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Study Dispels Radiation Fears(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) A STUDY conducted by a team of local experts has confirmed that radiation emitted by communication gadgets is below the global accepted levels and thus have no health risks to human beings. The three-year study was conducted by experts from the Tanzania Atomic Energy Commission (TAEC), Tanzania Communication Regulatory Authority (TCRA) and National Environment Management Council (NEMC). Others were drawn from the University of Dar es Salaam and Dodoma as well as the Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF), the National Service and communication service providers. It was conducted in five regions on Tanzania Mainland namely Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Mbeya, Arusha and Dodoma in addition to three regions in Zanzibar. Presenting findings of the research in Dar es Salaam, TAEC's Director of Nuclear Technology, Dr Mwijarubi Nyaruba, allayed fears of health risks from radiation emitted by the devices. "The study focused on radiation waves from communication towers, mobile phones, electricity transmission lines as well as radio and television," Dr Nyaruba told journalists. The expert warned, however, that communicating on the mobile phone when the signal is poor or using devices meant to filter radiation increases the levels of radiation. "Despite fears from the public, which can be described as radio-phobia, it has not been proven anywhere that mobile phones or communication towers can induce or promote diseases such as cancer as it is widely believed. "Nevertheless, there are some minor biological effects as a result of radiation which the body of a human being can repair itself," Dr Nyaruba explained. He said the levels at which radiation is emitted in Tanzania falls well below international standards as approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). On the same note, no consistent findings of various studies conducted by experts worldwide have proved that radiation by mobile phones or computers have negative effects to reproductive organs, according to the expert. Speaking earlier, the Director General of TCRA, Prof John Nkoma, said the study was conducted to find out whether the gadgets have health risks, following fears from the public. "Few regions were covered but the study will be rolled out to other regions in the country and it will be sustainable," Prof Nkoma said. He urged members of the public to ensure they purchase genuine communication devices which have been verified by responsible authorities to check levels of radiation. The TCRA's Manager for Planning and Research, Dr Ali Simba, said the research was conducted in areas with high population of people such as hospitals and schools. "For instance, in Dar es Salaam, radiation levels for radio and GSM technology for mobile phones were 2.7 and 2.6 per cent against the accepted minimum levels of 28 and 41.9 per cent respectively," the specialist noted. Even with the assurances, users of mobile phones should understand that the longer they communicate on mobile phones the longer they are exposed to radiation. Using of hand-fee devices, commonly known as ear phones to communicate on cell phones reduce exposure to radiation by some degrees, according to the experts. The other fact is that all devices used in communication emit radiation but what matters is the level at which they emit the rays. Copyright Tanzania Daily News. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |