Inter-Ministerial R&D for EMF

radiation guidelines

Presentation by:

Naveen Jakhar

ITS– 2014 Batch

TERM Cell Punjab

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Topics covered in this presentation: Brief about ICNIRP

Ionizing and Non-Ionizing radiations

ICNIRP guidelines for HF waves - 1998

ICNIRP guidelines adopted by India

Role of WHO

Role of DoT, Inter- ministerial Committee

Instructions to State Governments

Conclusion

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Inter – Ministerial R&D Approach

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R&D

ICNIRP & WHO

Other Ministries

State Govts

Academic Role

Judicial Orders

DoT

A Brief About ICNIRP

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ICNIRP stands for International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection

Non-profit organization with a scientific mission

Registered in Munich, Germany, established in 1992

Recognized as an official NGO by WHO, ILO &consulted by European Commission

Aims to protect people and the environment againstadverse effects of non-ionizing radiation (NIR)

ICNIRP - mission

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Develops & disseminates science-based advice onlimiting exposure to NIR

Experts from different countries and disciplines suchas biology, epidemiology, medicine, physics, andchemistry, work together with and within ICNIRP toassess the risk of NIR exposure and provide exposureguidance

ICNIRP’s protection advice ->formulated inGuidelines, Reviews and Statements ->publicly &freely available online

Ionizing vs Non-Ionizing Radiations

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Ionization -> process by which electrons in theoutermost shells are removed from their orbit

Ionization -> directly dependent on the energy beingcarried by any energy particle or radiation

Ionization results in breaking of covalent bondsinside living beings

Radiation which is capable of causing ionization iscalled Ionizing Radiation (IR)

More the frequency, more energy -> mutation

Ionizing vs Non-Ionizing Radiations

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Ionizing vs Non-Ionizing Radiations

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The radiations which are not capable of breakingcovalent and ionic bonds present in living things arecalled Non-Ionizing Radiations (NIR)

NIR -> capable of exciting atoms and in turn heatingthem up

If living tissues are exposed to ionizing radiation,atoms making up DNA in cells could become ionized.This causes the DNA to malfunction and could lead tocancer.

Ionizing radiations are more harmful

ICNIRP guidelines for High Frequency waves – year 1998

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High Frequency waves -> frequency range from 100kHz to 300 GHz

Used for mobile communications, Wi-Fi, radio,TV, security devices, MRI and microwave ovens

The critical effect of HF exposure relevant to humanhealth and safety is heating of exposed tissue

Human body is having self regulation mechanism tocounter heat but exposure beyond a level (calledthreshold level) results in heatstroke and disusedamage (burns)

ICNIRP guidelines for High Frequency waves

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Studies on HF waves with frequency less thanthreshold value have not seen any adverse effect onhuman health

To avoid hazards to health and prevent adverseinteraction with high frequency fields, ICNIRPrecommends limiting the exposure to HF so that thethreshold at which these interactions becomedetrimental is never reached

ICNIRP guidelines for High Frequency waves

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The exposure limits, called basic restrictions, are setin relation to the threshold known to show adverseeffects

The basic restrictions -> expressed in terms of thespecific absorption rate (SAR) for nearby devices andin radiation density W/m2 from base stations

SAR - is a measure of the rate at which energy isabsorbed by the human body when exposed to aradio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field

ICNIRP guidelines for High Frequency waves - 1998

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ICNIRP guidelines for High Frequency waves - 1998

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ICNIRP guidelines for High Frequency waves in India

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• Government of India adopted the ICNIRP guidelinesin the year 2008 for basic restriction and limitingreference levels of Electromagnetic radiation fromMobile towers and inserted the additional clause inthe Access Service Licenses vide its amendment letterdated 4/11/2008 -ICNIRP guidelines in India.pdf

Revised ICNIRP guidelines in India dated 30.12.2011

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• Based on the recommendations by Inter-MinisterialCommittee (IMC), these norms for exposure limit forthe Radio Frequency Field (Base Station Emissions)have been further made stringent and reduced to1/10th of the existing limits prescribed byInternational Commission on Non Ionizing RadiationProtection (ICNIRP)

• Directions in this regard have been issued to theMobile Operators on 30.12.2011 30-12-2011 Normson EMF exposure by BTSs.pdf

Further Revision of ICNIRP guidelines in India

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• ICNIRP directions have been further revised on10.01.2013 10.01.2013 amendments for ICNIRP.pdf

• Final ICNIRP directions have been revised on26.06.2013 26-06-2013 amendments to ICNIRP.pdf

Ensuring compliance of ICNIRP guidelines in India

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• DoT issued instructions directingall CMTS/UAS/UL/UL(Access) licensees that all BTSsshould be compliant to prescribed EMF referencelimits/ levels

• All BTSs should be self certified for meeting theradiation norms as dated 26.06.2013

