Introduction
There is an intense competition in the telecommunication industry in UAE (Bhattu, 2009). The taxes from this market make a huge income generator for the country. Similarly, the auction of the airwaves is a million dollar industry for the nation and international promotion firms. Wireless infrastructures have become very familiar in today’s environment. Wireless dependent hotspots are very popular in public spaces, schools, and homesteads. The devices use low- power-driven RF transmitters to interconnect with other communication devices. In spite of the very low power utilized by these technologies, several people are weary of the possibility that RF could have an impact on their health. The article below seeks to shed more light on the effects of wireless frequency on health.
Exposure to wireless frequencies has been related to many argumentative health consequences, which may result in vital public health concerns. The most severe health problems that have been linked to the use of RF are leukemia complications, juvenile and adult brain tumors, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and an augmented threat of the neurodegenerative ailments. It is also alleged that exposure to RF leads to increased possibility of developing breast cancer, a risk of contracting hemotoxic effects, and increased allergic and inflammatory reactions. Persons living in areas with high exposure to RF such as cell towers have a greater danger of developing insomnia. Some works of literature link developments of temporary effects on reasoning, recollection, learning, performance, reaction time, and responsiveness to wireless frequency.
The consequences of exposure to wireless frequencies are worth studying because there has been a public concern about their associated health risks. Previous studies have done little to document comprehensive effects of using the technologies. It is worrying to note that the media and the relevant authorities have been silent on health problems related to the topic. Presumably, the advertising revenues generated from this market segment have compromised media autonomy.
Through this, the media and the relevant government authorities have avoided discussing on health issues associated with the use of these technologies. Through this study, possible health problems related to the utilization of wireless devices will be identified. Similarly, the research will determine what the government and relevant authorities need to do to limit exposure to these emissions. The findings obtained from this study will be used in formulating and implementing better safety regulations with respect to the use of wireless technology in the future.
The research paper will attempt to identify the impacts of wireless frequency on the public health. In a bid to pinpoint the effects, the research paper attempts to answer several sub-questions, which explores the causes and impacts of RF Emissions from a contracted perspective. They narrow the broad question to determine the potential of impacts of these technologies. Below are the research questions:
- What are the sources of wireless emissions?
- What are the effects of wireless technologies on health?
- What are the problems with existing public health standards?
- What are the possible solutions to address the effects of the use of wireless technologies on health?
Literature review
What are sources of wireless radiation?
Lin asserts that there are numerous overlapping causes of wireless frequency in our environment (Lin, 2002). Sources of these frequencies are from either industrial bases or private gadgets such as mobile phones. Cell phones are considered the leading cause of wireless frequencies to which humans are exposed to daily. Mobile phones generate two forms of emissions. The first is the radio frequency radiation. Similarly, the second form is made when battery packs are substituted. The above form of emission results in the generation of augmented levels of the low-frequency electromagnetic field.
According to Lin, the public health concerns of developing RF infrastructure are enormous since there has been an increase in the national installation of wireless dependent devices in the last few decades (Lin, 2002). In the United Arab Emirates, commissioning of wireless technologies has hastened in the past few years. Currently, the country has thousands of cell sites last. More than 80% of the population in the EAU has mobile phones. Annual revenue for wireless was estimated at $144 billion during the year 2013 (Clements, 2013). In regards to the current 10% yearly development rate recorded by the wireless industry, it is expected that the sector will become a bigger segment of the UAE economy in the next few years.
Wireless frequency technologies used in radios and televisions play a significant function in access to information and communication. Police services, fire rescue services, and ambulance services rely on wireless frequency technologies. Public benefits of using wireless frequency are many. They include speedy communications in emergency circumstances, a capability to maintain contact with loved ones, and improved access to knowledge throughout all communal and financial lines. It is worth noting that many radio frequencies, RF, examinations done at frequencies beyond 1 MHz considered the consequences of severe exposure to increased levels of wireless frequencies. The uses of technology are continuously being identified.
