KOCHI: Locking horns with the Swadeshi Science Movement over its recent study on the safety of mobile phone towers, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has written a letter to Prof V P N Nampoori, who led the study, saying that there was no credible device in the market that gives colour-coded results while measuring electromagnetic field levels.
News report on the study had stated that cell phone radiation is very high in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. A letter from the COAI on January 6 stated that as there are no credible devices to measure radiation ‘the conclusions of the study would be wrong’.
“In case you are referring to the Detex-189 (manufactured by NESA Radiation Solutions Pvt Ltd), we would like to bring to your notice that the device has not been certified by any credible and competent institution in India or abroad.
In fact, the device had failed a certification test conducted by the Government of India’s Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), on the grounds of providing false results. Such low-cost hand-held devices offered by some companies are distributed by some organisations to make money out of the unwarranted scare created over emissions from mobile towers. Such devices do not provide accurate readings that can be measured against the DoT’s safety norms. Needless to mention that if your basic measurements are wrong, your conclusions will also be wrong,” the letter, which was addressed to Prof VPN Nampoori, said.
“As you are aware, public concerns over the health effects of emissions from mobile towers have increased at an alarming rate in India, and it is imperative that proper perspective on the subject be provided to the people. Many myths without any scientific basis have been floated by mischief mongers with vested business interests - that electromagnetic field radiation from telecom towers and mobile phones lead to cancer and skin allergies.
“In spite of the many rigorous, independent and scientific studies and researches conducted in many countries till date, no scientific study globally has found an iota of truth in these allegations. This has been validated by the latest advisory from the WHO,” said the letter from COAI director general Rajan S Mathews.