Scientist says co-location of masts will not reduce emissions

Accra, July 14, GNA - Mr Joseph Kwabena Amoako, a Research Scientist at the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), on Tuesday said co-location of telecom masts would not reduce the amount of radio frequency (RF) emissions into the atmosphere.

"Co-location will only improve the artistic impressions of our cities but not lead to the reduction of RF emissions because the same number of antennae will be mounted on fewer masts or poles," he said. In a written response to a questionnaire from GNA, he stated that the concern about RF emissions would only be addressed if measures were put in place to ensure that the radiations were within acceptable limits as set by the Independent International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

He said: "This calls for enforcement of regulations and monitoring of masts sites and reports made public.

"We need the support of government and parliament to pass these regulations into law to ensure full compliance."

Mr Amoako said the ICNIRP guidelines had been adopted by several countries to regulate the RF emissions from mobile phones and FM base stations, adding that in Ghana, however, some of the operators were not aware of the guidelines.

He said the EPA and the RPI were collaborating to ensure that companies complied with the guidelines.

Mr Amoako said the few base stations that EPA and RPI had surveyed, showed general compliance, but the emissions were much higher than those of a typical base station in the UK or Australia and "we should be concerned about this".

He noted, for instance, that there was enough evidence to suggest that children were sensitive to radiations and electromagnetic fields than adults.

"I am also aware that there is an increased incidence of leukemia among children living very close to high tension transmission lines and electricity substations.

"But it should also be noted that cancers like leukemia have several causes."

Mr Amoako said effects of radiation depended on the intensity, the exposure time and how radio-sensitive the individual or organ of the body was.

Professor Emmanuel Amamoo-Otchere, another scientist, had said elsewhere that the intensity of radiation reduced drastically as it traveled away from the antennae, and through trees and buildings. In response to a question about RF emission causing alterations in sleep and blood flow in humans, Mr Amoako said alterations in blood flow and sleep could cause stress and other related symptoms, which were serious public health issues that could have long term economic impact if not addressed.

He said there was therefore the need to take precautionary measures, while using technology.

In particular reference to a study, which suggested that signals from third generation (3G and 3.5G) mobile phone technology had adverse effects on general well being, he noted that one study was not enough to draw such a definite conclusion.

Mr Bob Palitz, Managing Director of Kasapa, also told the GNA that the health concerns about telecom towers were an illusion. In response to the claim that emission level in Ghana was higher than that of the UK, he said, "I can't think of any factual reason why that should be so."

He, however, said even if that was the case, it should not be a contest between UK and Ghana since both countries met the ICNIRP limits. Mr Palitz said Kasapa was comfortable with ICNIRP guidelines but they were very conservative, and the calculation methods used under the ICNIRP focused on worst-case scenarios.

"Actual measurements often demonstrate much lower radiation levels than ICNIRP calculation predicts," he said.

He asked why nobody was paying attention to fumes from the exhaust of vehicles, which were giving the people cancer or emphysema and yet there was so much hullabaloo about emissions from telecom towers.