Cell Phone Tower Safety

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), cell phone towers and antennas emit radio waves and microwaves which are a form of electromagnetic energy. When electric and magnetic energy move together in an environment it forms electromagnetic radiation energy. The waves of energy produced by cell phone towers cannot be seen by the naked eye and have become an important factor in the debate on the safety of cell phone towers.

Types

• The American Cancer Society reports cell phone towers--or base stations--positioned in heavily populated areas are usually placed high above the ground on existing structures such as trees, tall buildings and water towers. The FCC describes suburban cell phone towers to be small, 1 to 4 feet long rectangular boxes containing antennas and radio equipment to receive and transmit signals. In less populated, rural areas the FCC describes cell phone towers to be free standing structures of between 50 and 200 feet containing a series of poles that act as antennas.

Non-Ionization

• A process called ionization is required to take place to create a form of radiation that is dangerous to humans and animals in low levels. The FCC describes ionization as the process of electrons being stripped from atoms and molecules in the body with the chance of dangerous changes taking place in tissues within the body such as DNA. Radio Frequency (RF) waves emitted by cell phone towers are reported by the FCC to not carry the sufficient power to ionize atoms with signals classed as non-ionized RF radiation ruled safe at low levels.

Heating

• Although the FCC describes RF signals as non threatening to people living in surrounding areas, problems can occur when high levels of RF radiation are allowed into the atmosphere. People in close proximity to RF radiation waves can be affected by a process called heating in which the temperature of the body rises at a rate too fast for the tissues to handle. Tests performed by the FCC report that levels at the base of cell phone towers are usually thousands of times below the FCC's safe operating standards.

Positioning

• The American Cancer Society explains cell phone towers direct their signals out into the distance aimed at the horizon to eliminate problems with people being hit by high levels of RF radiation waves. However, the Society does reports some downward scatter of signals through areas but agrees with the FCC research that the RF waves lost to the ground lack the strength to cause problems.

Law

• Federal law makes it impossible for state and local agencies to halt the placement of a cell phone tower for reasons of health and safety as long as the tower plans to operate under the safety limits set down by the FCC. The EMR Policy Institute explains that an internationally accepted standard requires cell phone towers to be placed at least 1,500 feet from schools, day care centers and families with small children upon whom the effects of RF radiation are unproven.