Introduction
The 21st century has witnessed the development of numerous technologies which have helped to make human life easier. One of the technological breakthroughs of the century was in the adoption of various uses for the microwaves.
Today, these waves are extensively used for mobile communications and for cooking using the microwave oven. The prevalence in use of microwaves has resulted in human beings and the environment in all industrialized countries being exposed to electromagnetic fields in degrees that far exceed the natural tension levels.
Significant concerns about the adverse impacts of radio-frequency on health have, therefore, been raised by the public with increasing frequency over the past few years. This paper will address the health concerns about microwave radiation so as to demonstrate that microwave radiations do have adverse effects on both human beings and the environment. The paper will conclude by offering alternatives and recommendations to mitigate the adverse impacts of microwaves.
Background on Microwave
Definition
Bogdal defines microwaves as “electromagnetic radiation placed between infrared radiation and radio frequencies, with wavelengths of 1mm to 1m which corresponds do the frequencies of 300 GHz to 300Mhz respectively” (1). Microwaves are classified as non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation since the energy of the quanta that carry the energy is not enough to knock electrons from atoms as is the case with ionizing radiations such as X-ray energy. The past decade has witnessed a dramatic increase in the worldwide use of microwaves.
The manner in which microwave radiation interacts with biological systems is through thermal and non-thermal effects. Thermal effects are attributed to the deposition of heat on a tissue while non thermal effects are attributable to the direct interaction of the waves on a tissue without a significant heat component. Moulder et al state that heating is the predominant means through which microwave energy affects biological systems (191).
Applications
Microwaves have had the most significant application in the field of telecommunications and especially by cell phones. While mobile telecommunication emerged about two decades ago, the prevalence in use of this technology by the population only occurred in the last decade as a result of developments of digital systems.
Here, the microwaves are used to carry voice information via small modulations of the wave’s frequency. Cell phones typically operate by sending voice data in the form of microwaves to a base station while receiving data in the same microwaves form from the voice of the person being called. Wireless internet also makes use of microwaves which operate at 5 GHz or 2.4GHz.
In wireless internet, the transmission of data is achieved via the same concept that voice is transmitted with the difference being that data are being transmitted instead of voice. The reason for the prevalence of microwave use in telecommunication is because microwave frequencies have a great capacity in carrying information.
Microwaves are also used for household and industrial microwave ovens. Microwave ovens use a frequency of 2.45GHz to heat the food. The heating ability of microwave ovens is based on the ability of some liquids and solids to absorb and transform electromagnetic energy into heat (Bogdal 1). An important consideration is that the waves are to a large extent ignored by the plastic or glass container that holds the food or water.
Health effect of Microwave
Effect on environment
Ground towers
The mobile phone system employs a network of base stations which are distributed all over the service area and transmit microwave signals at an effective radiated power which lies between 200 and 2000 watts (Moulder et al. 190). The negative impact of ground towards has been further augmented by the increase in the number of base stations in many countries.
This increase has been necessitated by the introduction of new 3G-UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) networks has resulted in the need for more towers and antennas.
Ground towers have an adverse impact on the nearby vegetation as well as livestock that may be situated near the station. Huynh and Stutzman document that animal studies have observed health changes and chemical effects in animals that have been exposed to microwave radiation (24).
Research by Löscher and Käs revealed that cattle which was grazing near ground towers emitting microwaves suffered from severe milk yield reductions, spontaneous abortions and stillbirths (439). These negative effects were mitigated when the cattle was removed to pastures away from the towers but the adverse effects reappeared once they were brought back.
Research by Balmori demonstrated that plants and trees are sensitive to the electromagnetic changes in the atmosphere that microwaves cause (2). In trees, microwave radiations cause resonance in the cellular membranes which distort the electrical charges of particles and also cause a disruption in water circulation. Forests are, therefore, irreparably damaged by long term exposures to microwaves.
Antenna
Antennas also have a negative impact on the environment due to their vast numbers. The distance between antennas that are placed on rooftops or lampposts is not restricted by government regulations in most countries which means that a significant number of antennas can exist in a small radius.
In animals, exposure to high levels of microwave radiation causes impairment of the immune system. Studies by Löscher and Käs demonstrate that sheep which had been grazing in close proximity to transmitting antennas suffered from impaired immune system as well as fertility problems (439). This can be attributed to the changes in DNA repair mechanisms after microwave exposure which leads to decreased immunity defense (Levitt and Lai 374).
Effect on humans
Microwave ovens
Consumption of food that has been cooked with a microwave oven for prolonged periods of time may have adverse effects on human beings. Research indicates that people who eat microwave cooked foods to long periods of time have an elevated level of cancerous cells in their body (Bogdal 11).
In addition to this, microwave ovens alter the composition of minerals in vegetables forming cancerous radicals which can cause intestinal cancerous growths in a person. Microwaves also create by products that cannot be broken down by the human body resulting in food residuals building up in the body. If these residuals accumulate over an extended period of time, they can have adverse effect such as blood serum alteration.