• Self certification -> to be submitted to respectiveTERM Cells of DoT

Ensuring compliance of ICNIRP guidelines in India

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• For all new BTS sites -> TSP submit self certificate torespective TERM Cell -> start radiating commercially

• Audit of compliance of self-certificates done by TERMCells

• BTS sites audit done by TERM Cells

• Any BTS found violating EMF norms -> Penalty of Rs10 lakhs per BTS per incidence

• BTS sites against which there are public complaintsare also tested by TERM Cell

SAR compliance in India

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• For all Mobile devices, the SAR value limit of 1.6watts/kg (averaged over one gram of tissue)

• DoT Letter dated 25th January, 2012

• SAR value to displayed like IMEI on package andphone

• All mobile handsets in India to support hands-freeoperation

• 28. 17-08-2012 SAR values for mobile phones.pdf

• Live demo – how to find SAR value and IMEI of yourmobile

SAR Limits recommended by IEEE

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• Controlled/Occupational limit -> People working areaware of exposure to radiations

• Uncontrolled environments -> locations where thereis exposure of individuals to radiations who have noknowledge or control on it

Role of WHO

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• WHO -> World Health Organization, at Geneva

• Specialized agency of the UNO, concerned withinternational public health

• All mobile handsets -> hands free must

• WHO studies -> short term effects of exposure toradiofrequency fields -? Tissue heating

• WHO studies -> long term effects? WHO study withInternational Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)for link b/w mobile phones and head, neck cancers

Role of WHO

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• Data gathered from 13 participating countries -> noincreased risk of head and neck cancer

• Some indications of an increased risk of brain cancerfor those who reported the highest 10% ofcumulative hours of cell phone use but no concretedata

• WHO recommends – SAR standards set by ICNIRPand IEEE

WHO Fact Sheet 304 May 2006

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Conclusions “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 cause adverse health effects”

WHO, through the International EMF Project, -> programme to evaluate the health effects from exposure to EMF (range from 0 to 300 GHz), to provide advice about possible EMF hazards and to identify suitable mitigation measures

WHO Fact Sheets – 2011 & 2013

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• In September 2013, WHO in online question andanswers, have mentioned that "Studies to dateprovide no indication that environmental exposureto RF fields, such as from base stations, increasesthe risk of cancer or any other disease“

• WHO in Fact Sheet 193 published in June 2011 hasconcluded that "A large number of studies havebeen performed over the last two decades to assesswhether mobile phones pose a potential health risk.To date, no adverse health effects have beenestablished as being caused by mobile phone use"

Inter Ministerial Committee

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• Department of Science & Technology, Indian Councilof Medical Research, DoT, Department ofBiotechnology, Ministry of Environment & Forest -> tocarry out studies on prolonged use of mobile phonesin India, possible health hazard risk of EMF radiation

• DoT, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Environment tospread public awareness on EMF and precautions formobile phone use

• Annual discussions/meetings and seminar of all InterMinisterial Committees

Inter Ministerial Committee

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• Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) hasinvited R&D proposals in June 2013 on the possibleimpact of EMF radiation exposure from mobiletowers and mobile handsets on life

• The SERB has constituted an Expert Committee/TaskForce comprising of various experts from Medical &Engineering Institutes on 04 September 2013 toevaluate R&D proposals

National and International Collaborations

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• DoT to actively participate in all EMF relateddiscussions with International Organizations e.g. ITU,WHO,APT,ICNIRP chapter

• Continuous collaboration with academic institutes

• Creation of National EMF web portal to providepublic access

Instructions to State Governments

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• Advisory guidelines to State Government for issue ofclearance for installation of mobile towers

• State Government to set up State Level TelecomCommittee (STC) – State Administration, TERM Cellofficers, TSPs, eminent public persons

• District Level Telecom Committee (DTC) – DistrictAdministration, Block level officers, TSPs, eminentpublic persons

Reply to Allahabad Court

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• In a Writ Petition filed in Hon'ble High CourtAllahabad, the Hon'ble Court vide its order dated10.01.2012 constituted a committee includingMembers from IITs & Indian Council of MedicalResearch (ICMR) and AIIMS Delhi

• After due consideration of the human healthconcerns on account of EMF, the committee repliedthere is no need to change the Indian ICNIRPguidelines

Conclusion

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• EMF radiations from a mobile tower, which are belowthe safe limits prescribed by ICNIRP andrecommended by WHO, have no convincing scientificevidence of causing adverse health effects

• DoT has prescribed stricter precautionary norms forexposure limit for the Radio Frequency Field (BaseStation Emissions) which is 1/10th of the existinglimits prescribed by ICNIRP and recommended byWHO

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http://dot.gov.in/journey-emf

http://www.icnirp.org/en/about-icnirp/aim-statushistory/index.html

http://www.icnirp.org/en/frequencies/highfrequency/index.html

http://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIRPSCIreview2011.pdf

http://www.who.int/pehemf/publications/facts/fs304/en

References:

Thank you

“An efficient Telecommunications network is the

foundation upon which an information society is built”

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