Open Access Research Article
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND HEALTH HAZARDS CREATED BY EXPOSURE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES INCLUDING MOBILE PHONE WITH LEGAL GUIDELINES
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ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND HEALTH
HAZARDS CREATED BY EXPOSURE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES INCLUDING MOBILE PHONE
WITH LEGAL GUIDELINES
AUTHORED BY -
DR. PIJUSH KANTI BHATTACHARJEE
Advocate, Supreme Court of India, New
Delhi &
Professor, Department of Electronics and
Communication Engineering,
Guru Nanak Institute of Technology,
Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Abstract:
Electromagnetic waves pass through
any type of mediums like solid, liquid, gaseous materials, air and space.
Electromagnetic waves are manufactured from the beam of electrons passing
through electric and magnetic fields acting perpendicular to each other. It
moves in the air with the speed of light and having frequency very low range (3
Hz) to very high range (1024 Hz). It comprises with electromagnetic
spectrum under different frequencies arranging in increasing range such as
radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light waves, ultraviolet
radiation, X-rays, gamma rays etc. Maxwell invented mathematical formulas
regarding electric and magnetic field for the propagation of electromagnetic
waves. Conception of electromagnetic waves is proposed that they consist of
photons which are massless and chargeless particle. In this paper, it is
discussed that electromagnetic waves are bunch of free electrons moving with
the velocity of light having very huge (infinity) mass penetrating all type of
materials, air and space. Exposure of electromagnetic waves from different
sources like mobile phone, electronics equipment, satellite and radar system
etc. is causing environmental pollution and health hazards to living creatures
including human one with slow killing ability. It is urgently necessary to
frame guidelines and rules for saving nature and its inhabitants from high
frequency electromagnetic waves.
I. Introduction
There is no sound in space, because
there are no molecules in space to transmit (carry) the sound waves.
Electromagnetic waves are not like sound waves, since they do not need
molecules to travel. It is observed that electromagnetic waves can travel
through air, solid objects and space. Astronauts on space-walks (vehicle) use
radio waves to communicate. Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic waves are framed when
an electric field couples with a magnetic field. Magnetic and electric fields
of an electromagnetic wave are perpendicular to each other and to the direction
of the electromagnetic wave. Radio waves, television waves, microwaves, X-Rays,
visible light waves are all examples of electromagnetic waves [1]-[6]. They
only differ from each other in wavelength or frequency. Wavelength is the
distance between one wave crest to the next and the frequency is the number of
wavelengths repeated in a second.
The smaller the wavelength (higher
the frequency), the higher the energy, e.g., a brick wall blocks visible light
wavelengths, but more energetic X-rays (having higher frequency and smaller
wavelength) can pass through the brick walls. It is proved that electromagnetic
waves are “blocked” by certain materials like water, buildings, lead etc.,
i.e., the wavelengths of energy are “absorbed” by objects. The atmosphere also
absorbs some wavelengths of electromagnetic waves while to pass through.
Production of electromagnetic waves by the electric and the magnetic fields are
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Production of Electromagnetic
Waves by the Electric and the Magnetic field oscillations.
All the electromagnetic waves travel
at a speed of 3 × 108 meters/second which is the speed of light. All
the electromagnetic waves travel with the speed of light in medium or free
space, they don’t need any material medium to travel as required by other
mechanical waves like sound wave, water wave and electrical wave.
When electromagnetic waves travel
through space, it does not lose energy to a medium. When they strike matter,
they lose energy, they may be reflected or refracted or diffracted or absorbed
by the matter and converted to other forms of energy like heat, electricity
etc.
II. Electromagnetic Waves Characteristics
An electromagnetic wave is produced
when an electrically charged particle vibrates. A vibrating charged particle
causes the electric field surrounding it to vibrate as well. A vibrating
electric field, in turn, creates perpendicularly a vibrating magnetic field.
Again a vibrating magnetic field is applied on the charged particle which also
creates perpendicularly a vibrating electric field. These two types of
vibrating fields (electric and magnetic fields) acting perpendicularly (at
right angles) combine to create an electromagnetic wave which travels
perpendicular to the both fields. Therefore, an electromagnetic wave is a
transverse wave. They are deflected neither by the electric field nor by the
magnetic field. However, they are capable of showing interference or
diffraction [1]-[6].
