What is Electro Magnetic Radiation?
Ministry of Communications
Government of India
Electromagnetic Emission
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Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) is a form of
energy which travels from one place to another. It is
electromagnetic in nature, i.e., it consists of waves
of electric and magnetic energy moving together
through space at the speed of light. We are exposed
to both natural and man-made radiation. The
electromagnetic radiation may occur naturally such
as ultraviolet light from the sun and as made by
lightning. The EMR, generated artificially/manmade, are used for fixed and mobile radio
communication, radio and television broadcasting,
radar and other innumerable applications other than
communications. The radio waves carry signal for
television, cellular phone etc.
What is RF?
RF stands for “Radio Frequency” energy or
radiation. Normally the terms “Radio Frequency
field” or “Electro Magnetic Field” are used inter
changeably which indicate the presence of
electromagnetic or RF energy.
What is non-ionizing radiation?
Non-ionizing radiation has much lower energy than
ionizing radiation. It is not strong enough to cause
the ionization of atoms & molecules. The RF energy
is a non-ionizing radiation. The electromagnetic
fields radiation from mobile handsets and antenna
are non-ionizing.
NON-IONISING
RADIO
TELEVISION CELL TOWER
FRIDGE
NO HARM RADIATION
Find more information on…
http://www.dot.gov.in/journey-emf
IONISING
SATELITE
SUNLIGHT ULTRAVIOLET X-RAYS
GAMMA RAYS
What is mobile phone & mobile phone base
station and how do they work?
A mobile phone is a low power, two way Radio and it
contains a transmitter and a receiver. The mobile
phone emits Radio Frequency Radiation for
transmitting the information to mobile base station
and it receives the information also. Mobile phone
base stations, which are also known as BTS, work
as multi-channel two-way radios. Antennas, which
produce RF radiation, are mounted on either
transmission towers or roof-mounted structures.
These structures are generally of a certain height so
that coverage could be wider. When you
communicate on a mobile phone, you are
connected to a nearby base station. From that base
station your phone call passes through the regular
wired line phone system. Since the mobile phone
and its base stations communicate using radio
communication, they produce RF emission to
communicate.
What is the difference between EMF Radiation
from mobile phone towers and mobile phones?
Radiation emitted from cell phone is of a short-term,
repeated nature (coherent) at a relatively high
intensity, whereas Radiation emitted from BTS
(mobile towers) is of long duration but is of a very low
intensity.
Whether the EMF emission from mobile towers
is harmful?
In this regard, several studies have been conducted
in different countries, under the aegis of World
Health Organization (WHO). There is no conclusive
scientific evidence of adverse health effects due to
RF emission from mobile phone towers. WHO has
referred to approximately 25,000 studies, conducted
around the world over past 30 years, and based on
an in-depth review of scientific literature, has
concluded: “current evidence does not confirm the
existence of any health consequences from
exposure to low level electromagnetic fields”.
What are the internationally prescribed standards for
mobile tower radiation? What limits have been adopted/
prescribed in India.
WHO has recommended that “National authorities should
adopt international standards to protect their citizens against
adverse levels of RF fields. They should restrict access to
areas where exposure limits may be exceeded.” WHO has
referred to the International Commission on Non-lionizing
Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) which has prescribed the
levels limiting EMF emission from Base Transceiver Stations
(BTSs) as safe for general public. DoT has adopted the
radiation limits prescribed by ICNIRP and instructions have
been issued to all the telecom service providers. The limits
adopted by DoT have been made 10 times more stringent
than the limit prescribed by ICNIRP. The present limits/levels
for antennae (Base Station) EMF emissions for general
public exposure are detail below –
Frequency
Range
E-Field
Strength
(Volt/Meter)
H-Field
Strength
(Amp/Meter)
Power
Density
(Watt/m2)
400MHz to
2000Mhz
0.434(f)½
0.0011(f)½
f/2000
2GHz to
300GHz
19.29
0.05
1
What is Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)?
SAR is an indication of the amount of radiation that
is absorbed into the body over a given time. The
rate at which the radio frequency energy is
absorbed in the body tissue is the Specific
Absorption Rate (SAR) which has the unit, Watt/Kg.
(f is frequency in MHz)
What are the radiation norms with respect to
mobile phones/handsets?
Keeping the precautionary
EMF safe exposure limits for
the Radio Frequency Field
(Base Station Emissions) as
1/10th of the safe limits
prescribed by ICNIRP for all
areas in India, eliminates the
need for fixing lower limits for specific localities like schools,
hospitals, residential premises, children playgrounds; a
segregation of which is impractical in densely populated
localities.
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels for mobile
handsets adopted in India are 1.6 Watt/Kg
averaged over a mass of 1gram of human tissue.
India has one of the most stringent EMF exposure
norms in the world.
Are there any recommended preventive measures for
use of mobile phones?
What is the test procedure for measuring EMF
emissions from mobile towers?
Most International Organizations suggest:
• Use a wired headset
• Put the cell phone on speaker mode
• Use a wireless Bluetooth headset
• Limit the length of mobile calls
• Use text instead of voice if possible
• Reduce mobile phone use by Children
• Use phones with certified SAR limits
Telecommunications Engineering Centre (TEC)
has specified Test Procedure for Measurement of
Electromagnetic Fields from Base Station
Antennas. The same is available on TEC Web site
http://www.tec.gov.in.
What is the mechanism for
monitoring of radiation norms?
In order to ensure compliance to the
prescribed stricter precautionary
norms of EMF radiation from mobile
tower, the extensive audit of
compliance of self-certificates being
submitted by telecom ser vice
providers and base transceiver station
(BTS) sites is being carried out by
Telecom Enforcement Resource &
Monitoring (TERM) field units of DoT.
This is regularly done by TERM units to
ensure compliance to the EMF
radiation exposure norms to keep
general public areas safe even in the
vicinity of towers. In case, any BTS site
is found to violate the prescribed EMF
norms, actions are taken to put a
penalty of Rs. 10 lakh per BTS per
incidence including closing of BTS
site, if violation persists. Additionally,
the BTS sites against which there are
public complaints are also tested by
TERM Cell.
Department of Telecommunications