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Problems With Mobile Phone Towers

As the wireless industry continues to grow, mobile phone usage has exploded, resulting in 285 million subscribers as of 2009, according to the National Cancer Institute. With a constant need to improve cell phone reception, wireless companies seek to add thousands of towers a year all over the world, often offering financial incentives to those who agree to host the site on their properties. This generates widespread conflict for those who believe the agreement trades peace of mind for extra income.

  1. Aesthetics

    • Although perhaps not the primary concern, one possible objection for the presence of a cell phone tower is the appearance alone. While some towers are hidden inside objects, camouflaged by trees or built into the roof of a building, others are simply shaped like a tower with no attempt at disguise. Typically, a tower (also referred to as a base station) is anywhere from 50 to 200 feet tall and is accompanied by considerable electronic equipment and an antenna. The final product is not pleasing to the outside scenery for people who cite the physical presence as a problem.

    Cancer Concerns

    • Although organizations such as the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute claim there are no definite links between mobile phone towers and cancer, opponents argue that the possibility still exists. Cell phone towers work by emitting radio frequency (RF) waves that communicate with mobile phones to provide a signal. Unlike stronger types of radiation such as X-rays and gamma rays, RF waves are not strong enough to cause cancer by directly damaging DNA, says the National Cancer Institute. On the other hand, Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center has said there is evidence that cell tower radiation damages human cell tissue and has been linked to cancer. The cancer concerns associated with towers were high enough for 33 delegates from seven countries to declare cell towers a public health emergency at an international health conference, according to EM Watch.

    Other Health Risks

    • In 2007, a Kempton West human study measured levels of serotonin and melatonin both before and five months after the activation of a new cell tower site. Of the 25 participants in the study, nearly all of them were shown to have experienced worsened levels in both hormones during that time period. This could indicate a possible link between mobile towers and a number of maladies including headaches, sleep disorders, appetite disturbance, confusion, short-term memory problems, anxiety and depression.

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