Electromagnetic waves are split into
a range of frequencies (wavelengths), this is known as the electromagnetic
spectrum in increasing frequency like radio waves, microwaves, infrared
radiation, visible light waves, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays, gamma rays,
shown in Table 1.
Table 1
Electromagnetic Spectrum
|
Name of the Spectrum
|
Wavelength
|
Frequency
|
|
Radio waves
|
100 Mm – 1 m
|
3 Hz – 300 MHz
|
|
Microwaves
|
1 m – 1 mm
|
300 MHz – 300 GHz
|
|
Infrared Radiation
|
1 mm – 750 nm
|
300 GHz – 400 THz
|
|
Visible Light
|
750 nm – 400 nm
|
400 THz – 800 THz
|
|
Ultraviolet Radiation
|
400 nm – 1 nm
|
1015 Hz – 1017
Hz
|
|
X-Rays
|
1 nm – 1 pm
|
1017 Hz – 1020
Hz
|
|
Gamma Rays
|
1 pm – 0.0001 pm
|
1020 Hz – 1024 Hz
|
This is clearly explained
by Max Planck and Albert Einstein’s Modern Quantum Theory such as
electromagnetic waves consist of photon particles (as they assumed) and the
energy (E) possessed by the waves or photon particles are calculated
[1]-[3]. Photon is a massless and chargeless elementary particle having
particle and wave properties both as per their assumptions. If the energy of
each photon is E;
Then, E = hf ........................(1)
where h is called
Planck’s Constant, h = 6.626 × 10?34 joule–second; f or ? is the linear frequency
of the electromagnetic waves. If velocity of electromagnetic waves is c and
? be the wavelength,
we know, f ? = c
, then f = c/? ,
Therefore, E = hf
= hc/? .......................(2)
Velocity of
electromagnetic waves, c is equal to the velocity of light,
Hence, c = 2.9979
× 108 meters/second or 1,86,000 miles/second.
Therefore, it is seen
that if frequency of the electromagnetic waves is high, it will possess more
energy, and thus it will penetrate the atoms, i.e., living and non-living body
with more energy or power. It is already proved by Albert Einstein in
Photoelectric Effect (earned Nobel Prize in 1921 for this) that when high
frequency electromagnetic waves consisting of photon particles fall any atoms
(metallic or non-metallic), the photons will release electrons from the atoms,
called photoelectrons, cause current generation or current flow through the
circuit.
Actually, the assumption
of electromagnetic waves as photons like massless and chargeless particle is
not correct; if a photon is massless, then its energy (potential and kinetic
both) becomes zero, i.e., the photon cannot strike with certain energy.
Therefore, the photons are nothing except free electrons which have very less
mass in rest (stationary) condition, i.e., 9 × 10?31 kg; and
infinity or huge mass in free stage when moving with the speed of light. Hence,
electromagnetic waves are free electrons having very huge (infinity) mass
comparing to its volume (radius of an electron, r = 2.82 × 10?15
m), and negative charge moving with the speed of light [7].
Whenever
electromagnetic waves exist in a medium with matter,
their wavelength is decreased. Wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation,
whatever medium they are traveling through, are usually quoted in terms of
the vacuum wavelength, although this is not always explicitly stated.
III. Electromagnetic Waves Theory
With the publication of “A Dynamical
theory of the Electromagnetic Field” in 1865, James Clerk Maxwell (Scotland,
U.K.) demonstrated that electric and magnetic field travels through space as
waves moving at the speed of light. Maxwell’s equations encompass the major
laws of electricity and magnetism [1]-[7].
The four Maxwell equations are on
electromagnetic theory corresponding that D is the electric flux density
coulombs/sq. meter, ? (rho) is the electric charge density
coulombs/cubic meter, B is the magnetic flux density weber/sq. meter, E
is the electric field intensity volt/meter, H is the magnetic field
intensity amperes/meter, J is the electric current density ampere/sq.
meter, and they are expressed below:
(i) div D = ? (ii) div B = 0 (iii) curl E = ?
(iv) curl H =
Where ? is the permittivity of the material, m is the permeability of the material and s is the conductivity of the material. Vacuum behaves like
a perfect linear “material” without additional polarization and magnetization.
