Should mobile phone masts be sited near schools?
In the past few years an increasing number of mobile phone masts and bases have been set up in the UK in densely populated areas, some very close to schools. This has been causing much worry and media coverage recently, because the effects of the radiation from these masts may cause brain damage. It has been particularly reported because children are still growing, so potential threats to their health and well being are taken very seriously.
Research from the Australian Health Research Institute (3) indicates that because of billions of times more radiation emitted by mobile phone masts (and other devices) “will make almost one-third of world population (about two billions) patient of ear, eye and brain cancer beside other major body disorders like heart ailments, impotency, migraine, epilepsy.” They have also reported that the tissues of children are tender, and so much more likely to be affected by anything wireless, and so should be discouraged from using a mobile phone.
Mobile phone radiation has also been linked to suicides, says evidence from Dr Roger Coghill, who sits on a Government advisory committee on mobile radiation. He has found that all 22 young people that have committed suicide who live in Bridgend in South Wales lived closer than normal to mobile phone masts. The proximity of masts has been linked to depression. Dr Coghill said: “There is a body of research that has over the years pointed to the fact that exposure to mobile radiation can lead to depression. There is evidence of higher suicide rates where people live near any electrical equipment that gives off radio or electrical waves.” A report has already identified mobile phones having an effect on sleep patterns. Dr Coghill added: “What seems to be happening is that the electrical energy is having an effect on the chemistry of the brain, depleting serotonin levels. We know that in depression serotonin levels are low and that a standard treatment for depression is to give drugs to boost serotonin levels. As they begin to work, the patient’s depression lifts.” Quote from source 1, “The Government’s Health Protection Agency insisted that fields from mobile masts – even modern powerful masts – were well within international agreed safety limits. “There is no evidence that masts do you harm. The levels of radio waves are very low.””