Ziaran suggests that even if an insignificant threat to health from long-lasting exposure to RF technologies exists, there is a possibility for a weighty public health effect (Ziaran, 2013). He asserts that RF emissions have saturated the airspaces making the users and non-users defenseless against their exposure. According to Ziaran, the impacts are both short-term and long-term (Ziaran, 2013). He believes that there is reliable scientific proof that exposure to wireless technologies triggers variations in cell membrane functioning, absorption, and intercellular signal communication (Ziaran, 2013). Similarly, he indicates that exposure to these technologies may lead to the trigger of protooncogenes and stress proteins. The above proteins are triggered even at levels way below the standardized limits. He also suggests that reactive oxygen species are generated after a long period of exposure to RF (Ziaran, 2013). The above type of oxygen is harmful to DNA and chromosomes.
Malignant glioma
Li and Wang argue that current evidence suggests that exposure to RF causes malignant glioma cancer (Li & Wang, 2012). The most considerable proof for this cancer is that there are increased chances of developing malignant glioma in persons who have had contact with cell phones for more than ten years. The threat is high on the part of the skull on which the device is used frequently. They state that adults who have used the device for more than a decade have double chances of developing the disease (Li & Wang, 2012). Despite this, they illustrate that new studies have indicated that the risk is even higher when the user begins to use the device at a tender age. Similar studies show that the risk of developing parotid gland tumors is enhanced among persons who have been exposed to mobile phones for a long time.
The same investigations point out that the danger of developing acoustic neuroma is higher among individuals who have been exposed to mobile phone use for more than a decade (Li & Wang, 2012). Wang states that the above correlations have also been acknowledged in particular reports published by the World Health Organization.
Sleep, cognitive function, and performance
Wyld and Zizka assert that the relation of decent sleep to cognition and performance to health is well documented (Wyld & Zizka, 2012). They assert that sleep is an imperative part of proper healing, anti-inflammatory assistances, and reduction in physical signs. Imperfect or slowed biological recovery is expected when sleep is compromised. Circadian rhythms, which regularize the generation of stress hormones like cortisol, rely on harmonized sleep patterns. They indicate that persons who are severely exposed to low-level wireless antenna emissions exhibit insomnia, fatigue, headache, and lack of attentiveness. Other complications associated with exposure to RF are fatigue, memory hitches, tinnitus, and strain in multi-tasking. In youngsters, prolonged use of mobile phones leading to radiation exposure causes variations in oscillatory brain action when undertaking memory tasks.
Problems with existing public health standards (safety limits)
Wyld and Zizka believe that if the current public health regulations were sufficient not a single issue noted above could have been experienced (Wyld & Zizka, 2012). They suggest that because the effects are perceived from existing ambient intensities of exposure implies that our contemporary public safety standards are outdated (Wyld & Zizka, 2012). The above also imply that new and biologically founded civic exposure regulations for wireless based technologies are urgently required. Whether it is likely to attain low and sufficient levels, which are still applicable and safeguard the public health against impacts of severe RF exposure is indeterminate. They argue that the possibility of guarding the civilians and still permit the forms of contemporary wireless technology applications are unidentified.
Our research will utilize the above literature reviews to understand the challenges that have been associated with the use of wireless technologies. The reports will offer valuable insight about the current safety regulations aimed at lessening the exposure to RF technologies.
Research design and methodology
The study will be a mixed methods research employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and data analysis. Besides, the research will use a case approach to determine the study population. The purpose of using a mixed-method methodology is to ensure that the proposed study will benefit from the advantages of using both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The approach will also reduce the effect of the disadvantage associated with using only one of the two forms.
Survey
- Have you been affected by the use of RF related technologies?
- Yes
- No
- Do you reside near a cell station?
- Yes
- No
- Are you concerned that long-term use of cell phone might affect your health?
- Yes
- No
- Are the government authorities doing enough to counteract increased exposure to wireless frequencies?
- Yes
- No
- Should the laws required to safeguard the public against increased wireless frequency emission be enhanced?
Study population
The study seeks to examine the effects of wireless frequencies on public health. As such, government authorities, public health institutions, telecommunication firms, and the public will be our target populations. Samples will be taken from these populations. In this case, the researchers will have to obtain data from many telecommunication firms in the UAE. Similarly, reports on the health effects of wireless frequency will be received from a several governmental and international institutions. Such organizations include IEEE, ICNIRP, and WHO. The members of the public will also offer valuable insights into the effects of these technologies.
