Cell Phones: Communications for the 21st Century or a Road to Medical Armageddon?

The Idaho Observer ^ | April 2002 | Amy Worthington

[Larry Lucido]

My God! So, all those folks who used cell phones and air-to-ground phones on September 11 to report their locations, pass on information or say good-bye to loved ones could have experience headaches, vision problems or one of several vague and generalized symptoms? The horror!!

[agitator]

Do you not agree that regarding a cell tower, the bandwidth is too narrow and very directional, and too high to be of any consequence to anyone on the ground?

While my area of expertise didn't deal with cell phone towers in particular, I did deal extensively with land mobile radio at 800mhz which is pretty close to where most cell phones are. Bandwidth is not necessarily the issue, ERP (effective radiated power) is. The cell towers that I've looked at are effectively omni-directional; look at the antenna arrays - they go around the tower in a circle. Now perhaps those antennas are servicing more than one cell in different directions at different times but during any peak usage time, they're all likely to be transmitting. Even if what I'm referring to are mostly receive antennas, there are enough transmit antennas to do what's required and the fact that they're directional isn't reassuring if they happen to be pointed at me. Even though as cells get smaller, the power required to accomplish the same thing goes down, they're designed to blanket a particular area with whatever power level is required. Obviously, the further you are away from it, the less you're exposed to and it's exponential (presuming you don't wind up getting closer to the next cell...). Because of the radiation pattern, I would rather live directly underneath the tower than half a block away. That goes for television/fm transmitting antennas as well.

By the way, for those lurking, I once lived in a town that had a fit over the installation of some satellite uplink antennas. Dishes are scary (I guess...) Satellite dishes typically have a 2 degree or better directional pattern and they're pointed up in the air. They do have splashy side lobes of radiation but at a much reduced level (think of the reflector in your flash light). What the people in this town didn't know is that those satellite antennas were sited right below a UHF television transmitting antenna with an ERP of over a million watts. You could almost walk around like Uncle Fester with a light bulb lit up in your mouth thanks to that TV antenna, but those little 200 watt satellite antennas were new so they were scary.

People also don't realize that they're exposed to a constant level of microwave radiation from satellites (at least while they're outdoors) - and it's getting worse all the time. Back in 1980 there were only a few non-military satellites and they were running 5 watts with not-that-good antennas. You needed a 15ft dish to get a snowy picture. Granted today receiving technology is better, but satellites now pump out 40 watts on each "channel" with very good antennas and there are ____loads of them raining down on you. By the way, did you vote for that? ................ Maybe with your wallet - anyway...... I know folks in the industry who unlike me now , make a living at that business who are concerned about it. These are hardly the type of folks to don tin-foil hats - believe me.

An interesting sidelight (no pun intended). I was told by a military radar tech (fighter planes) that one of the standing jokes for the new guys on base was to order them to go get an arm load of 48" flourescent light bulbs. On their way back from where they got the bulbs they would walk several hundred feet in front of a fighter and one of the old timer wise guys would fire up the radar in one of the jets causing the armload of light tubes to light up! Needless to say there was a broom handy.

The term "any consequence" is relative. I don't know what the consequences of constant, low-level exposure are. Until I do know, I would prefer to err on the side of caution. That doesn't mean go berserk, it means given a choice, I would prefer to avoid it.

[Revolting cat!]

So, all those folks... etc

Good thing that had their cell phones. They saved their lives, didn't they?! What multinational corporation do we all owe thanks?

[gcruse]

Enjoy.

[Larry Lucido]

With all respect, I think Sarah Brady uses your logic with respect to guns. Same with the ant-smoking crowd. After all, we don't "need" them, and they are nuisances, right?

I trust that you (and, I hope, handk) are merely counseling against cell phone use, and would not ally yourself with coercive {insert vice here}-grabbers.

[July 4th]

I really like cell-phone radiation, so I have an Ericsson T39 with Bluetooth headset. Not only do get radiation from the phone, but also from the headset as it transmits to the phone. I love it.

[Larry Lucido]

"ant-smoking" = "anti-smoking", of course. Second-hand ant-smoke IS a health hazard.

