Health Risks of Cell Towers

Many landowners who have been approached by wireless carriers to lease ground space for a cell tower wonder what health risks might accompany the cell tower.

To be candid, we are not scientists, nor do we have any special insight. Steel in the Air is privy to research on both sides of the issue, including studies propagated (Pun intended) by the industry to support the placement of towers everywhere and studies propped up by the opponents to these same towers. And even in being privy to this information, we are not sure what the long term impact of cell towers will be on human health.

One thing that is sure is that the FCC and Congress have pre-empted local zoning boards from evaluating health issues when reviewing applications for cell towers. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 creates a non-rebuttable presumption that towers and antennas that operate within the prescribed limits of radiation are safe. They did this because it was easy to foresee that local zoning boards would use health as an reason for denying tower applications on the basis of uninformed beliefs.

So far, litigation over the issue of radiation from cell towers and cell phones has proven unsuccessful. The courts have not found credible scientific evidence to support the claims of the plaintiffs, so far. Whether or not they will is beyond our ability to prognosticate.

Our opinion, and this is strictly our opinion, is that if any danger exists, the person with the cell phone held up to his ear for 4 hours a day is more likely to be in danger than the person living 1/10th of a mile from a 100' tower. Most carriers use sectorized antennas, or directional panels. These antennas are directed outward not downward. The FCC in fact prescribes safe distances from antennas for all individuals. Tower sites are monitored for compliance with these levels of output. Commonly, the areas deemed unsafe are within feet of the antenna, not 10's of feet and definitely not 100's of feet.

If you are concerned about health issues and wish to know more, do a google search on "cell tower health" and you will easily find many articles.

Additionally, if you have been approached by a wireless carrier to place a cell tower on your property or an antenna on your rooftop and wonder what questions you need to be asking, please Contact us.