Lok Sabha Question No. 2894 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Study on Threats of Mobile Radiations
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Bhartruhari Mahtab

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2894 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10 TH   JULY, 2019

## STUDY ON THREATS OF MOBILE RADIATIONS

## 2894.   SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the National Cancer Institute in its study has concluded that there is a threat of cancer and other health problems to mobile phones users in the country on account of exposure to mobile radiations;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (c) the  number  of  studies  conducted  by  the  Government  to  ascertain  the  effects  of  radiation disseminate by mobile phones on the health of its users during each of the last three years and the current year along with the outcome of such studies; and
- (d) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government in this direction?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, LAW & JUSTICE AND ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

(a) & (b) Sir, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has no knowledge of any such study by National Cancer Institute.

(c) & (d) The  effects  of  Electromagnetic  Field  (EMF)  emissions  from  mobile  phones  on  the health is a matter of long term studies regarding which any conclusive view may not be taken within a  specified  time  limit.  World  Health  Organization  (WHO)  has  referred  to  approximately  25,000 articles published around the world over past 30 years, and based on an in-depth review of scientific literature,  has  concluded  -  'current evidence  does  not  confirm  the  existence  of  any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields'.

In addition, a joint initiative has been launched by Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) under Department of Science & Technology (DST) and Department of Telecommunications (DoT), wherein nineteen research proposals, have already been initiated to study possible impact of EMF exposure from mobile towers and handsets on life. i.e. Humans, Living Organisms, Flora & Fauna.

To  ensure  safeguards  of  citizen,  DoT  has  been  monitoring  global  developments  and  has already taken necessary steps and adopted stricter norms for safety from EMF emission from mobile towers and handsets. In the year 2008, DoT adopted the ICNIRP guidelines that are recommended by WHO for basic  restriction  and  limiting  reference  levels  of  electromagnetic  emission  from  mobile towers and handset. Further, based on the recommendations of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC), DoT has made the norms for exposure limit for the Radio Frequency Field (Base Station Emissions) ten times more stringent than the existing limits prescribed by ICNIRP and recommended by WHO. The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) level for Mobile Handsets have also been made stringent and revised to 1.6 Watt per Kg averaged over a mass of one gram human tissue.

These limits were further reviewed in 2014, based on recommendation of a committee that was  setup  at  the  behest  of  High  Court  Allahabad,  Lucknow  bench.  The  Committee  comprised  of members from Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) Kharagpur, Kanpur, Delhi, Roorkee, Bombay and from other scientific institutions  of the country including  Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Delhi. This Committee has also referred to  various  studies  carried  out  in  this  regard  and  has  observed  that  the  Department  of  Telecom  has taken adequate steps to impose stricter precautionary limits for EMF radiation from mobile towers as well  as  from  mobile  handset/phones.  After  due  consideration  of  the  human  health  concerns  on account of EMF radiation being raised in public and the Report of the Committee, the Government has decided, in February 2014, that the present prescribed precautionary EMF safe exposure limits are adequate and need no further change at this stage.

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