Proposed cell tower by U.S. Cellular on Harbin Hot Springs Road

[news.omega]

Posted by: Angela Flynn

Mon May 19, 2008 10:08 am (PDT)

Begin forwarded message:

From: Angela Flynn
Date: May 19, 2008 10:04:11 AM PDT
To: georgineh@co.lake.ca.us, C...@co.lake.ca.us
Cc: reception@harbin.org, Elke Murphy , ewilson@record-bee.com
Subject: Proposed cell tower by US Cellular on Harbin Springs Road

Dear Lake County Board of Supervisors,

I write to you in reference to the proposed cell tower by U.S. Cellular on Harbin Hot Springs Road. I request that this application be denied as not only is the proposed cell tower unnecessary and unsightly, but also the microwave radiation from cell towers cause harm to humans, animals and plants and the FCC guidelines for exposure are not adequate.

In addition, the siting of a cell tower so close to the Harbin Hot Springs Resort will result in a loss of business. I go to Harbin to get away from my busy life and for a much-needed break from the high electromagnetic radiation that is found in our cities.

GSM is already available throughout Harbin. http://antennasearch.com/ GSM. There is no need for additional cellular antennas. U.S. Cellular must prove a need for the cell tower and they cannot do this.

The FCC has set a limit for thermal effects for electromagnetic radiation. They deferred the setting of biological non-thermal limits to the nation’s health agencies. At the same time they cut the funding of research into these health effects to zero.

The BioInitiative, published in August 2007, reviews over 2,000 studies that show evidence of the non-thermal bio effects from this non ionizing radiation.

Two-time Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Gerald Hyland, a physicist and board member of the International Institute of Biophysics has said that the: "Existing safety guidelines for cell phone towers are completely inadequate.” … and , “People living near mobile phone masts “are effectively involuntary subjects in a mass experiment.”

Norbert Hankin, of the Radiation Protection Division of the EPA says:

"The FCCs current exposure guidelines…are thermally based, and do not apply to chronic, non-thermal exposure situations… Therefore, the generalization that the guidelines protect human beings from harm by any or all mechanisms is not justified."

Dr. Bruce Lipton, Ph.D., in the "The Biology of Belief", explains that electromagnetic radiation causes the electrons to flip [twist]in our cell’s proteins. This interferes with entire biological processes as the receptors in the cell's membranes are not able to function properly. He says:

"… proteins are the most important single component for living organisms…The final shape…of a protein molecule reflects a balanced state among its electromagnetic charges. However, if the protein's positive and negative charges are altered the protein backbone will dynamically twist and adjust itself to accommodate the new distribution of charges. The distribution of electromagnetic charge within a protein can be selectively altered by a number of processes including…interference from electromagnetic fields such as those emanating from cell phones. [Tsong 1989]"

Dr. Henry Lai of the University of Washington has shown that the effects appear to be cumulative and can affect DNA. Leukemia, cancer, sleeplessness and depression are just a few of the effects. Dr. Lai also points out that current U.S. guidelines for electromagnetic radiation exposure are not up-to-date and are based on research data only up to 1985. Dr. Lai has said he would not live next to a cell tower.

And, Dr. Andrew Weil, MD., says that "Electromagnetic pollution may be the most significant form of pollution human activity has produced in this century!"
I
Many people on this planet, est. 2 – 3%, have Electro-Hyper-Sensitivity (EHS). This makes them extremely sensitive to microwave frequency radiation. Often this occurs when someone has been exposed to higher than normal levels at some point causing them to now be overly sensitive to exposure. Many of these people experience some symptoms of radiation poisoning. Many people are suffering harm from living near cell towers without realizing what is causing the harm.

Recent studies confirm that cell and cordless phone and wireless internet microwave can:
cause headaches and induce extreme fatigue, cause memory loss and mental confusion, precipitate cataracts, retina damage and eye cancer, create a burning sensation and rash on the skin, damage nerves in the scalp, induce ringing in the ears, impair sense of smell, create joint pain, muscle spasms and tremors, cause digestive problems and raise bad cholesterol levels, alter the brain's electrical activity during sleep, open the blood-brain barrier to viruses and toxins, cause blood cells to leak hemoglobin, reduce the number and efficiency of white blood cells, stimulate asthma by producing histamine in mast cells, and stress the endocrine system - especially the pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, and testes.

This “harmless” radiation is beaming at us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is particularly dangerous for children and for people while sleeping, as children are more susceptible to electromagnetic radiation and the body needs to be able to repair itself while asleep.