Cell phones
The microwaves emitted by cell phones have a negative effect on human beings due to the distance between the cell phone and the human head when using a phone. The human brain, eyes, and auditory apparatus are the most exposed to the microwaves due to their location relative to the phone while in use.
Research indicates that repeated use of cell phones results in the repeated exposure to microwave radiations of a fixed amount of body tissue with the deposition of significant amounts of radiation in the head. Moulder et al. document that there were increased acoustic neuromas in Sweden for people who reported using the phone on the same side of the head as the tumor (195).
Microwave radiations in cell phones are also reported to cause memory, and learning impairment in children. Children are more susceptible to damage from cell phone radiation since their bodies are still developing. Research indicates that radiation from a cell phone penetrates deeper into the head of children than an adult’s due to their specific anatomies and tissue composition (Levitt and Lai 373).
Ground towers
The intensity of the microwave radiation decreases rapidly with increase in the distance from the emitting source. As such, exposure to microwaves from transmission towers is low depending on one’s proximity. However, broadcast exposures due to tower stations have also been found to be unsafe even at regulated levels.
Researchers have established a link between microwave radiation exposure and cancers in men and women who live near broadcast towers. Levitt and Lai stated that in a 10 year study evaluating data for approximately 1000 patients who lived close to cell antennas, it was found that those patients who lived for 5 to 10 years at a distance of 400 meters or less from a cell installation had a relative risk of getting cancer that was 3 times higher than those residents living more than 400 meters away from the installations (382).
Alternative solutions and recommendations
The study of microwave radiation effects on humans and the environment has overwhelmingly suggested that there is a significant relationship between microwave exposure and health effects. This health hazards are as a result of both long-term low level exposure to handset radiation as well as short and long term exposures to high levels of radiations from ground towers. There is, therefore, need to address the health hazards that microwave radiations pose on both human beings and the environment.
Research indicates that the ration exposure from microwaves during regular use is unlikely to be harmful to the individual. With this in mind, people should limit their usage of cell phones and microwave ovens so as to avoid the adverse health impacts that may result from overuse. As has been noted, the negative impacts associated with cell phones are as a result of the antenna being close to the user’s head as they are talking.
It is, therefore, recommendable that people use phones which have antennas mounted away from the user. Alternatively, a user can increase the distance between himself and the cell phone by using headset or earpieces. While in the house, it is recommended that people use household cordless phones as opposed to mobile phones. This is because cordless phones operate at lower power levels and do not have the adverse health effects attributed to cell phones.
The demand for wireless internet access has led to a need for hundreds of antennas in close proximity to the population for optimal signal strengths to be gotten by the users. Considering the negative effects these antennas, people should use wired internet connections such as optic fiber and phone lines.
Government regulations can also help to decrease the harmful impact of microwave radiation from cell phones. If cell phones are manufactured such that they do not exceed the internationally recommended SAR and power density levels, they can prevent adverse health effects.
Governments should also be strict in ensuring that manufacturers and players in the telecommunications industry adhere to the recommended RF exposure standards which are measured by two common parameters: specific absorption rates (SAR) and Maximum permissible exposure (MPE) (Huynh and Stutzman 24). Proximity to cell base stations has been noted to be associated with health complaints.
With this in mind, the base stations should be located at least 500 meters away from human populations so as to avoid exposing people to harmful microwave radiations. As has been highlighted, children are more susceptible to microwave radiations. Measures should, therefore, be taken to ensure that their exposure to these harmful radiations is minimized. One way of doing this is by prohibiting the construction of cellular antennas within 400m of school property.
Conclusion
This paper is set out to address the health concerns about microwave radiations. The paper started by noting that the past decade has witnessed a dramatic increase in the worldwide use of microwaves. This increased use has resulted in people being exposed to microwaves on even higher levels than in the past.
The paper has documented that microwaves are responsible for a myriad of negative health effects including: cancer, immune system changes, and learning impairment. The waves also affect the environment and animals in some cases leading to their destruction. The paper has highlighted some solutions and recommendations which, if followed, can significantly decrease the negative impacts that microwave radiations currently cause on humans and the environment.
Works Cited
Balmori, Alfonso. The effects of microwaves on the trees and other plants. Dec 2003. Web. https://www.buergerwelle.de/assets/files/plantingle.pdf?cultureKey=&q=pdf/plantingle.pdf
Bogdal, Dariusz. Microwave-Assisted Organic Synthesis: One Hundred Reaction Procedures. NY: Elsevier, 2005. Print.
Huynh, Minh and Stutzman Warren. “A review of radiation effects on human operators of hand-held radios”. Microwave Journal 21.2 (2004): 22-42. Print.
Levitt, Blake and Lai Henry. “Biological effects from exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell tower base stations and other antenna arrays”. Environmental Review 18.1(2010): 369–395. Print.
Löscher Weld and Käs Grant. “Conspicuous behavioural abnormalities in a dairy cow herd near a TV and radio transmitting antenna”. Pract Vet Surg 79.4 (1998): 437–44. Web.
Moulder, Edward, et al. “Mobile phones, mobile phone base stations and cancer: a review”. Int. J. Radiat. Biol 81.3 (2005) 189 – 203. Web.