IS LIVING NEARBY A CELL PHONE TOWER SAFE?

If you have always wondered if cell phone towers are safe, and if there is a safe distance your home or office should maintain from these urban towers filled with antennas, this article will provide all answers.

WHAT ARE CELL PHONE TOWERS?

Cell phone towers are found in all cities in the world, and as you might have noticed they are increasing in number day after day, popping up in our urban environments in between our buildings, parks, schools and offices.

You might have noticed they have increased in numbers in your residential areas in the last two years.

Cell phone towers usually are very tall poles that hold on top few antennas, that are sometimes hidden in fake palm tree leaves (like in the above image), or simply mounted on metal rings. These antennas give us phone connection and data we can use while outside our homes, to be always connected to whatsup, google maps and any other social media channel and video streaming.

They allows us to be always connected thanks to the millimetres waves they emit 24/7.

If these cell phone towers are essential for our communication, why should they be a concern?

*Antennas are also mounted on buildings roofs.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS

Most governments worldwide follow ICNIRP guidelines for safe public exposure to electric and magnetic fields, hence to phone towers non-ionizing radiations.

Non-ionizing means that they do not change the structure of our atoms, like ionizing radiations do, but they can damage our cells and molecules.

The safety levels with respect to general population and occupational exposure to non-ionizing radiation shall not exceed the maximum permissible exposure limit established by the international commission on non-ionizing radiation protection (ICNIRP).

ICNIRP maximum levels for radio frequency levels (radiations emitted by cell phone towers) is 9 000 000 microwatts/sqm. However, the ICNIRP limits are based on “short term thermal effects on the body and nerve and muscle stimulation” and “skin heating” and do not take into account the biological and neurological effects on the human body. These guidelines can also be considered outdated as they were created in the 90s, when the radiations exposure in cities was not even close to the high levels of electromagnetic pollution we have today in 2022.

The “EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2016” and Building Biology Guidelines have been created by a team of scientists and doctors, to determine safe levels of EMF (electromagnetic fields) that would not cause health issues.

The EUROPAEM EMF Guideline 2016 are for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of EMF-related health problems and illnesses and have been created based on the biological effects these radiations have on our cells, hence they include cells inflammation studies, free radicals and blood coagulation.

The Europaem and Building Biology guidelines values show that sensitive people get

symptoms within the range of 10-100 microwatts/sqm. The average levels in our cities vary from 5000 to 2 000 000 microwatts/sqm, depending on the area and amount of cell phone towers.

If you are wondering why governments do not adjust their threshold limits and carefully plan location and intensity of the millimetre waves, by following the Europaem and Building Biology guidelines..just think about the financial and political interests around the telecommunication industry and the 5G deployment.

IS THERE A SAFE DISTANCE?

In order to talk about “safe distance”, it is important to understand how cell phone towers work.

The diagram below shows the propagation of the beam from antennas mounted on phone towers. Homes located within 300 meters radius are in the high radiation zone (black area, which is an area of high intensity), and people in these homes are more prone to ill-effects of electromagnetic radiations.

It is important to consider the amount of antennas mounted on the phone towers, each emitting high radiations towards different directions.

Reason why we cannot ensure that a home is safe if placed within 300 meters, as each antenna on the phone tower will have a different angle when emitting the signals, or you might be affected by another phone tower not fully visible from your windows.

Due to the high number of phone towers, it is hard to understand with a visual inspection only if a home is located in a safe area, reason why it is important to measure the radio frequency levels with the help of a professional. Building Biologist are usually specialized in electromagnetic fields inspections as well.

If you look outside your home window and see a phone tower right in front of you, with the antennas (white rectangular boxes) looking at you, you can assume the radiations from these antennas are affecting of your home.

The levels of penetration of these signals depend also on what type of building materials and glass windows is your home made of.

For example, double and triple glazed window reflect away radio frequencies much more than an old single glaze window.

Concrete walls, stone walls, wooden walls, and buildings made of steel structure, have all different absorption rates.

I hope now it is clear why it is nearly impossible to tell if a home is in a safe location, without a proper inspection of the outdoor and indoor spaces done by a professional EMF specialist.

WHAT ARE THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO HIGH PHONE TOWERS MILLIMETER WAVES?