[Revolting cat!]

And now, a musical interlude: Totally Wired

"You don't have to be weird to be wired.
You don't have to be an American brand.
You don't have to be strange to be strangled.
You don't have to be weird to be wrangled.

But I'm Totally Wired. Totally Wired. JJJust Totally
Wired. I'm Totally Wired.

My Heart and I agree. My Heart and I agree.
I'm Irate, Peeved, Irate, Peeved,
Irate, Bad State. Bad State.

Cos I'm Totally Wired. Totally Wired. JJJust Totally
Wired. Totally Wired. And I'm always worried. And I'm always
worried. And I'm always worried. And I'm always worried." 

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I see what you are saying, but the antennas used are directional - there are three sets of antennas set on different azimuths. The effect is somewhat omnidirectional, but isn't actually. The effective radiating power in 1900 mhz is approximately 5 1/2 watts out of the antennas (leaving the radio equipment on the ground at 8 watts).

In 800 mhz, the effective radiating power is 12 watts, leaving the ground at 18 watts.

Since these are "line of sight" antennas, unless you are up 120 feet off the ground, you are not in the direct path of them - and if you were, 8 to 12 watts is not enough to cause a problem...........

[AdA$tra]

Look at the bright side. At least using cell phones won't give you the sh*t fits.

It IS on the list: * Cause digestive problems and raise bad cholesterol levels

[Larry Lucido]

They saved their lives, didn't they?!

I believe that answer to that would be "yes." Next question.

What multinational corporation do we all owe thanks?

Verizon, for one. I'm sure there are others.

[slimer]

Cause short term memory loss and difficulty concentrating

This is complete nonsense! I've been using a cell phone for .... well I can't remember when I started using one but, none the less, ??? ... what was I talking about?

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

I realize you are trying to be funny, but I doubt that any of the family members who heard their loved ones in those last seconds of their lives would find your comments very amusing.

[Revolting cat!]

Like agitator I choose to err on the side of caution. And I note mucho self-interest and self-imposed blindness in the responses (not just here) of those denying that there is a possiblity of danger. I luv my cell phone, cain't live without it, therefore I will fight to death any suggestion of a possibility that it might be bad for my health. That's all I can observe and report...

[Larry Lucido]

They saved their lives, didn't they?!

Oh, did you mean "Did every single person with a cell-phone survive"? Well, you certainly got me there. No, they didn't, just some.

Course, not everyone with a gun survives an assault. Guess we always have to weigh costs and benefits. I'm sure there is a multinational gun corporation out there somewhere that deserves some thanks.

[Larry Lucido]

I luv my cell phone, cain't live without it

Good. I won't take yours, and you won't try to take anyone else's. Even if you did state the above in sarcasm.

[jude24]

Peer-reviewed journalism is not snobbery, it is the best check on scientific accuracy developed. The fact that someone refuses to submit to peer review does not help their case any...

And I do know a little about what I am talking about since I am a 3rd-year chemistry major in college.

[Larry Lucido]

BTW, I don't deny the possibility of danger of cell phones. Neither do I deny the "possibility" that a char-broiled steak can cause high cholesterol, but I'll still have one if I choose. You make your choices, others will make theirs. It's called "liberty" (and it's right there on your profile page).

[AdA$tra]

he term "any consequence" is relative.

I was riding down the highway with a former co-worker as he explained why he had this cool new headset for his cell phone. It was going to protect his brain from the Ghz signals eminating from his phone. The whole time his phone was sitting in has lap about 3" from his gonads. I was going to say something....but if you knew this guy....you probably wouldn't start that conversation either.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

What I will never understand is why some people have such a problem with cell phones! They are an amazing convenience - and since they have to be purchased (and the government is not YET supplying them gratis to the underprivledged), I don't see where a conservative would complain about my choice to purchase one.

If they cause harm, then it was my choice to use it, just as a smoker currently has the choice to smoke or not. I sit in front of a computer, I have a microwave oven, I drive an SUV...... all my choices, yet some get their panties in a bunch over a cell phone......... so dramatic, so silly..........