Hazardous Effect of Mobile Phone Radiation on Human Health - IPASJ

IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC) Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEC/IIJEC.htm Email: [email protected] ISSN 2321-5984

A Publisher for Research Motivation........

Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2016

Hazardous Effect of Mobile Phone Radiation on Human Health –A Review Shriyash Mohril1, Mahipal Singh Sankhla2, Bhaskar Chaturvedi3, Rajeev kumar4 1

Student of Electronics and Communication Engineering, School of Electrical & Electronics and Communication Engineering,Galgotias University, Greater Noida

2

Student of M.Sc. Forensic Science, Division of Forensic Science, School of Basic and Applied Sciences. Galgotias University, Greater Noida 3

Student of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering,Galgotias University, Greater Noida

4

Assistant Professor,Division of Forensic Science, School of Basic and Applied Sciences,

Galgotias University, Greater Noida.

ABSTRACT These days’ mobile phones becoming an elementary part of our life. This is one of the most important medium for the communication. The countless increase in mobile phones has increased the amount of non-ionizing radio waves in surroundings during last two decades the possible risks by radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure of the human body are a major concern for the society. Although the familiarization and dependency of mobile phone is growing at an alarming pace, the Human health effects due to the exposure of radiations have become a subject of intense debate. The effects of radiofrequency radiation is very broad and heterogeneous. the possibility of a relationship between mobile phone use and carcinogenic processes, reproduction and development, the cardiovascular system and longevity – that is, exposure of the whole body. The rate at which radiation is absorbed by the human body is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and its maximum levels for modern handsets have been set by governmental regulating agencies in many countries.

Key-words – Mobile Phone, Electromagnetic radiation, Radio – frequency.

1.Introduction Modern technology has provided comfort and ease to human society but various other non-avoidable factors are also associated with these technical and communication devices. Electromagnetic radiations are included in these factors which are used in cell-phones and wireless devices for signal transmission. Various research studies have illustrated that EMF radiations are found to be responsible for various harmful effects on health, development, reproduction, immune system, growth, sleep, skin and brain [1-6].There have been various studies into the connection between mobile phones and memory loss. Because of their smaller heads, thinner skulls and higher tissue conductivity, children may absorb more energy from a given phone than adults. International guidelines on exposure levels to microwave frequency limit the power levels of wireless devices and it is uncommon for wireless devices to exceed the guidelines. But these guidelines only take into account thermal effects, as non-thermal effects have not yet been conclusively demonstrated [7].The question whether microwave radiation, that is emitted by mobile phones (radio-frequency modulated electromagnetic fields: RF-EMF), might exert any detrimental health effects remains unanswered. Several recently conducted reviews of the to-date published research have concluded that there is significant and credible scientific evidence to the fact that RF-EMF induces biological effects [8-11]. The possibility of the effect of RF-EMF exposure on blood-brain barrier permeability has been suggested earlier by in vivo and in vitro studies [12, 13]. However, there are also reports where authors claim that the non-thermal levels of RF-EMF radiation do not affect blood-brain barrier permeability [14, 15]. There is concern that microwaves might induce or promote cancer, and the symptoms associated with their use include sleep disturbance, memory problems, headaches, nausea, and dizziness[16].

Volume 4, Issue 10, Octobet2016

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IPASJ International Journal of Electronics & Communication (IIJEC) A Publisher for Research Motivation........


Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJEC/IIJEC.htm Email: [email protected] ISSN 2321-5984

Changes in the permeability of the blood brain barrier, electroencephalographic activity, and blood pressure have also been reported [17].Although, cell phones are designed to operate at power levels below a threshold for known thermal effects, radio frequency radiation could produce other kinds of effects, called biological effects [18].Safety is a legitimate concern of the users of wireless equipment, particularly, in regard to possible hazards caused by electromagnetic (EM) fields. There has been growing concern about the possible adverse health effects resulting from exposure to radiofrequency radiations (RFR), such as those from mobile communication devices. Mobile communication is where signal is transferred via electromagnetic wave through radio frequency and microwave signals. This signal produces electromagnetic radiation in the form of thermal radiation that consists of harmful ionizing radiation and harmless non-ionizing radiation. When using mobile phone, electromagnetic wave is transferred to the body which causes health problems especially at the place near ear skull region where they are known to affect the neurons. The radiations interfere with the electrical impulses that two neurons connect each other with [19].