The compact way of writing these equations in
the meter-kilogram-second (mks) system is in terms of the vector analysis
operators divergence (div) and curl, i.e., in partial differential equations
form. The equations describe how the electric field can create a magnetic field
and vice-versa. Here Maxwell established relations between the electric field
intensity (E) and the magnetic flux density (B); the magnetic
field intensity (H) and the electric flux density (D).
IV. Production of Electromagnetic Waves
Electromagnetic waves travel through
empty space or through insulating materials, but they cannot travel through
conducting materials, although they can travel along their surfaces. When
alternating current flows through a wire (i.e., electric charges are
accelerated), it produces lesser amount of electromagnetic waves. The frequency
of the electromagnetic waves created by this way equals to the frequency of the
alternating current.
The inverse effect also happens, if
an electromagnetic wave strikes a wire (i.e., receiving antenna), it induces an
alternating current of the same frequency in the wire. This is how the
receiving antennas of a radio or television sets work [4]-[7]. Thus, an antenna
is the most efficient when its length is of the order of the wavelength of the
electromagnetic waves emitted or received. For TV transmission, electromagnetic
waves having wavelengths of the order of one meter, which is also the size of a
typical TV antenna. The size (radius) of the antenna will be decreased as the
frequency of the electrmagnetic waves increased.
Therefore, electromagnetic radiation
is produced whenever a charged particle, such as an electron changes its
velocity, i.e., whenever it is accelerated or retarded (decelerated).
The generation of electromagnetic radiation into two categories is below:
(i) Systems or processes that produce
radiation covering a broad continuous spectrum of frequencies, e.g., the Sun
with its continuous spectrum.
(ii) Those that emit (and absorb)
radiation of discrete frequencies that are characteristics of particular
systems, e.g., a radio transmitter or receiver tuned to one frequency.
Because any change in motion is an
acceleration or deceleration (retardation), circulating currents of electrons
produce electromagnetic radiation. When these circulating electrons move at
relativistic speeds (i.e., approaching the speed of light), then the brightness
of the radiation increases enormously. This radiation was first observed at the
General Electric Company in 1947 in an electron synchrotron which is a type of
particle accelerator that forces relativistic electrons into circular orbits by
using powerful magnetic fields.
Electromagnetic waves consist of
wavelengths range from 10?16 m to 100 Mm which corresponds to
frequencies from 3 × 1024 Hz to 3 Hz. All the energy from the Sun
that reaches the earth arrives as solar radiation, part of a large collection
of energy called the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. Solar radiations are
composed with electromagnetic radiation like visible light, ultraviolet light,
infrared radiation, radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. Radiation is one way to
transfer heat energy. Every object or matter is continually radiating
electromagnetic waves unless its temperature is at absolute zero, i.e., - 2730
C.
Molecules or atoms emit radiation
when high energy electrons in a high atomic level (higher shell or orbit) fall
down to lower energy levels (lower orbit). The energy lost is emitted as
electromagnetic waves radiation, e.g., light, infrared, radio waves etc. When
energy is absorbed by an atom, it causes the electrons to “jump” up to higher
energy levels (higher orbit or shell). Therefore, all atoms (objects) absorb
and emit radiation, i.e., electromagnetic waves. When the absorption of energy
balances the emission of energy, the temperature of the atoms stays constant.
If the absorption of energy is greater than the emission of energy, the
temperature of an object rises. If the absorption of energy is less than the
emission of energy, the temperature of an object falls.
Electromagnetic radiation is made when an atom absorbs energy. The
absorbed energy causes one or more electrons to change their locale within the
atom.
When the electron returns to its original position, an
electromagnetic wave is produced. Depending on the kind of atom and the amount
of energy, this electromagnetic radiation can take the form of heat, light,
ultraviolet, or other electromagnetic waves.
There are several ways of causing atoms to absorb energy. One way is
to excite the atoms with electrical energy. We do this in neon signs (tubes).
The electricity we put through the neon tubes will excite or add energy to the
neon atoms. These electrons in these atoms are then in a high energy state. The
electrons don’t like to be in the high energy state and will fall back down
into the low energy state giving off radiation which we see as light.
