Lija up in arms over cell phone antenna

Concerned Lija residents have expressed outrage over assurances given by the Superintendent of Public Health, Dr Ray Busuttil, that cell phone antenna repeaters 'do not pose any health risks to the public.'

The Lija local council, represented by Mayor Ian Castaldi Paris, is currently in court with a local telecom company to have an antenna repeater removed from the roof of a private residence in the heart of the village because "it could be detrimental to the health of residents living nearby", some of which also claim the repeater is a few metres away from their children's bedrooms.

Busuttil was quoted as saying that there is a consensus among scientists that cell phone radiation has no proven health effects, quoting various "recognised" worldwide studies.

According to Busuttil, "cell phone towers or base stations emit far less levels than those emitted from mobile phones, Wi-Fi equipment, smart meters and televisions, mobile phones emitting the highest".

Busuttil had also said that "considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there still is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects".

But Patrick Pace, a Lija resident, told MaltaToday that despite the Superintendent's comments that radiation emitted from cell phone towers "are not detrimental to our health", the concerned authorities were still taking the necessary precautions to protect workers who conduct work on these antennas, adding "that if the authorities were so convinced that the radiation emitted was of no danger whatsoever, they wouldn't need to bother taking such measures", referring to his comments as contradictory.

"My children are exposed 24/7 to the radiation emitted from these towers and the mast in question is less than 10 metres away from their bedroom.

"I know of a father whose child has been diagnosed with leukaemia and who states that he used to spend hours on his roof right next to one of these masts with his daughter when she was a baby, unaware of any would-be dangers," Pace said.

Pace also said that he has a copy of a report in hand that was distributed to those present during the Parliamentary Social Affairs Committee meeting on cell phone towers on how the Malta Communications Authority (MCA) conducts tests for electromagnetic field emissions, referring to it as "a total joke".

"They show no limits, no amount of units measured, what type of instrument is used and states that if one looked at the graphs everyone is safe 'as we are 'below the dotted line.'"

Meanwhile, Lija Mayor Ian Castaldi Paris had said in the same article that the court case was nearing the end after three years and that experts in the field were assigned by the judge to draw up a report on the effects of cell phone towers.

"The Lija community is anxiously awaiting the outcome of this court case since they feel left in the dark and it will only be determined if the antenna can have ill-effects on their health after this case is concluded," the mayor had told MaltaToday.

MT had viewed the detailed architects' report which stated that "while the public's health, especially that of children, had to be protected, it wasn't viable to stop the use of mobile phones (which depend on base stations). Therefore the need has arisen to find other solutions such as lowering the radiofrequency emitted from the base station antennas while also making sure that radiation emitted from the back and sides of antennas are kept at the lowest of levels. Furthermore, the height of the installed antenna would also have to be determined.

"This will help reduce any radiation emitted towards buildings in close proximity to the antennas."

The report also recommends that "over a period of five years, in order to evaluate any risks, an team of experts conducts tests on both individuals exposed to such radiation while also collect data on the levels of radiation emitted during the five-year period. Depending on the results, one can then act accordingly".

Castaldi Paris said that the height of the antenna in question will surely be an issue as a new height limitation had to be established.

"The fact that the height of the antenna would be raised would automatically mean that harm is actually being done.

"We just want a written guarantee that this antenna in Lija will not create any health hazards. However, until today, no expert or concerned authority is willing to give it to us in writing and assure us that the antenna is harmless."

Castaldi Paris said that he has analysed the court-appointed expert's report over and over again and found some statements to be extremely worrying.

"The fact that the expert states that this will create a problem if these antennas were to be removed is surely not in our competence nor the expert's to determine. We are disputing the health hazards which may effect lives of our families and children and not on the financial impact telecom companies would have with the removal of such antennas.

"The five-year trial period to establish any harm which the antennas might do is totally unacceptable. Are the Lija residents guinea pigs?  And what if after the five-year period is over, those exposed to such radiation would start feeling the harmful effects.  Who will be held accountable then? Won't it be too late?

"The suggestion of height limitations is a good alternative only if it is established that a certain height will avoid any risks whatsoever.

"As I stated several times, there should be a better approach of where and how these antennas are installed. There are open areas in Lija which surely could have been a far more better option, however an antenna right above a bedroom is totally absurd.

"I am sure that with the precautionary principle adopted, we hope that something futile will emerge through our ongoing persistence."

According to a retired foreign lecturer from Imperial College, London, Andrew Goldsworthy - who spent many years studying calcium metabolism in living cells and how cells, tissues and organisms are affected by electrical and electromagnetic fields - "weak" electro-magnetic fields from equipment such as cell phone towers, cell phones, cordless phones and Wi-Fi can have serious effects on both the health of humans and animals. These include damage to glands resulting in obesity and related disorders, chronic fatigue, autism, increases in allergies and multiple chemical sensitivities, early dementia, DNA damage, loss of fertility and cancer.

Peter Murray also sent an e-mail shooting down the Superintendent's comments stating that "regrettably, only time will tell if we will have another "tobacco moment" later on down the line in this regard as profit over prevention is king", adding that "the cigarette industry had put forward the exact same  claims for almost half a century in not acknowledging (actually totally denying) that their product was a potential danger to health until eventually proven beyond doubt that their products contained carciogenic substances that are very damaging to health - and not just to smokers".

 A Facebook group has been set up titled Antenna Caution Malta

http://www.facebook.com/groups/65849016146/