2.ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy exhibiting wave-like behavior as it travels through space. Electromagnetic radiation has both electric and magnetic field components, which oscillate in phase perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the direction of energy propagation. Electromagnetic radiation can be classified into ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation, based on whether it is capable of ionizing atoms and breaking chemical bonds Non-ionizing radiation is associated with two major potential hazards: electrical and biological. Extremely high power electromagnetic radiation can cause electric currents strong enough to create sparks (electrical arcs) when an induced voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of the surrounding medium. These sparks can then ignite flammable materials or gases, possibly leading to an explosion [19]. Extremely high power electromagnetic radiation can cause electric currents strong enough to create sparks (electrical arcs) when an induced voltage exceeds the breakdown voltage of the surrounding medium. These sparks can then ignite flammable materials or gases, possibly leading to an explosion. The biological effect of electromagnetic fields is to cause dielectric heating. Complex biological effects of weaker non-thermal electromagnetic fields also exists, including weak Extremely Low Frequency magnetic fields and modulated Radio Frequency and microwave fields [20-22]. Magnetic fields induce circulating currents within the human body and strength of these magnetic fields depends directly on the intensity of the impinging magnetic field. These currents cause nerves and muscles to stimulate which in turn affects biological processes. The influence of the weak EM radiations on human can be realized as sequence of events which includes exposure to EM radiations which when absorbed modulates the biological field patterns, accumulation of energy and information into the body fluid, change in the functional activities of cell which finally results into some disease [23].The cellular phone has to emit radio frequency energy at levels high enough to reach base stations (antenna towers). Since the energy is emitted as microwave in the direct vicinity of the user’s head there are concerns about the safety of this technology. There are reports from cell studies as well as animal studies that there may be significant risk of developing cancer tumours, foremost brain tumours in the user of cellular phones. Depending on the level of exposure, radiation can adversely affect individuals directly and the descendants in directly. Radiation can affect cells of the body, increasing the risk of cancer or harmful genetic mutations that can be passed on to future generations; or, if the dosage is large enough to cause massive tissue damage, it may lead to death within a few weeks of exposure [24-26].

3.SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATIO (SAR) SAR is a measure of the amount of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the tissue in the human body that is measured in watts per kilogram. This measurement is used to determine whether a cell phone complies with the safety guidelines. The exposure limit takes in consideration with the body’s ability to remove heat from the tissues that absorb energy from the cell phone & is set well below levels known to show biological effects. The U. S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) & International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recommend the localized SAR in the head is to be limited to 1.6 – to - 2 Watts per kilogram averages over any 10g mass of tissues in the head [27,28].Part of the radio waves emitted by a mobile telephone handset is absorbed by the human head. The radio waves emitted by a GSM handset can have a peak power of 2 watts, and a US analogue phone had a maximum transmit power of 3.6 watts. Other digital mobile technologies, such as CDMA2000 and D-AMPS, use lower output power, typically below 1 watt. The maximum power output from a mobile phone is regulated by the mobile phone standard and by the regulatory agencies in each country. In most systems the cell phone and the base station check reception quality and signal strength and the power level is increased or decreased [19].


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4.Hazardous Effect on Human Health With reference to the handsets, the effect of radio waves emitted by the cell phone communication, especially with specific reference to human health, can be categorized as, thermal, non-thermal and genotoxical. Thermal effect is one whereby the electromagnetic field of radio waves induces polar molecules that generates dielectric heat letting the live tissues die. For instance, some part of head, while receiving the message through radio waves if it happens to experience increased temperature can have damaged nerve fibers. Next to the thermal effect is non-thermal effect, in which keeping the temperature generated by radio waves constant (only the electric current) passes through the cell. membrane, while transceiving messages and finally the genotoxical effect, which includes damage to chromosomes, alterations in the activity of certain genes and a boosted rate of cell division [29-31]. According to their biological effects, EM radiation can be classified into two forms: non-ionizing radiation and ionizing radiation. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light waves are non-ionizing radiation that do not have enough energy to break apart atoms and molecules and turn them into ions, which are electrically-charged particles. This means that non-ionizing radiation does not damage genetic material (DNA) in molecules directly and cannot therefore cause cancer or any other illness in people. X-ray and gamma rays, are forms of ionizing radiation, which, particularly at high doses, can increase one’ s risk of cancer, birth defects, and genetic defects through DNA mutations resulting from atom and molecule ionization. There is no completely safe level of ionizing radiation [32].

5.Thermal effects One well-understood effect of microwave radiation is dielectric heating, in which any dielectric material (such as living tissue) is heated by rotations of polar molecules induced by the electromagnetic field. In the case of a person using a cell phone, most of the heating effect will occur at the surface of the head, causing its temperature to increase by a fraction of a degree. In this case, the level of temperature increase is an order of magnitude less than that obtained during the exposure of the head to direct sunlight. The brain's blood circulation is capable of disposing of excess heat by increasing local blood flow. However, the cornea of the eye does not have this temperature regulation mechanism and exposure of 2–3 hours duration has been reported to produce cataracts in rabbits' eyes at SAR values from 100140W/kg, which produced lenticular temperatures of 41°C. There were no cataracts detected in the eyes of monkeys exposed under similar conditions. Premature cataracts have not been linked with cell phone use, possibly because of the lower power output of mobile phones [33].

