mardi 15 décembre 2009

San-Francisco : Law would require cell phone warnings


By: Katie Worth
Examiner Staff Writer
December 15, 2009


SAN FRANCISCO — Every cell phone sold in San Francisco could soon come with a label detailing the level of radiation you will be exposed to by using it and recommending a headset to avoid radiation exposure.

If a proposal endorsed Monday by the Commission on the Environment’s policy committee — and preliminarily supported by the mayor — moves forward, not only would consumers be alerted of potential risks of cell phone radiation, but it could become illegal to promote the devices in public schools, and the federal government would be officially called upon to change their standards for cell phones.

The committee’s 3-0 vote came in response to some scientific studies that suggest cell phone radiation can, over long periods of time, cause brain tumors on the side of the brain where the phone is held, and men who carry cell phones in their pocket may experience lower sperm counts.

Other recommendations made by the committee Monday were that The City purchase cell phones emitting the lowest possible radiation; that the school district educate students and parents about cell phone radiation; and the federal and state governments consider banning cell phone advertising aimed at children, who may be more vulnerable to any health risks associated with mobile phones.

The committee initially considered requiring cell phone merchants to provide a headset with any cell phone, but backed off on that requirement for now. It instead directed The City to “explore ways to encourage” the cell phone industry to provide headsets.

The proposal still must be endorsed by the Commission on the Environment, and then approved by the Board of Supervisors and the mayor. However, Mayor Gavin Newsom supports the idea in concept, mayoral spokesman Joe Arellano said.

“Mayor Newsom believes that cell phone radiation labeling is the next frontier in terms of consumer safety,” Arellano said. “He believes this step will allow The City to take a lead role in the United States in promoting labeling for cell phones at the point of purchase.”

In fact, Maine may beat San Francisco to the punch. That state’s legislature is considering a bill that would require a warning label on cell phones advising children and pregnant women to keep the devices away from their heads and bodies.

Monday’s meeting was attended by Ellie Marks of Lafayette, who helped advocate for Maine’s bill after her husband developed a large tumor on the side of his brain where he holds his cell phone. She said they are convinced his extensive cell phone use over 20 years caused the tumor. She said he used the phone so much she often threatened to throw it away.

“And how I wish I had,” she said. “I’m angry because this horror could have been avoided.”


Dial defense

A Commission on the Environment committee is proposing all cell phones sold in The City be accompanied by labels detailing radiation levels.

Possible effects of cell phone usage
-- Brain tumors
-- Lowered sperm count

Committee recommendations
-- City purchase cell phones emitting lowest possible radiation
-- Schools educate students and parents about cell phone radiation
-- Federal and state governments restrict cell phone advertising aimed at kids

Source: Commission on the Environment policy committee

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lundi 14 décembre 2009

India : Rajasthan bans installation of new mobile towers

Published the 7 Dec 2009 on indiatimes.com

In a major setback to Telecom companies, Rajasthan government has banned the installation of new mobile towers in the state. The
installation would now be governed by a policy, which is in the drawing board of the urban development and housing department (UDH).

“We have directed mobile companies to stop installation of mobile towers till the new policy is enforced. The draft of the proposed policy is in place and it will be implemented in next few days,” says a UDH official.

The policy is aimed at regulation the proliferation of mobile towers in high population density areas. “There have been a few studies which say that electro magnetic radiation emitting from these towers are a threat to human health. There has to be some check on these towers especially in residential and institutional areas,” he said.

Apart from that, the department is also planning to link installation with revenue generation for the local body. “We have proposed to levy Rs 1 lakh per tower as registration fee to be deposited with local body. The telecom company will then have to pay a fixed amount every month as rental to the concerned local body.

It will be applicable to even those towers which had already been installed,” he said. There are seven telecom operators with more than mobile 15000 towers in the state. According to the sources, the new policy would bar installation of any such tower in a medical or educational institution. In fact, permission to install such towers would be given for only open spaces like parks and agricultural land.

“In case of residential areas, the rule states, the company will have to get a no-objection certificate from the resident welfare association. Moreover, the tower would be held illegal if it has been installed in any illegally constructed building,” he said. The policy would prescribe set norms for these companies.

The service provider will be required to produce a certificate from a registered structural engineer that the tower and the building on which it has been installed is safe.

Apart from that they will have to produce No Objection Certificate (NOC) from agencies like the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and certificate of safety from competent authorities.

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mardi 8 décembre 2009

En France, Bouygues limite la puissance de ses antennes relais : peut mieux faire...

Publié sur le site de France Info,le 7 décembre 2009

Bouygues Télécom veut bien s’engager à limiter la puissance des radiofréquences de ses antennes relais à 6 volts par mètre. Ca ne vous dit pas grand chose ? Une idée de grandeur : aujourd’hui, le seuil limite réglementaire est compris entre 41 et 61 volts par mètre. Mais à Paris, c’est 2 volts maximum autorisés. Et les associations, elles, demandent moins d’1 volt.

C’est dans une interview au Figaro que le directeur général de l’opérateur Bouygues Télécom, Olivier Roussat, a lâché le morceau : un nouveau seuil de 6 volts par mètre dans les lieux de vie. Comme en Italie.
Quand on compare aux seuils réglementaires actuels, suggérés par l’OMS et la commission européenne, la baisse paraît spectaculaire. Mais, selon les associations Agir pour l’environnement et Priartem, c’est "un engagement virtuel". En effet, les 6 volts/m ne concerneraient plus beaucoup d’antennes, moins de 3%. À les croire, les engagements de Bouygues donc ne vaudraient pas tripette...

Moins d’1 volt/m ou rien

C’est le credo de ces associations et de la secrétaire d’État à l’économie numérique Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, pour qui cette proposition de Bouygues est "un bon signal", mais "il faut progresser".
NKM voit dans ce petit pas, "le premier fruit du Grenelle des ondes" lancé au printemps. Grenelle qui a permis de lancer des expérimentations dans 16 villes pilotes, pour diminuer progressivement les taux d’exposition.

En attendant, les associations anti-antennes se basent sur la recommandation de l’Agence de sécurité sanitaire, l’Afsset, d’appliquer à la téléphonie mobile le principe "Alara" (As low as reasonnably achievable) "qui consiste à imposer aux opérateurs d’émettre et d’exposer au niveau le plus faible techniquement possible, soit en deçà d’un volt par mètre ".

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