In electromagnetic waves, energy is
transferred through vibrations of electric and magnetic fields. Quantum physics
explains that electrons kick up virtual photons (i.e., free electrons), which
travel at the speed of light and hit other particles, exchanging energy and
momentum. Here virtual photons are free electrons only.
The German physicist Heinrich Hertz
was the first to generate and detect certain types of electromagnetic waves in
the laboratory in 1887.
It is observed that when an electric
field is applied, a magnetic field will be automatically exist or evolve which
is perpendicular to the electric field, and vice-versa. Therefore, when both
the electric field and the magnetic field are acting simultaneously at right
angles (perpendicular) to each other, the strengths of the both fields are high
enough to oscillate (skip out) electrons releasing from the atoms forming
electron beam as electromagnetic waves perpendicularly to the both fields.
If
an electron moves with a velocity v, its mass
=
,
where
c = velocity of light, m0 = electron’s rest mass; this
equation indicates the mass will increase with the increase of its velocity, in
this equation the electron’s mass increases 1% when velocity increases 15% of
velocity of light, if v = c, m1 becomes
infinity [2]-[9]. Since electromagnetic waves travel with the speed of light
and it consists of free electrons only which have very huge (infinity) mass,
therefore these tiny electrons having radius, i.e., r = 2.82 x 10?15 m can penetrate any material. Thus when
electromagnetic waves consisting of free electrons are moving inside any
material, air and space, its mass is infinity, i.e., huge mass. Due to this
characteristic, electromagnetic waves or free electrons can penetrate any type
of materials.
V. Environmental Pollution with Global Warming Controlled by National
and International Rules
In
India, National Committee on Environment Planning and Co-ordination (NCEPC)
established 1972. It is apex advisory body in India in all matters relating to
environmental protection and improvement. Supreme Court of India (SC)
recognized the fundamental norms in the Constitution of India regarding
environment protection [10]-[11] are mentioned below:
(i) Every person enjoys the right to
a wholesome environment, which is a facet of the right to life guaranteed under
Article 21 in the constitution of India [10].
(a) Subhash Kumar vs. State of
Bihar, AIR 1991 SC 420;
(b) M. C. Mehta vs. Union of
India, 1992 (3) SCC 256, 257;
(c) Virendra Gaur vs. State of
Haryana, 1995 (2) SCC 577, 581;
(ii) Enforcement agencies are under
an obligation to strictly enforce environmental laws.
(a) Indian Council for Enviro-Legal
Action vs. Union of India, 1996 (5) SCC 281, 294, 301.
(iii) Government agencies may not
plead non availability of funds, inadequacy of staff or other insufficiencies
to justify the non performance of their obligations under environmental laws.
(a) Dr. B. L. Wadehra vs.
Union of India, AIR 1996 SC 2969, 2976;
Environmental protection and improvement were
explicitly incorporated into the constitution of India by Forty-Second (42nd)
amendment of 1976 and Article 48A was added to the directive principles of
state policy. It declares that “The state shall endeavour to protect and
improve the environment and to safe guard the forests and wild life of the
country.” Article 51A(g) in a new Chapter entitled ‘Fundamental Duties’, impose
a similar responsibility on every citizen [10]–[11] ‘to protect and improve the
natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wild life, to have
compassion for living creatures.’ Apart from Article 21 of the Constitution,
the right to equality guaranteed in Article 14 may also be infringed by
government decision that have an impact on the environment.
(a) Ajay Hasia vs. Khalid M.
Shervardi, AIR 1981 SC 487, 499.
For freedom to Trade vis-à-vis
Environmental Protection: As environmental regulation grows more stringent and
its enforcement becomes more vigorous, industrial challenge to agency action is
likely to increase. Courts will then need to balance environmental interests
with the fundamental right to carry on any occupation, trade or business in
Article 19(1)(g).
A great American Judge emphasizing
the imperative issue of environment said that he placed Government above big
business, individual liberty above Government and Environment above all.
Therefore, the issues of environment must and shall receive the highest
attention from the Court.
