Page 8 - link magazine

8 The Link Magazine • May 2005
Swindon wakes up to the dangers of mobile phone masts
Mobile phone transmitter masts have popped up all over the country, but there is widespread uncertainly about the health effects of
radiation. Whilst campaign groups in other parts of the country have been vigorous in their opposition to masts - with sites being blocked
and in one instance protesters pulling one down - there has been little public debate about them in Swindon, until now.
Four years ago, there were 5 sited away from schools, hospitals between 2003 and
million mobile phones in use across and houses. 2007, from £864m Karen Kelly, front left,
Britain. Now there are more than Lisa Oldham, founder of Mast to £1.6 billion. leading the protest
50 million. And to connect them Sanity, one of the largest groups The UK's Ad- against the 02 mast
and the new generation of video campaigning against masts, says, visory Group on on Akers Way
enabled phones, some 50,000 masts "we've found all sorts of cancer Non-Ionising Ra-
and transmitter base stations will clusters around masts - leukaemia, diation, part of
have been erected by 2007. Hodgkin's, breast cancer - as well the National Ra-
We all want to stay in touch, but as reports of dizziness, headaches diological Protec-
is the price of making calls becom- and nosebleeds. The scientists say tion Board re-
ing too high? A war of words rages there is no conclusive evidence but cently produced b ^
between campaigners concerned what did they say about asbestos an update to the
with the health and environmen- or smoking?" government- r..p 1 ^^5=^A^1!F -
tal effects of radio traffic, and an The communications industry commissioned SER
Y
OU
industry that profits every time a dismisses health fears as irrational U YETHE TRUTH w* .^
'TDESERI!F
call is made. scaremongering. Given the vast in- mobiles in 2000. QON
The benefits of the cordless revo- vestment in mobile phone tech- Health Effects N __
lution are immense, but how safe nologies, including paying the from Radio Fre- (r1b TO 02
is the technology? The anti-mast Government £22.5 billion for thi rd- quency Electro- PEOPLE
Bf:FOR[
campaigners claim that radio fre- generation (3G) licences, such magnetictic Fields, PRoFrr,g ^
quency (RF) radiation from trans- scares are bad for business. concluded that
mitters pose a serious threat, espe- Forecasts see the value of the much of the re- CANCER.
cially to children, and want masts UK mobile phone market doubling search so far had
been inadequate. It states: 'The In Swindon there have been spo-
weight of evidence now available radic objections to masts, but the
does not suggest that there are loudest so far took place in April
adverse health effects from expo- when petitioners against the sud-
sure to RF fields below guideline den appearance of an 02 mast on
levels, but the published research Akers Way protested at the Civic
on RF exposures and health has Offices. The company is to con-
London trained mobile hair stylist
limitations, and mobile phones sider re-siting it away from houses
For a visit call Sue on 07796 432 700 have been in use for only a rela- and a green space where children
or email sue["a thecuttingclub.com tively short time. play.
'The possibility therefore re- Campaigner Karen Kelly from
mains open that there could be Manor Crescent, who has set up
health effects from exposure to RF Mothers Against the Mast said she
fields below guideline SAR (spe- discovered the mast had permis-
Have you pulled a muscle cific absorption rate) levels.' sion before her family moved into
SAR is a measurement of the her house. "I was horrified to see it
or sprained a joint emissions when a phone is used. go up just 45 metres from our front
Put simply: they don't know how door. I'm particularly worried for
in the last couple of days? safe phone masts are. the health of my daughter and my
son Morgan who has alopecia and
The issue that angers campaign-
ers most is the ease with which other complaints.
telecom operators are able to site "Until a few weeks ago I knew
Is it so painful that you need masts, often close to schools. Masts nothing about the health implica-
under 15 metres only need notifi- tions of radio frequency radiation,
to take a pain-killer? cation to the local authority; un- but there are many many concerns
less there is objection, it can be about the radiation given off from
erected. Masts above 15 metres masts and mobile phones.
Are you 18 years old or over? need full planning permission. "In Australia and New Zealand
The Government granted opera- there are directives that mobile
Would you be interested tors legal rights to use public-high- phone masts should not be placed
within 500metres of residential
way land for telecoms develop-
ment in 2001 and planning guid- areas. We just do not know the
in taking part in a research study
ance states that the planning sys- long term health effects."
of a new pain relieving medication? tem is not the place for determin- If you have a concern about masts,
ing health safeguards. If a pro- mail: editor C' swindonlink.com
a
posed development meets recog-
If the answer is yes, then you may be suitable nised radiation protection guide- Sites to search:
lines for public exposure, local
to take part in a research study with: Is there one in your area?
planners cannot consider the sci- www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk
ence.
Dr Ochoa & Partners Mast opposition
Many communities, especially
Abbey Meads Medical Centre those near schools, feel powerless www.mastsanity.org
www.s-c-r-a-m.co.uk
Abbey Meads, Swindon to stop the march of the masts. www.mastaction.co.uk
Last year the All-Party Parliamen-
tary Mobile Group highlighted a Radiation research
Please call for an appointment: 'lack of trust' between communi- www.bma.org: www.mthr.org.uk
www.nrpb.org: www.iegmp.org.uk
Vicky/Nicola on 01793 726748 ties, government, the communica- Manufacturers: www.mmfai.org
tions industry and local authori-
Government: www.dh.gov.uk
ties.