now exist close to masts which have been in place for over 4 years. Yet cancer is only one of the illnesses that can develop as a result of exposure to low level radiation. There is also evidence that it causes chromosomal problems with links to birth defects and miscarriages. Finally, it is now recognized that a proportion of the population is, to a greater or lesser degree, electro-magnetically sensitive and, as such, liable to a wide range of symptoms caused by radiation. These include headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, lack of concentration and behavioural problems - the very young and the elderly being particularly susceptible. There is also a number of other bodies working on research and studies, the Safe Wireless Initative for example.
The comparison between masts and TV has been used by some who believe there is no harmful effects. However unlike the continuous waves associated with television, radio and like communications, mobile phone emissions have an element of amplitude modulation or pulsing. The implementation of UMTS (3rd Generation) does not use time division in its signal, as GSM (2nd Generation) and TETRA must, but it does have other patterns in the signal such as the 100 Hz control channel frequency and a 15kHz modulation, both of which are most apparent when not masked by call/data traffic (mostly at night). The crucial point here is that modulation or pulsing occurs at frequencies close to the electrical pulses of the human brain - which can lead to 'entrainment' (the body reacting to external messages rather than those from the brain). It is believed that entrainment is the reason for increased reports of epilepsy, depression, headaches, migraines etc in communities/schools with masts sited nearby.
Lloyds of London are now writing in exclusion clauses against low level radiation damage into their public liability insurance. More recently, Lloyds cited the striking resemblance between the current concerns about mobile phone technology and the development of the asbestos and tobacco issues (which will end up costing insurers a fortune). A number of other insurance companies are also putting in place the same conditions.
Jersey is following the UK policy, however the UK has been paid over 22 billion by mobile phone companies to roll out mobile services and it is felt by many that the health concerns are being ignored. In addition there is research that concludes there is no harmful effects however much of this research is being funded world wide by mobile phone companies or Governments. Please read our research page to find out more about the research and the concerns over "no-effect" research.
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