THE VODAFONE MAST

The saga of the Vodafone mast started early in 2006, when a few residents were informed that a mast would be sited on Council land outside the Red Lion Public House.  This is a third generation base station (3G) designed to carry data rather than voice calls.  A petition and individual objections were sent to the Council, but the planning committee raised no objections and gave the green light to the project.  The Residents' Association was unaware of what was happening, but quickly formed an action committee when the facts were known. 

Action to stop this development was considered necessary due to the irresponsible siting of the mast:

• 120 metres from the Junior School

• 200 metres from the Infants' School

• 100 metres from a nursery

• Surrounded primarily by elderly persons' residences

• In the middle of the residential area

A campaign of awareness was started in May, with a protest outside the Red Lion.  There followed an unproductive meeting with Vodafone, when the CRA demanded that the mast be sited outside sensitive areas.  They claimed that this was not possible and said they would go ahead as planned.  Further protests followed - outside the Junior School, a march from Shelton Lock (where Vodafone want to erect a mast close to the War Memorial) to the Red Lion and a family funday/barbecue.  Approximately 300 people signed the petitions saying that 3G was not wanted or needed in Chellaston - but still Vodafone didn't listen.

WHY DID WE OBJECT?

Because the health implications of base stations remain unclear.  Until the all clear is given, they should not be sited in sensitive areas.  It is the well being of our children, in particular, that is being sacrificed for profit by the multi-national corporations.  Remember asbestos, BSE, tobacco?

Those living close to masts have reported sleep disruption, severe levels of tiredness, frequent headaches, nosebleeds, skin problems, a general run down feeling, depression, irritability, behavioural problems, problems at school and epileptic attacks.  Reports have emerged of clusters of cancer being linked to the presence of mobile phone base stations.  It is believed that with 3G technology, operating at higher frequencies, this will just become worse.

In addition, house prices within 250m of an installation could fall.  Searches are now detailing masts within this radius of a property.  Indeed, a chartered surveyor has recently said that when the house-buyers pack is introduced, this will have to be declared and a reduction in prices will be seen over the next few years.

Follow the links and make up your own mind.  Ask yourself if you really want to download films and music or watch television on your mobile.  Resist the temptation to buy, or refuse the offer of, a 3G phone.  Remember that it could cost you and your children dearly in the future. 

Mast Sanity have a wealth of information on their site: www.mastsanity.org

If you don't have time to browse their website, please look at the following:

• Information note from the Association  Click here

• Scientific study over 10 years indicating a 3 fold risk of developing new cancers if living within 400m of a mast (pdf file) Click here

• An appeal from German doctors to recognise that mobile phone installations are resulting in effects that are difficult to alleviate Click here

NEW  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), has declared after a review of the research that cell phones are possible cancer-causing agents.

Professor Dariusz Leszczynski, of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland, explains why this should probably be considered big news:

"... for the first time a very prominent evaluation report states it so openly and clearly: RF-EMF is possibly carcinogenic to humans. One has to remember that IARC monographs are considered as 'gold standard' in evaluation of carcinogenicity of physical and chemical agents. If IARC says it so clearly then there must be sufficient scientific reason for it, or IARC would not put its reputation behind such claim."

Camilla Rees of ElectromagneticHealth.org says,

"We expect to see continued spin from all directions, attempting to confuse the public and raise doubt, for some time to come. Thus it is especially important citizens be able to spot the misinformation and recognize there is an extraordinary propaganda machine in motion. We expect this will get LOUDER until industry is one day forced to cry 'Uncle" under the landslide pressure from expected lawsuits and governments."

Vodafone have sought to vary their licence to double the output power of their 3G masts. The regulator, OFCOM, has obligingly suggested that all operators should be allowed to quadruple their power output at a time when  other countries are reducing their exposure limits. This is yet another case of a so called regulator looking after the interests of multinationals rather than the general public
“Vodafone has told Ofcom that permitting a higher maximum licensed power would enable it (and other operators) to optimise their networks allowing the flexibility to serve more effectively a wider area and community with better in-building penetration”
There is no real need for it, this is purely commercially driven to take on BT and Virgin Media. Particularly considering the advised 'Precautionary Approach' and the accompanying adverse health effects from microwave radiation, this increase is totally unwarranted and unwelcome.

UPDATE: Unsurprisingly, OFCOM have agreed to allow 3G operators to double the power output of their base stations. Presumably these decision makers do not have masts on their doorstep.  Meanwhile, further evidence of health effects from the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health:
- Epidemiological Evidence for a Health Risk from Mobile Phone Base station
 

 The European Parliament adopted a report on 2nd April 2009 calling for stricter regulation and protection for residents and consumers from electromagnetic emitting devices (mobile phones, masts, Wi-Fi etc).  This report was adopted by 559 MEPs, with 22 against and 8 abstentions. It calls for masts to be sited away from schools, nurseries, retirement homes and healthcare institutions.  This precisely reflects the concerns of the Association that we have been advocating for the last three years.  Read the press report of the European Parliament here.

 If the phone companies don't like the evidence presented to them, they keep it quiet:

T-MOBILE, the mobile phone giant, has been accused of “burying” a scientific report it commissioned that concluded handsets and masts contribute to cancer and genetic damage. The report argued that officially recommended limits on radiation exposure should be cut to 1/1000th of those now in force. Read Report Here Also, a recent report in the Lancet criticizes the World Health Organisation for neglecting scientific evidence.  (The telecoms companies always quote the WHO when saying that they believe their systems do not contribute to ill health) And....if this report in the Independent on Sunday is to believed, then the government may be reviewing the planning rules for masts.....but don't hold your breath!

MONITORING

Vodafone agreed to fund an independent survey of emissions from all cellular operators' stations in and around the Junior School on Maple Drive.  This was carried out by RFI Global Services Ltd on 14th June 2006 in conjunction with the Residents' Association.  Results show that levels are well within the ICNIRP guidelines.  Highest readings were to be found on the corner of Maple Drive and Derby Road, with Orange (see below) being the main contributor to the emission level.  Readings were low at the school, both inside and outside.  It is believed that this may be due to screening from trees located between the masts and school.  However, this does not mean that we are being complacent.  Vodafone agreed  that they would provide round the clock monitoring in the area, but Derby City Council refused to enter into an agreement with Vodafone to put the results on their website.  We also approached Derby University with a view to them displaying  the results on their environmental website.  Despite meetings and subsequent phone calls, they refused to commit themselves.  Approaches to environmental consulting companies were also fruitless.  Hence we have not been able to progress with this project.  One has to ask the question why these people will not work with Vodafone.

For a graph showing the emissions levels click here.  The survey measured all emissions within the 80 to 3000MHz band.  However, for clarity, only the cellular operator frequencies are shown.  The full report can be viewed by contacting the webmaster.