Many studies have been conducted to determine the health effects, and one example is the Bavarian Study in 2010 (published and peer reviewed) which has identified significantly higher health risks within 400 meters of cell phone towers.

The main symptoms reported are:

-sleep problems

-depression

-skin problems

-cardiovascular problems

-joint problems

-vision change/problems

-hormonal unbalances

-anxiety

-cells inflammation and free radicals

Each person reacts differently, based on their health history, immune system and life style, however the exposure to high millimeter waves has proven to be harmful even if no symptoms appear, as the absorption of these radiations in our body is cumulative, and you never know when you will reach the tipping point.

IS 5G WORSE THAN 4G WHEN IT COMES TO EMF EXPOSURE?

5G is the infrastructure that supports the Internet of Things (IoT). While 1G through 4G were about connecting people, 5G would connect things. It purports to interconnect the things we own, and support self-driving cars, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. To support the exponentially higher amount of data that is needed to be transmitted and the use of these new technologies, an additional massive infrastructure of antennas is believed by industry to be required in closer proximity to our homes. It is estimated that smaller cell towers, referred to as “small c ells,” will be placed every 2-10 homes. To be able to provide a bigger bandwidth to transmit the exponentially higher amounts of data and the quick response times that are felt to be needed for some of the new technologies, part of the 5G infrastructure will rely on antennas that transmit millimeter waves. However, the use of millimeter waves is only one part of the infrastructure of 5G, as it will also rely heavily on the existing 4G network and on further deployment of many small cell 4G LTE antennas, particularly in residential neighborhoods. New types of antennas would be used to support new complex technologies and the infrastructure will continuously change as technology evolves. The real problem is densified 4G and 5G antennas in residential neighborhoods, which means much higher radiations from these antennas and phone towers nearby our homes. The intensity of the frequencies our homes will be exposed to will be higher, due to amore dense 4G network that supports the 5G network (which is on demand only and activated when requested by the users). HOW CAN WE PROTECT OUR HOMES? Until 5G will be fully deployed we won't be able to determine protective measures, but for now, if your home is affected by high radio frequency levels, your options are: -move home and find a quieter and less polluted neighborhood; -shield the rooms that are most affected with EMF shielding materials, such as shielding paint, films for glass windows, shielding canopies, and more. If you plan to shield your home, it is recommended to hire a Building Biologist to measure the existing radiations and their sources, to then create a shielding plan for each room, including materials required, installation methods and associated costs. The recommendation will be based on the level of frequencies found and their source. REFERENCES AND SCIENTIFIC STUDIES If you are interested to learn more, check out the below resources. The health risks associated to EMF have been studied and combined into the BioInitiative 2012 Report. The BioInitiative 2012 Report has been prepared by 29 authors from ten countries, ten holding medical degrees (MDs), 21 PhDs, and three MsC, MA or MPHs. Among the authors are three former presidents of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, and five full members of BEMS. Bio Initiative Report https://bioinitiative.org If you aRe interested in watching some videos with information about EMF and health effects, refer to links below: -Magda Havas https://magdahavas.com/category/havas-video-presentations/ -Magda Havas You Tube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxs1UgZ6DivWUfG1dX3TELw -ERICA MALLERY BLYTHE http://phiremedical.org/electromagnetic-hypersensitivity-ehs/ Recommended Books “The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life“ by Arthur Firstenberg. “The Body Electric” by Becker.

IPADS & TABLETS: HEALTH RISKS AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

Our founder Valentina was invited by Dubai Eye 103.8 to talk about the health risks of Ipads and Tablets use in young children, and give practical solutions on how technology can be used in a safer way.

You can listen to the full interview in this link from 48’ https://pod.link/1440471823 in Episode “Teachers have had enough” and check out the key points below:

The shock of when I learned my 6 years old daughter would have to bring and use an Ipad to school every day.

Screens are already everywhere, and now also in schools?

We as parents try to balance screen and play time for obvious reasons, how was I going to manage that now?

How can I explain to my child that using too much the Ipad is not good for health, while the use of Ipads is promoted in schools?