There are framed so many legislation
in India regarding environment protection, such as, The Indian Forest Act,
1927; The Factories Act, 1948; The Mines and Minerals (Regulation and
Development) Act, 1957; The Atomic Energy Act, 1962; The Insecticides Act,
1968; The Radiation Protection Rules, 1971; The Wild Life (Protection) Act,
1972; The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, The Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977; The Forest (Conservation)
Act, 1980; The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; The
Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989, The Public Liability
Insurance Act, 1991; The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995; The National
Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997; Noise Pollution (Regulation &
Control) Rules, 2000; National Green Tribunal Act, 2010; The
E(Electronic)-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011.
To implement the decisions taken at
the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm in
June, 1972, Parliament of India enacted the nationwide Air Act under Article
253 of the Constitution. The scope of this law and its concern is for the
detrimental effect of air pollution on the health of the people as also on
animal life, vegetation and property. Air Act is amended in 1987 which
strengthened the enforcement machinery and introduce stiffer penalties. Under
the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and The Radiation Protection Rules, 1971; the
Central Government is required to prevent radiation hazards, guarantee public
safety and the safety of workers handling radioactive substances, and ensure
the disposals of radioactive wastes.
Government of India enacted the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 [EPA] under Article 253 of the Constitution.
This Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment, 1972 to the protection and improvement of the human
environment, prevention of hazards to human beings, living creatures, plants
and property.
Section 7 of the EPA prohibits the
discharge or emission of environmental pollutants in excess of the prescribed
standards [10]-[11]. To implement this mandate, the government has framed the
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 [EPR]. The Hazardous Wastes (Management
and Handling) Rules was issued under the Act in July, 1989 which have
introduced a permit system to regulate the handling and disposal of hazardous
dangerous wastes.
EPA recognized vehicular pollution,
noise pollution etc. India has obligation under numerous international treaties
and agreements that relate to environmental issues. Although environmental
protection and human rights are often treated as separate legal topics, there
are many situations where the two fields overlap. First, many governments and
international bodies have recognized the right of citizens to live in a clean
and healthful environment. Second, environmental and natural resource policies
may disproportionately affect poor and minority communities. With respect to
the protection of indigenous people as a means to conserve biodiversity,
international environmental law can play an important role.
After two decades from the United
Nations Conference on Environment at Stockholm in 1972; United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development was held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in
1992. In this conference, the world community wanted to balance between
environment and development, and accordingly the 27 principles adopted in the
conference to guide the behavior of the nations towards more environmentally
sustainable pattern of development; it adopted as ‘Agenda-21’ for action into
the twenty first century. National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 will fulfill the
aspirations to have special environment court to deal the environmental matters
only.
National Academy of Sciences of the
United States in a recent report has also confirmed that the world temperature
is rising and it is expected that the trend will continue. The earth surface
temperature will rise between 2.5 and 10 degrees celsius in the next hundred
years due to greenhouse effect [12].
This greenhouse effect refers to the
gradual or global warming of the earth’s atmosphere. This global warming is
created by industries, oil and chemical refineries, transport vehicles by oil
fuel in road and airways, wood or tree products burning, mining, rapid growth
of entertainment equipment like air conditioned (AC) machine, refrigerator
etc., excessive electromagnetic waves propagation through air like mobile
phone, radio and television, satellite and computer network, MP3, CD, DVD
player, microwave oven, electronic instrument, sensor and remote control etc.
The presence of molecules for greenhouse gases like carbon di-oxide, carbon
mono-oxide, methane and other hydrocarbons, nitrous oxide, chlorofluoro carbons
(CFCs), water vapour and electromagnetic waves, all of which have the capacity
to warm and have an effect on the climate for attributing to the greenhouse
effect [13].
The ozone layer acts as our planet’s
sunscreen providing an invisible filter which protects all kinds of life on the
earth from the damaging ultraviolet rays or electromagnetic spectrum of the
sun. It also protects the earth’s magnetic field. This ozone layer is
destructed by the greenhouse gases specially CFCs. Thus the greenhouse effect
plays a crucial role in maintaining a life sustaining environment on the earth.
The greenhouse gases, thereby, changing the natural environment and increases
the earth’s temperature causing global warming which is a threat to the
humanity.
The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological
Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to
investigate the environment problem that is threatening the world. IPCC gives
four assessment reports in 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007 and special report in 2018.
