Maybe most of you already caught this, but I underestimated the seriousness of the chart below by 10,000 times when I first read it.
In the chart below from page 9, they set these preliminary benchmarks:
High-frequency electromagnetic radiation
≥1000 microW/m² (≥1 mW/m²) very far above normal
10-1000 microW/m² (0.01-1 mW/m²) far above normal
1-10 microW/m² (0.001-0.01 mW/m²) slightly above normal
≤1 microW/m² (≤0.001 mW/m²) within normal limits
The benchmarks listed are intended to be applied to individual types of radiation, e.g. GSM, UMTS, WiMAX, TETRA, radio, TV, DECT or WLAN, and refer to peak levels…Highly critical types of radiation, such as periodic signals (mobile telephony, DECT, WLAN, digital broadcasting…), should be critically evaluated, especially if levels are far above normal,
The chart is in microwatts per meter squared.
Here’s the conversion to microwatts per centimeter squared
≥ .1 microW/cm2 very far above normal
.001 - .1 microW/cm2 far above normal
.0001 - .001 microW/cm2 slightly above normal
≤.0001 microW/cm2 within normal limits
So, FCC guidelines allow up to 1000 microW/cm2.
That’s 10,000 times “very far above normal” levels and 10,000,000 (ten million) times “within normal limits” levels.
By comparison, Switzerland’s present standards allow 10 microW/cm2 – still very high, but 1/100th of the radiation which the U.S. allows.
And the press release about Switzerland below, asking for their guideline to be lowered to 1 microwatt/cm2 -- still huge by the above guidelines -- would be 1/1000 of what the FCC permits
23 March 2012
Switzerland: Waves from Wireless Communication: Physicians for the Environment Requests Strict Application of the Precautionary Principle
Basel, 22 March 2012
Press Release from Physicians for the Environment (MfE – Switzerland)
Mobile Telephony : MfE requests stricter limit values
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considers the waves emitted by wireless communication “possibly carcinogenic”. According to the IARC, the risk of cancer for this type of radiation is thus similar to that of the insecticide DDT, rightly banned. Physicians for the Environment (MfE) is concerned that the limit values expected to protect the Swiss population, notably vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women, constitute insufficient protection. In a communication sent to the Federal Assembly, MfE thus requests strict application of the principle of precaution and – in view of the risk of cancer – lower limit values.
Children’s rooms, housing, trams or offices are experiencing a growing exposure to radiation from diverse sources: babyphones, mobile telephony, wifi, etc., yet more and more studies warn against the serious health consequences of electromagnetic pollution for human beings and animals.
Cataracts in calves, Alzheimer’s Disease, cancer …
Since 2001, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considered that magnetic fields emitted notably from current lines could be carcinogenic. A 2008 Swiss study postulates increased risk of contracting Alzheimer’s Disease for residents living near power lines. Other studies on the risk of brain tumors establish a higher risk for this pathology in the case of mobile phone use. This is why the IARC, part of the United Nations, considered in 2011 that waves from mobile telephony are “possibly carcinogenic”. In 2012, the University of Zürich noted a 10 times higher prevalence of blindness from birth (cataracts) in calves during the duration of operation of a relay antenna installed on a stable.
Strict application of the precautionary principle, lowering of limit values
“From the medical point of view, it is urgent to apply the precautionary principle for mobile telephony, wifi, power lines, etc.” states Dr. Peter Kälin, President of Physicians for the Environment. The Austrian Medical Chamber has moreover just formulated the same requirement in regard to smart meters. In a communication dated 16 March 2012 to the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly, Physicians for the Environment requested to divide the value limits by 10. Dr. Yvonne Gilli, National Councillor, has repeated the demands of the MfE in requesting the Federal Council, if it has to protect the population, to apply the precautionary principle and to lower limit values.
Contact:
Dr Martin Forter, Bâle, directeur MfE 061 691 55 83
Dr en médecine Peter Kälin, Leukerbad, président Mfe 027 470 21 77
The communication to the Federal Assembly and parlementary intervention of Yvonne Gilli are available in German on
www.aefu.ch.
Founded 25 years ago, the association of Physicians for the Environment (MfE) joins together around 1,500 physicians in Switzerland.
(Translated from French by Meris Michaels.)
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