08-07-2007, 07:28 AM
There is a lot of paranoia surrounding cell towers s and possibly human health risks. What is important to understand is that radio frequency field intensity is related to the inverse of the distance squared. The exposure that you get from being in the vicinity of a cell tower is hundreds of times lower than the exposure you get using a cell phone.
The only exception to this might be in a situation were cell phone antennas are operated on top of a roof and people are allowed access to that roof top so you can get right up close to the antennas.
The next generation cell phones cut power to 1 watt maximum. Still enough for mild thermal effects and possibly some marginally increased risks.
The next generation after that which still operated at 900 Mhz had a maximum transmit level of about 250 milliwatts, a quarter of a watt. This is really approaching a power level where thermal effects are becoming insignificant. These phones only operate at maximum power if they are in a poor signal area.
The very latest generation operating at 1.8 GHz uses a maximum power of 100 milliwatts and will step down to as little as 1 milliwatt if the signal level is good. This is not enough to cause significant thermal heating and is safe.
The field strength you are subject to from cell towers is a small percentage of the field strength you are subject to using even one of these modern phones. They represent no threat.
For cell phone users, more towers reduces your exposure because your modern cell phone steps down it's power when the signal is strong. If you're a few hundred yards from a cell tower, that cell tower doesn't require that your phone transmit at a high power level for it to receive it. If you are several miles, then your phone must transmit at a higher, but still safe, power level.
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Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Those towers typically will operate with a power of around 35 watts. When you compare that with the power of a UHF television station or a high power radar station which may operate with millions of watts, it's nothing.
Besides, that, check out all those wireless routers everyone is buying. They produce the same type of radiation that a cell phone emits and your getting more radiation from them then a cell tower.
In short; the more bars = less health hazard.
Edited by - ericlp on 08/07/2007 11:29:47
The only exception to this might be in a situation were cell phone antennas are operated on top of a roof and people are allowed access to that roof top so you can get right up close to the antennas.
The next generation cell phones cut power to 1 watt maximum. Still enough for mild thermal effects and possibly some marginally increased risks.
The next generation after that which still operated at 900 Mhz had a maximum transmit level of about 250 milliwatts, a quarter of a watt. This is really approaching a power level where thermal effects are becoming insignificant. These phones only operate at maximum power if they are in a poor signal area.
The very latest generation operating at 1.8 GHz uses a maximum power of 100 milliwatts and will step down to as little as 1 milliwatt if the signal level is good. This is not enough to cause significant thermal heating and is safe.
The field strength you are subject to from cell towers is a small percentage of the field strength you are subject to using even one of these modern phones. They represent no threat.
For cell phone users, more towers reduces your exposure because your modern cell phone steps down it's power when the signal is strong. If you're a few hundred yards from a cell tower, that cell tower doesn't require that your phone transmit at a high power level for it to receive it. If you are several miles, then your phone must transmit at a higher, but still safe, power level.
----
Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Those towers typically will operate with a power of around 35 watts. When you compare that with the power of a UHF television station or a high power radar station which may operate with millions of watts, it's nothing.
Besides, that, check out all those wireless routers everyone is buying. They produce the same type of radiation that a cell phone emits and your getting more radiation from them then a cell tower.
In short; the more bars = less health hazard.
Edited by - ericlp on 08/07/2007 11:29:47