Towers save Lives !! .... 911 calls

A Practical Guide for Radio Tower Emissions:

• This is a brief summary of how radio signals leave an antenna system.
• Manufacturers design and publish the measured specifications and Polar patterns on their antennas.
• To maximumize the performance of their antennas, they have designed their antennas to send the signals out in a horizontal plane (like a flat pizza or doughnut). They do not want wasted signal to go downwards or upwards. There are no customers there !. This means that there is a very reduced radio signal below the tower.
• The higher and taller the tower is, the less radio signal there is at the base and surrounding areas.

Dish / Microwave Emissions:

• The antennas are in the form of a Dish, similar to a flashlight reflector.
• The Dish reflector concentrates the signal into a narrow beam about the size of the dish.
• The signal is pointed like a flashlight in one, very narrow, direction.
• The signal is reduced considerably if it goes through trees, buildings etc.
• The power is usually very low, such as 35 milliwatts (0.035 watts).
• As an example, handheld cell phones are about 600 milliwatts (0.6 watts).
• Typically, a mobile radio such as a VHF marine radio is 25,000 Milliwatts (25 Watts).
• Your microwave oven in your kitchen is between 500 watts and 1000 watts Radio frequency output.
• Below all microwave dishes there is almost no microwave radio emissions.

Safety, RF (Radio Frequency) considerations:

• RF Emission Standards are set in Canada by Health Canada.
• Regulations are set out in a document called "Safety Code 6".
• Radio Licensing is a Federal Government matter.
• Industry Canada licenses radio and microwave systems.

Emission Characteristics:

• If, for example, Safety code 6 says that the danger zone is 6 feet from the antenna.
• The radio/microwave energy drops at a rate of the square of the distance (According to an "inverse square law").
• If 6 feet is dangerous, 12 feet is 1/4 of the power, 24 feet is 1/16 of the power. 48 feet is 1/16 of 1/16 of the power, And so on....
• In other words, in a few hundred feet the power is almost gone !.
• This is only if you are at the top of the tower and directly in the horizontal plane from the antenna.
• Below the tower, at ground level, the emissions are considerably less to start with.

Royal Society of Canada's Expert Panel Releases its Findings:

Copyright 1999-2000 Canada NewsWire Ltd, used with permission.

    OTTAWA, ON, May 17 /CNW/ - The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications
Association (CWTA) today welcomed the release of a report by a Royal Society
Expert Panel on the potential health risks associated with radio-frequency
fields.

    The issue: After a six-month study, an Expert Panel appointed by the
Royal Society of Canada has issued a report on its review of possible risk
factors associated with radio-frequency fields.
   
	Background: Last August, Health Canada asked the Royal Society of Canada
to appoint an Expert Panel on potential health risks that might be associated
with radio-frequency fields from telecommunications technologies, such as
wireless phones, cell sites and roof-top antennas.  The Panel was also asked
to comment on the adequacy of Health Canada's ``Safety Code 6,'' which
regulates radio-frequency exposure limits.

    Safety Code 6 sets safe exposure limits for individuals working on
sources of radio-frequency fields (8 hours a day) and for the general public
who could be exposed for 24 hours a day.  The code also outlines safety
requirements for the installation and use of devices that emit radio-frequency
fields.
   
 Industry Canada regulates radio communications in Canada and authorizes
the location of radiocommunication facilities.  The Canadian wireless industry
is required to ensure that wireless devices and equipment comply with Health
Canada's Safety Code 6.
   
 Comment: The wireless industry in Canada supports ongoing research and
surveillance in the study of health and safety issues related to wireless
technology.  The first priority of the industry has always been the health and
safety of customers, employees and the public.  The wireless industry around
the world has dedicated considerable resources to scientific research projects
related to this issue.
   
 The overwhelming evidence in the scientific community, as determined and
published in numerous studies worldwide, supports the conclusion that exposure
to radio-frequency fields at levels within guidelines set by Health Canada's
Safety Code 6 will not result in any public health risk.  While these findings
have been confirmed by today's release of the Expert Panel's report, the
wireless industry will continue to support research and long term studies that
are peer-reviewed by credible, independent organizations.  Many of these
studies are currently underway.
   
