Lok Sabha Question No. 144 (STARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: Impact of Mobile Radiation
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: RAMA DEVI, N.K. PREMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.144 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH  MAY, 2016

## IMPACT OF MOBILE RADIATION

- †*144. SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: SHRI N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has identified those Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) which are/were violating Electro Magnetic Frequency (EMF) norms;
- (b) if so, the number of BTS identified during the last three years and the current year,  State-wise  and  the  corrective  follow-up  action  taken  by  the  Government thereon;
- (c) whether any empirical scientific research/studies have been conducted world over  on  the  impact  of  radiation  from  mobile  towers  and  handsets  on  humans  and other living beings and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether any action has been taken to make aware the citizens of the country about the deleterious effects of electro-magnetic radiation on human life and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 144  FOR 4 th  MAY, 2016 REGARDING 'IMPACT OF MOBILE RADIATION'.

(a) & (b) Yes  Madam.  During  the  audit  carried  out  by  Telecom  Enforcement, Resource  and  Monitoring  (TERM)  Cells,  108  number  of  Base  Transceiver  Stations (BTSs)  have  been  found  exceeding  the  prescribed  EMF  radiation  limits  in  the  last three  years  i.e.  calendar  year  2013,  2014,  2015  and  the  current  year  2016  (upto 29.02.2016).  Licensed  Service  Area  wise  (LSA-wise)  details  of  these  BTSs  is attached at Annexure-I.

For  all  these  non-compliant  BTSs  found  during  testing,  TERM  Cells  have imposed applicable financial penalty amounting to Rs 6.60 crores on defaulting TSPs as  per  the  prescribed  DoT  guidelines.  Further,  one  BTS  in  Haryana  LSA  was  shut down  by  the  defaulting  TSP  and  for  the  remaining  non-compliant  BTSs,  radiation levels have been brought within prescribed radiation limits.

(c) & (d) With  regard  to  impact  of  radiation  from  mobile  towers  and  handsets, several studies have been conducted in different countries, under the aegis of World Health  Organization  (WHO).  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  stated,  'Despite  the  feeling  of  some  people  that  more research needs to be done, scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than  for  most  chemicals.'  and  concluded  'current  evidence  does  not  confirm  the existence  of  any  health  consequences  from  exposure  to  low  level  electromagnetic fields'.

With  reference  to  Electromagnetic  Radiation  emanating  from  cellular  mobile towers, World Health Organization (WHO) in its Fact Sheet No. 304, May 2006 on Electromagnetic Fields and Public Health (Base Stations and Wireless Technologies) has  concluded  that  ' considering  the  very  low  exposure  levels  and  research  results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF Signals from  base  stations  and  wireless  networks  caused  adverse  health  effects.    From  all evidence accumulated so far, no adverse short or long term health effects have been shown to occur from the RF Signals produced by based stations .'

Further, as part of its charter to protect public health and in response to public concern over health effects of EMF exposure, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the International EMF Project in 1996 to assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects of EMF in the frequency range from 0 to 300 GHz. The EMF Project  encourages  focused  research  to  fill  important  gaps  in  knowledge  and  to facilitate the development  of  internationally  acceptable  standards  limiting  EMF exposure.

Since the commencement of the EMF Project, over 50 national authorities have been involved.  Apart from the national authorities the project is overseen by 8 international  organizations  and  independent  collaborating  institutions  and  together they  review  scientific  information  related  to  public  and  occupational  health,  and environmental management of the EMF issue. While summarizing the key points on health effect of EMF radiation, WHO website presently mentions the following:

'….. WHO's International  EMF  Project  was  launched  to    provide  scientifically sound and objective answers to public concerns  about  possible  hazards  of low level electromagnetic fields.

Despite  extensive  research,  to  date  there  is  no  evidence  to  conclude  that exposure to low level electromagnetic fields is   harmful to human health .. .'

In  respect  of EMF radiations from mobile handsets, WHO in Fact Sheet 193 published  in  June  2011  has  concluded  that  ' A  large  number  of  studies  have  been performed  over  the  last  two  decades  to  assess  whether  mobile  phones  pose  a potential health  risk.  To  date,  no  adverse  health  effects  have  been  established  as being caused by mobile phone use '.

Further, to create awareness among the citizens about above, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued informative guide on 'Mobile CommunicationsRadio Waves and Safety'. The document covers basic introduction to radio waves, various terminologies, Do's & Don'ts related to mobile phone usage, clarification of various  myths  regarding  deployment,  use  of  Radio  waves  /  Safety  Standards  and frequently asked questions relating to Mobile phones & Human health. Advertisements for generating awareness about facts related to radiations from BTSs & handsets have also been issued, which have been published in National & Regional Newspapers.  Detail  information on EMF  related  matters and  steps taken by Government of India in this regard are available on DoT website 'www.dot.gov.in' in section  'A  Journey  for  EMF'.  Further,  TERM  Cells  under  DoT  along  with  Telecom Industry associations, State governments, BSNL, TRAI etc. have taken active part in various seminars, workshops, press conferences and Public Awareness programs in respect of EMF radiation exposure from BTSs in which press, international technical experts and general public were also present.

Contd…4/-

Annexure-I

LSA-wise details of number of non-compliant BTSs found exceeding prescribed radiation limits during last three calendar years i.e. 2013 to 2015 and current year 2016 (up to 29.02.2016)

|    |                | Number of BTSs found exceeding radiation limits during   | Number of BTSs found exceeding radiation limits during   | Number of BTSs found exceeding radiation limits during   | Number of BTSs found exceeding radiation limits during   | Number of BTSs found exceeding radiation limits during              |
|----|----------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
| SN | LSA            | Year 2013                                                | Year 2014                                                | Year 2015                                                | Year 2016 (up to 29.02.2016)                             | last three years (2013 to 2015) and current year (up to 29.02.2016) |
| 1  | Assam          | NIL                                                      | 2                                                        | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | 2                                                                   |
| 2  | Karnataka      | 2                                                        | 8                                                        | 6                                                        | NIL                                                      | 16                                                                  |
| 3  | Madhya Pradesh | NIL                                                      | 14                                                       | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | 14                                                                  |
| 4  | Maharashtra    | 4                                                        | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | 4                                                                   |
| 5  | Mumbai         | 55                                                       | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | 55                                                                  |
| 6  | Rajasthan      | 1                                                        | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | 1                                                                   |
| 7  | UP East        | 10                                                       | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | 10                                                                  |
| 8  | West Bengal    | NIL                                                      | NIL                                                      | 6                                                        | NIL                                                      | 6                                                                   |
|    | Grand Total    | 72                                                       | 24                                                       | 12                                                       | NIL                                                      | 108                                                                 |

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