HEALTH RISKS OF IPADS & TABLETS

Electromagnetic fields from wifi and blue tooth connection have been proven to increase the production of oxidative stress, blood clots and poor circulation, ear ringing, autism, ADHD, brain cells damages and more.

Blue light exposure as kids vision is still developing, possibility of damaged retina and appearance of floaters that seem to drift through field vision, flashes of light, blurred vision, dry eyes, sleep wake cycle disturbance doesn’t allow our bodies to release melatonin, hence we don’t sleep well or enough during the night time.

Useful links with scientific research:

-https://ehtrust.org

-https://phiremedical.org

-https://magdahavas.com

PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO USE TECHNOLOGY IN A SAFER WAY

1) Use tablets on airplane mode (switch off wifi and bluetooth and download games/movies to watch offline).

2) Do not use ipad while charging as the charger emits high electric fields (another type of electromagnetic frequency).

3) Set up time limit on the ipad for the kids (downtime).

4) Get ethernet cabled connection to avoid exposure to wifi signals.

5) Use “night shift mode” to reduce blue light exposure.

6) Take breaks often and expose your eyes to natural light.

7) Use blue light filter screens or blue light blocking glasses.

8) Create healthy habits for technology use for your children, teaching them about airplane mode and why it is heathy to have a limited time on screens.

ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS: HOW TOXIC MATERIALS USED IN ARCHITECTURE & INTERIORS AFFECT OUR HEALTH.

The use of highly processed toxic materials for architecture and construction in the past century until today has led to a myriad of problems that have detrimental effects on indoor climate and our health, as well creating a disconnection with the healing frequencies of Nature.

Allergies, autoimmune diseases, symptoms of unknown illnesses to which traditional medicine does not always have answers to, are rising exponentially among the population.

In this article, our objective is to bring awareness about Environmental Illness, as well as more clarity on what designing for wellbeing and health truly means.

Asbestos, formaldehyde, pesticides, quality of drinking water, indoor air quality, VOCs, electromagnetic fields, Sick Building Syndrome....

Most people have heard these environmental “buzz words” on TV, on the radio, in the newspapers. People are becoming convinced that there is a problem, but they are confused about the extent of the problem, about how the problem applies to them in their own homes and workplaces, and about what they can or should be doing to protect the health of their families. This confusion exists because we hear conflicting voices in the media, not only from representatives of government, industry, and medical fields, but also from advertisers who promote various 'nontoxic’, low toxic or otherwise environmentally safe products.

To add up to the overall confusion is the widespread use of the word “Sustainable” which is generally (wrongly) associated with “Healthy” when it comes to the built environment.

“Sustainable” design does not mean “healthy” design. Sustainable design seeks to reduce negative impacts on the environment. Healthy design (or design that supports our health) seeks to create environments that are free of processed toxic materials, to reduce negative impacts on our health, and the extended networks we are part of such as animals and nature. A practical example: construction materials made of recycled products are considered sustainable, however they are not always healthy as the recycling process requires many chemicals (VOCs and formaldehyde) embedded in the products that then emit toxins in the environment the product is placed in, along with static electricity created by synthetic materials that depletes indoor air quality, neutralizing negative ions and making the air filled with only positive ones.

If we had labels listing the ingredients of our buildings, from the architecture to interiors materials and furnishing, these would be comparable to the ingredients of what we know as junk and unhealthy food = it is made of chemicals, toxins, asbestos to name a few.

Generally speaking, today’s buildings are made of:

-80/90% highly processed materials -10/20% moderately processed materials -1/5% natural origin materials Only 100 years ago, these percentages were exactly the opposite, as we used to live in natural homes. Just few years ago, people have started becoming more aware of what they eat, the ingredients of the food and where it is made, by whom and how. We all try to eat natural organic food to nourish our body, and the same approach should be applied to our environments to ensure we minimize as much as possible environmental toxins and chemicals, as our bodies absorb toxins through our skin and respiratory tracks, not only through our stomachs.

Some alarming data from the Environmental Protection Agency about Environmental Illness as follow:

-50% of illness is caused or worsened by indoor pollution

-Asthma and respiratory diseases have doubled since 1980, most heavily for kids

-Chemical sensitivity has grown to ~18% of the population

-65% our buildings are polluted

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a condition in which people in a building suffer from symptoms of illness or become infected with chronic disease from the building in which they work or reside, the sicknesses caused by sick buildings are identified as Environmental Illness and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, depending on what toxins is triggering the specific disease.