United Nations Convention on Climate
Change was held in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997 to assess the progress during
last five years and make future plans by fixing strategies and objectives for
future. United Nations Convention on Climate Change 8th meeting held
at New Delhi, India in 2002; 13th meeting at Bali, Indonesia in
2007; 15th meeting at Copenhagen, Denmark in 2009; and 21st
meeting at Paris, France in 2015 (30th Nov – 12th Dec)
called COP 21. Negotiations during this COP 21 conference ended with the
adoption of the Paris Agreement, governing climate change reduction measures
from 2020. The goal of this agreement is to keep the increase in global average
temperature to well below 20 C above pre-industrial levels and to
limit the increase to 1.50 C, since this would substantially reduce
the rises and effects of climate change. Again there is no worldwide conference
or convention held to measure the effect on the exposure of electromagnetic
waves and its health concern [10]-[13].
VI.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CREATED BY ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES
This super high frequency
electromagnetic waves transmitted by electronics equipment like microwave oven,
satellite system and antenna, 4G, 5G and higher generation mobile communications
system (Mobile Exchange like BTS, BSC, MSC etc., Mobile Instrument or Phone) in
MHz to GHz range radiating in different paths (multiple paths) by MIMO
(Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output) antennas have ailing (sick) effect on animals,
birds, human health including trees [7]-[9]. This high frequency
electromagnetic (EM) waves gradually decrease human, animal’s and tree’s body
immunity (resistance) and causes severe illness, even death. It is observed
that the most of the small birds and insects pass away from the nature due to
the high frequency intensified electromagnetic waves. Trees are not able to
produce fruits as per standard, e.g., coconut tree, orange tree, wheat tree
etc. If human body immunity and lungs activity are checked especially in city
and suburban area people, then it will be clearer about the effect of high
frequency electromagnetic wave signals from different sources. Therefore, it is
seen that if frequency of the electromagnetic waves is high, it will possess
more energy, and thus it will penetrate the atoms, i.e., living body with more
energy or power.
The electromagnetic
interference (EMI) or pollution from electronic devices causes malfunctioning
of neighboring sensitive devices and negative impact (harmful effects) on
animal life and environment. Therefore, the exposure of electromagnetic waves
are minimized by shielding of electromagnetic waves (radio frequency) by
different shielding materials like carbon materials and their composites, lead,
water etc. Low level exposures of electromagnetic waves cause headaches,
anxiety, depression, nausea, fatigue, electromagnetic hypersensitivity, skin
symptoms, nerve disorder, loss of libido (sexual desire) and suicide; while
higher level exposure of electromagnetic waves cause damage to the DNA inside a
living cell, i.e., cancer [7]-[13].
The World Health
Organization (WHO) began a research effort in 1996 to study the health effects
from the ever-increasing exposure of electromagnetic waves (EMI) to the people
from diverse range of electromagnetic waves transmission sources [10]. In 2011,
the WHO and International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified
electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based on an
increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of brain cancer, associated with
mobile phone use. In the United States, non-ionizing radiation (below
ultra-violet level) is regulated in the Radiation Control for Health and Safety
Act of 1968 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. International
Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) with WHO declared in
1998 that electromagnetic waves in non-ionizing state (0-300 GHz) do not
produce any known adverse health effect, although huge number of research
papers (more than 5000) focus different health problems and environment
pollution created by electromagnetic waves exposure in air.
Specific Absorption Rate
(SAR) in respect of mobile handsets is prescribed by ICNIRP maximum limit as 2
watt/kg averaged over 10 gm human tissue in 2008, in the frequency range of 10
MHz to 10 GHz. It is revised as 1.6 watt/kg averaged over a mass of 1 gram
human tissue in 2013 (also applicable in India) [13]. There are so many
organizations worldwide to look after and control the electromagnetic waves
causing pollution, such as, International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation
Protection (ICNIRP), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Labour Organization (ILO),
International Telecommunications Union (ITU), European Commission (EC),
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO) etc., but no strict guidelines and rules for minimizing the
exposure of electromagnetic waves are framed so far [10]-[13].