6.Non-thermal effects The communications protocols used by mobile phones often result in low-frequency pulsing of the carrier signal. Whether these modulations have biological significance has been subject to debate [34].Some researchers have argued that so-called "non-thermal effects" could be reinterpreted as a normal cellular response to an increase in temperature. The German biophysicist Roland Glaser, for example,5 has argued that there are several thermo receptor molecules in cells, and that they activate a cascade of second and third messenger systems, gene expression mechanisms and production of heat shock proteins in order to defend the cell against metabolic cell stress caused by heat. The increases in temperature that cause these changes are too small to be detected by studies such as REFLEX, which base their whole argument on the apparent stability of thermal equilibrium in their cell cultures. Other researchers believe the stress proteins are unrelated to thermal effects, since they occur for both extremely low frequencies (ELF) and radio frequencies (RF), which have very different energy levels [35]. Using fluoride oxyglucose injections and positron emission tomography concluded that exposure to radiofrequency signal waves within parts of the brain closest to the cell phone antenna resulted in increased levels of glucose metabolism, but the clinical significance of this finding is unknown [36,37].

7.Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Phone Effect As time passes by technology are growing faster and move faster. The most important and common part of technology in our life is mobile phone technology. We bring mobile phone with us in everywhere that we go and use it on a daily basis. It is being the part and parcel of our daily life. Mobil phone have been around for quite some time, but as time goes on, mobile phones continuous to gain many features. A mobile phone started out as simple device that had only numbers, and most people used them for emergencies only. Nowadays, cell phones have many features such as phone calls, text messaging, taking pictures accessing the web, using calculator etc as many accessories. People become addicted in cell phone because they are getting many facilities by using it. For example, whenever they go outside they can take the phone with them because of its size, networking range, a full charge battery, essay connection etc. There is


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no doubt about the benefits of mobile phones. Mobile phones have so many advantages but there have some disadvantages too. It has become a vital element for every person but nowadays it has also becoming an addiction to the young generation. If we talking about Bangladesh, nine out of ten young people in the town area, have own a mobile phone. They use it in various purposes. Their attraction of mobile phone is increasing day by day. Medical science says that the radiation of mobile phone is too bad for human health. In 1995 mobile phone has introduced to Bangladeshi people. The first mobile service provider company was City cell. Then Grameen phone, Aktel, Bangla link, Teletalk, and Warid which is being named as Airtel an Indian telecom company who has also started their business in Bangladesh. In the arena of communication mobile has becoming the latest fashion and also the most essential means of communication. These mobile phones let us enjoy all the comforts within a single device [19].

8.Discussion The use of cell phone is increasing tremendously day-by-day but most of the people of World (who use cellular phone) have no knowledge how the cell phones impact on human health.Globalization is the new mantra. In this age, it is very difficult not to have technology. But as shown in this study, with every technology invented to facilitate human beings, there come certain hazards. The only way to beat these negative aspects of new technologies is again, a new but better technology. Electromagnetic radiation is everywhere. More and more wireless communication services are expected, so is the artificial electromagnetic radiation. It seems that there is no way to reverse this trend. Scientists and engineers must develop better and safer wireless systems and devices. Smaller cell size, better base station antennas and other more advanced technologies will allow future cell phones to radiate much lower power and make technology a real boon [19].Mobile phones when functioning close to the head of the user effect in comparably high levels of exposure to microwaves in the near field. Never previously in history have such high exposures occurred on a regular basis in such a great proportion of the population. Consequently, there is concern that exposure may lead to long term adverse health effects and in particular to an increase in cancer incidence. Government, community and companies are forced to deal in a blameable way with the comparatively new mobile phone technology and their potential health risks in spite of the fact that the scientific body of evidence is incomplete. The condition is complicated by the fact that there are also economic interests involved. Nevertheless, any risk assessment and protective measures should be based on systematic grounds. To accomplish acceptance of the resulting policy, there is no alternative to communicating these systematic grounds to the public in a highly transparent way.

9.Conclusion The use of cell phone is increasing immensely day-by-day but most of the people (who use cellular phone) have no knowledge how the cell phones impact on human health. It is almost clear from the research that the radiation from cell phone is responsible for many diseases like brain tumour, headaches, short-term memory loss, different types of heart diseases etc. In the presence of various RF sources, including cell phone handsets and broadcast antennas which contribute the overall environmental exposure has become a great concern about safety of this new technology and as well as human health. However, we should contribute more efforts to transform mobile radio communication to an efficient, secure and convenient system useful for the welfare and positive advancement in India and for the global society.

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