Environmental Illness (EI) is a general term for an abnormal state of health where minute amounts of chemicals or low-level electromagnetic radiation (EMR or EMF) in the environment cause severe adverse reactions. For a specific sensitivity to chemicals, we speak of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), while for sensitivity to electromagnetic radiations we speak of Electromagnetic sensitivity (ES). In most people these two are always combined, hence chemically sensitive people are mostly sensitive to EMF as well, and vice versa.

To name a few of the environmental toxins and their effects on our health and well-being, and main causes of Environmental Illness:

-Mold spores and mycotoxins

-Electromagnetic fields

-VOCs, solvents, formaldehyde

While most people have heard about VOCs, mold and electromagnetic fields are less popular, as well as being the most underrated environmental threats: Electromagnetic fields are man-made frequencies that create inflammation in our body, by breaking our cells membranes and increasing free radicals that can lead to many diseases. They are generated by cell masts phone towers in our urban environment, and smart technology inside our buildings and homes. Mold grows in humid environments in false ceiling, walls, AC ducts, behind wallpapers, and the mold mycotoxins and spores we inhale irritate nose, eyes, throat sinus as well as enter all body systems, continuing its growth inside our organs.

Unfortunately, due to today’s construction practices, mold is found in at least 60% of the homes due to the wrong use and implementation of construction materials, while there is very little awareness about the health effects of EMF, and these are not even considered in the mainstream sustainable and wellness certifications, such as the LEED and Well, despite the thousand’s scientific papers presented by doctors and scientists.

VOCs, solvents and formaldehyde are found in most interior and architectural materials such as paint and primers, fabrics, insulation materials inside our walls, adhesives and glues, carpets and rugs. As an example, when choosing a natural wooden floor with natural sealers to avoid the toxins from oil-based sealants, it is a must to avoid adhesives and glues for the installation of the wooden planks, as these also off gas formaldehyde in our indoor environments. A non-toxic installation is highly recommended (such as floating installation with moisture resistant sheets, or natural adhesives depending on the property location).

"These insidious chemical compounds emitted by synthetic materials, mold and EMF can affect almost every system in the body. They have been found in every organ in the body, in bone marrow, and in the blood. Symptoms include headaches, mild respiratory problems, asthma, concentration and memory problems, cancer, birth defects, CNS disorders mutagenic effects, Estrogen mimicking, brain damage, multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), organ damage, and organ failure.

Symptoms of acute exposure often subside upon leaving the affected area. Chronic exposure can lead to MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) and has been implicated in leukemia development."(International Institute for Building-Biology® and Ecology, 2021).

A general list of symptoms includes:

-Upper respiratory irritation (coughing, runny nose)

-Sinus irritation

-Asthma

-Short term memory loss

-Headache

-Central nervous system problems

-Fatigue, depression

If we want to re-gain our health, we must start implementing healthier construction practices, which should start from the architectural community, to educate clients and contractors to design and build in a healthy natural way, free of toxins, chemicals and processed materials.

We must look beyond the mainstream sustainable certifications and start demanding and using more natural non-toxic products for architecture and design.

A healthy design starts from making conscious decisions on what materials and energy we bring in our homes and workplaces, in the same way we make conscious decision about what food we put in our body. The first step to be made by architects and end users is to question what are the ingredients of this product I am specifying or buying in a shop, what is this paint made of, what are the chemicals in this rug, and many more.

This can be a very overwhelming process, as there are many hidden ingredients and binders, beside the challenging in reading and understanding all ingredients of architecture and interior products, reason why there are Building Biologists that help and guide people and architects to make healthier choices for their projects, home and offices.

We have to think of our body as an imaginary cup filled with toxic exposure.

Depending on toxic load, one day some exposure could put us over the edge. It makes more sense to work now on emptying those cups instead of waiting for them to overflow.

This is the house doctor’s equivalent of “eat right and get plenty of exercise and good rest”.

Maintaining a healthy environment, like maintaining a healthy body: it requires preventive medicine.