Specifics of the methods
Both interviews and surveys will be used in this study. Members of the public will be interviewed because they are the participants in the study. Surveys will be used to examine their concerns towards the effects of RF technologies. On the other hand, interviews will be done through questionnaires to investigate their attitudes and perspectives these concerns.
For this study, the data will be collected through field research. The method entails acquiring public data from secure and reliable governmental institutions, international agencies, face-to-face interviews, and questionnaires. Public health systems will provide the researchers with crucial information such as the present and the past health records. The sources are very efficient since they are bias free.
The face-to-face interview will require a participant to question participants in person to collect their personal views. During the meeting, the contributors will be asked to detail their penalties perspectives. The queries used during the interviews are open ended. Equally, questionnaires will be used to collect private information from the participants. Thus, this study will use a mixed method approach. For statistical data, SPSS will be used to develop statistical analysis techniques such as regressions and correlations.
Findings and analysis
There are two parts of the result. The first one is about analyzing the reports from the institution sampled. The second one entailed an assessment of the interview and questionnaire.
Based on the above discoveries, it is apparent that the purported effects on discomfort, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neurodegenerative ailments, and the endocrine systems, were mostly negative. Though some participants reported trivial effects, they were not perceived as harmful to health. However, our investigations could not analyze the impact of long-term exposure to wireless technologies because more time is required. Reports obtained from W.H.O and other governmental institutions indicated that there was no noteworthy reheating instigated by mobile phone exposure in the skull.
With respect to the survey, it was noted that many individuals noted that they had not been affected by wireless frequency emissions. However, they were concerned with the increase in the deployment of wireless infrastructure. Particularly, they are worried about the possibility that long-term exposure to RF could have an impact on their health. They are also worried that the media and the relevant authorities have been silent on health problems related to the topic. They pointed out that the advertising revenues generated from this market segment might have compromised the media autonomy. Through this, the media and the relevant government authorities have avoided discussing on health issues associated with the use of these technologies.
Summary of contributions and recommendations
In conclusion, it should be noted that Wireless infrastructures have become very familiar in today’s environment. The article above focused on the effects of wireless frequency on health. Wireless dependent hotspots are very popular in public spaces, schools, and homesteads. The infrastructure uses low- power-driven RF transmitters to interconnect with other communication devices. In spite of the very low power utilized by these technologies, several people are weary of the possibility that RF could have an impact on their health. People living in areas with high exposure to RF such as cell towers have a greater risk of developing insomnia. Some pieces of the literature indicated above link developments of temporary effects on reasoning, recollection, learning, performance, reaction time, and responsiveness to wireless frequency.
The above study utilized mixed methods of research employing both qualitative and quantitative approaches to data collection and data analysis. Besides, the research used a case approach to determine the study population. Both interviews and surveys were employed in the study. Members of the public were interviewed because they were the participants in the study. Surveys were also used to examine their concerns towards the effects of RF technologies.
Based on the above studies, it is apparent that the purported effects on discomfort, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neurodegenerative ailments, and the endocrine systems, were mostly negative. Though some participants reported trivial effects, they were not perceived as harmful to health. However, our investigations could not analyze the impact of long-term exposure to wireless technologies because more time is required.
Based on our findings, we notice that the current public health regulations were not sufficient. We noted that our contemporary public safety standards are outdated. Therefore, we recommend that new and biologically founded civic exposure rules for wireless based technologies are urgently required. Similarly, more researchers should be undertaken to confirm the effects of long term expose to wireless frequencies. For instance, our study noted that more time and investigations were needed to proof the claim that RF technologies had an effect on comfort, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neurodegenerative ailments, and the endocrine systems.
References
Bhattu, S. (2009). Health effects of cell phone radiation. Dordrecht: Springer. Web.
Clements, F. (2013). United Arab Emirates. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Clio Press. Web.
Li, Q., & Wang, T. (2012). Low-Frequency Wireless Accelerometer to Bridge Health Monitoring. AMM, 241-244, 858-862. Web.
Lin, J. (2002). Health aspects of wireless communication. SIGMOBILE Mob. Comput. Commun. Rev., 6(4), 11-13. Web.
Wyld, D., & Zizka, J. (2012). Advances in computer science, engineering & applications. Berlin: Springer. Web.
Ziaran, S. (2013). Potential health effects of standing waves generated by low frequency noise. Noise Health, 15(65), 237-256. Web.