United Nations Conventions on Climate Change 21st
meeting at Paris (COP 21) led to a new international climate agreement in 2015,
applicable to all countries, aiming to keep global warming at 1.5° C - 2° C, in
accordance with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC). It was adopted by 196
Parties (Countries and Organisations) at COP 21 in Paris and force on November
2016. To achieve this, the Paris Agreement
stipulates that all countries shall review their contributions to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions every five years. The emission or exposure of
electromagnetic waves also cause the rise of environment temperature and pollution,
but minimization of the exposure of electromagnetic waves are not yet focussed
or implemented in the world [10]-[13].
It is already proved by
Albert Einstein in Photoelectric Effect that when high frequency
electromagnetic waves consisting of photon particles fall any atoms (metallic
or non-metallic), the photons will release electrons from the atoms, called
photoelectrons, cause current generation or current flow through the circuit
[7]-[9]. Therefore, the continuous exposure of high frequency electromagnetic
waves to human, animal and trees body by electromagnetic wave signals generate
photoelectrons in the atoms or molecules of human, animal and trees body
causing current flow which effectively diminishes the body immunity, and hence
several diseases will attack the body. This current is having very small value
(few milliamperes), because matured human body has an internal resistance 500 ~
700 ohms and dry skin resistance 1000 ~ 1,00,000 ohms. Generally the resistance
of big size animal and tree body is having more than that of human one.
Moreover, electromagnetic waves are absorbed by water particles. Human and
animal adult bodies content about 60% water, some amount of electromagnetic
waves are soaked up by the body’s water particles, as a result the absorbed
electromagnetic energy will increase the body temperature which evaporates the
water particles at a faster rate; Hence water ? electrolyte imbalance produces
headache, fatigue and dehydration etc. Therefore, the continuous exposure in electromagnetic
waves causes damage to heart, lungs, kidney, brain and all other organs of the
human and animal body, turning to less immunity as a whole. It is already
observed that those persons, working in high frequency electromagnetic waves
zone like mobile exchange (MSC, BSC, BTS etc.), satellite earth station, radar
system, manufacturing electronic equipment, remote control, sensor etc., are
suffering from respiratory problems like bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia,
tuberculosis etc. frequently, and they are prone to attack by the other severe
diseases like diabetics, heart problem, blood pressure, kidney problem, cancer,
Covid-19 and so on. This is happening because of the high frequency
electromagnetic waves diminishing their immunity power completely.
Therefore, a trade off
must be maintained for use of the range of frequency (electromagnetic spectrum)
in GHz, the number of antennas in MIMO system, the number of trans-receivers
(BTSs) in a locality and the data speed and use of electromagnetic waves as minimum
as possible. Therefore, our precaution from the diseases and to maintain a
stable human health system is to minimize the exposure of electromagnetic
waves.
This can be done by
restricting the number of electronic equipment transmitting electromagnetic
waves in air, mobile exchange systems (hence mobile SIMs); and the use of
mobile phones by keeping switch off condition maximum time in a day and switch
on condition call or message duration time only (communications have to be made
by the help of email, sms, whatsapp, missed call etc.), so that human and
animal body’s and tree’s immunity boost up and safe guard from all diseases.
VII. CONCLUSION
The exposure of Electromagnetic waves
are increasing by leaps and bounds in our daily life from communications to
medical, food cooking to entertainment and so on. At the same time it causes
environmental pollution and health problems to living creatures with slow
killing ability. By the confirmatory experiment, it is proved that
electromagnetic waves are high speed (with the velocity of light) free
electrons only, which are randomly moving in materials, air and space. Again
electromagnetic waves are gradually decreasing its power by propagating distance
through materials and air, because free electrons are absorbed by the materials
and water. The exposure of electromagnetic waves have extreme health effect on
living creatures including human one and create environmental pollution with
global warming to the world and space. Therefore, suitable measure has to be
taken to minimise the exposure of electromagnetic waves from various sources
like mobile phone, electronic instrument, satellite system, radar system,
remote control, sensor etc. throughout the world.
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Article Information
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION AND HEALTH HAZARDS CREATED BY EXPOSURE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES INCLUDING MOBILE PHONE WITH LEGAL GUIDELINES
Authors: DR. PIJUSH KANTI BHATTACHARJEE
- Journal IJLRA
- ISSN 2582-6433
- Published 2023/05/29
- Volume 2
- Issue 7
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International Journal for Legal Research and Analysis
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