 The science related to the effects of radio-frequency fields is very
complex and can seem confusing.  The Canadian wireless industry recognizes
that more public information and communication is needed as new wireless
technologies emerge.
   
 To provide the public with accurate and current information on the health
and safety of wireless technologies, the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications
Association is providing funding and other assistance for the creation of a
Wireless Information Resource Centre (WIRC).  Scheduled to be launched this
summer, the resource centre will assemble information and research focussed on
health issues relating to wireless phones, base station antennas and other
wireless technologies.  Once established, the Centre will operate autonomously
and provide impartial and objective information on health questions.  WIRC
will be operated and maintained by an independent staff of scientific experts
and researchers, and supported by a group responsible for the technical
aspects of the site.

    Points:
    1. The health and safety of our customers and the public in general is,
       and always has been, of utmost concern to the Canadian wireless
       telecommunications industry.
      - We recognize that new technologies, complex science and
        misinterpretation can create confusion.  We hope that today's release
        of findings by the Expert Panel will alleviate concerns and reassure
        the public that there is no scientifically accepted evidence of a
        public health risk related to the use of wireless technology under
        Health Canada guidelines.
   
 2. Current evidence from the international scientific community supports
       the conclusion that there is not a public health risk from exposure to
       radio-frequency fields under current safety guidelines.
       - The findings by the expert panel reaffirm the opinion of the
         international scientific community that there is no public health
         risk associated with normal wireless phone usage.
       - The Expert Panel made two very important comments on the current
         status of science pertaining to RF.  First, that there is no
         scientifically accepted evidence of a public health risk.  Second,
         that Safety Code 6, which provides the guidelines for the
         installation and use of wireless technologies, is appropriate.
       - The wireless industry rigorously follows the guidelines of Safety
         Code 6.  Safety Code 6 is one of the most stringent safety
         guidelines in the world.  Canadian wireless carriers operate at
         levels within guidelines.

    3. The Canadian wireless industry thoroughly endorses continued
       independent, third-party research conducted with scientific rigor and
       an open process in the study of health and safety issues.
       - The wireless industry was consulted before Health Canada's decision
         to refer this issue to the Royal Society.  We applauded and
         supported their decision to do so and we continue to endorse the
         recommendations of the Expert Panel for ongoing review of research
         and long term study of potential health effects.
       - The wireless industry strongly recommends that scientific research
         be conducted in the context of and in coordination with research
         being done around the world.

    4. The Canadian wireless industry is committed to providing the public
       with accurate, timely information about the safety of its operations
       and continues to dedicate resources to support research.
       - The Canadian wireless industry has announced the creation of a
         Wireless Information Resource Centre (WIRC) which will provide the
         public with accurate, objective and timely information on health and
         safety.  The resource centre will consist primarily of a web site
         maintained by an independent group of scientific experts and
         researchers.  WIRC will be a library where people can access
         information on research already completed and underway.  It will
         also make available fact sheets on health issues, frequently asked
         questions and provide links to other resources on wireless health
         and safety.
       - In the summer of 1998, the Canadian wireless industry committed
         resources to an independent review of wireless telecommunications
         and health.  The report, principally authored by Dr. Brian Habbick,
         stated (page 38) that ``all scientific expert panels to date have
         concluded there is no evidence that personal use of a hand-held
         mobile phone, when used according to safety guidelines, causes
         cancer or any other adverse health effect.''  The report, entitled
         Wireless Telecommunications and Health, is available on CWTA's web
         site www.cwta.ca.
       - The wireless industry around the world continues to support major
         international research including a five-year study by the United
         Nations World Health Organization.

    The Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) is the voice
of the wireless telecommunications industry in Canada.  Its members include
cellular, PCS, paging, mobile radio, LMCS and mobile satellite carriers,
together with trade organizations that provide equipment and services to the
industry.

Copyright 1999-2000 Canada NewsWire Ltd, used with permission.
Not edited or truncated article.

I hope this information is of use to you !!

E-Mail to Al Muir: ve7beu at muircom dot com

You are visitor #....