The microwave radiation from cellular antennas trespasses onto neighboring property. This is a taking of property rights without compensation.

Lloyds of London recently declined to issue insurance for liability to wireless companies. These companies are changing to limited liability corporations to avoid liability. Cell phone users and the owners of the property where the antennas are left as the only ones not protected from liability.

In addition the federal government does not have jurisdiction over local governments on such matters. The rights granted to the wireless companies by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 were not granted to it by the constitution and the local governments did not give up those rights.

Again, I request that this application be denied. I would also like to suggest that Lake County organize a task force to research the issue of microwave radiation.

Thank you for your time on this crucial matter. I have included reference material below.

Best regards,

Angela Flynn
204 Gault Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
831-469-4399

Below are six studies showing adverse health effects from cell phone towers and some reference websites.

http://ezinearticles.com/index.php?Cell-Phone-Towers-And-Mobile-Phone-Masts---Beacons-Of-Harm&id=10030

1. Santini et al. found significant health problems in people living within 300 meters of a cell phone base station or tower.

2. A Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research study entitled, "Effects of Global Communications System Radio-Frequency Fields On Well Being and Cognitive Function of Human Subjects With and Without Subjective Complaints" found significant effects on well being including headaches, muscle fatigue, pain, and dizziness from tower emissions well below the "safety" level.

3. Gerd, Enrique, Manuel, Ceferino and Claludio conducted a Spanish study called "The Microwave Syndrome" and found adverse health effects from those living near two cell phone base stations. The health effects included fatigue, a tendency toward depression, sleeping disorders, difficulty in concentration and cardiovascular problems.

4. From an Israeli study published in the International Journal of Cancer Prevention, reported a fourfold increase in the incidence of cancer in people living within 350 meters of a cell phone tower as compared to the Israeli general population.

5. In the Naila Study from Germany, November 2004, five medical doctors collaborated to assess the risk to people living near a cell phone tower. The results showed that the proportion of newly developed cancer cases was significantly higher in those patients living within the 400-meter distance and that the patients became ill on average eight years earlier.

6. An Austrian Study released in May 2005, showed that radiation from a cell phone tower at a distance of 80 meters causes significant changes of the electrical currents in the brains of test subjects. Subjects reported symptoms such as buzzing in the head, tinnitus, palpitations of the heart, lightheadedness, anxiety, shortness of breath, nervousness, agitation, headache, heat sensation and depression.


Following are some useful websites with information on this matter.

1. The International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety (ICEMS) held an international conference entitled "The Precautionary EMF Approach: Rationale, Legislation and Implementation", hosted by the City of Benevento, Italy, on February 22, 23 & 24, 2006
http://www.icems.eu/benevento_resolution.htm
2. Wi-Fis Electric Shock _Wireless Net Hoopla Masks Growing Concern over Frequency Pollution
http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2006-03-09/news_story.php
3. Thailand and Vietnam require shielding from emr.
http://www.radiationresearch.org/newsletter170606.htm
4. Health fears lead schools to dismantle wireless networks
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article642575.ece
5. EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT _Directorate General for Research-Directorate A
STOA - Scientific and Technological Options Assessment _Options Brief and Executive Summary _PE nr. 297.574 March 2001
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF NON-IONISING ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
http://www.goodhealthinfo.net/radiation/eu_report_2001.pdf
6. Telecom Towers Tsunami by B. Blake Levitt
http://www.emrnetwork.org/faq/tsunami.pdf
7. Nerve cell damage in mammalian brain after exposure to microwaves from GSM mobile phones.
http://www.protectingourhealth.org/newscience/learning/2003/2003-0129salfordetal.htm
8. ISRAELI RESEARCH: CELL PHONE RADIATION MAY CAUSE VISUAL DAMAGE
http://www.isracast.com/Articles/Article.aspx?ID=57
9. You Don't Deserve Brain Cancer - You Deserve Facts - Amy Worthington
http://www.goaegis.com/articles/amy_worthington_012003_o3s6g4k8q2.html
10. FEB - The Swedish Association for the Electro Sensitive
http://www.feb.se/index_int.htm
11. Letter from the EPA (7/16/02) stating that the FCCs guidelines are not adequate.
http://www.emrnetwork.org/position/noi_response/noi_epa_response.pdf
12. My war on electrosmog: Julia Stephenson sets out to clear the airwaves_How one woman fought back after being diagnosed by her naturopath with overexposure to Wi-Fi and mobile phone frequencies
http://environment.independent.co.uk/lifestyle/article2600308.ece
13. Dr. Andrew Weil, MD
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA26193
14. The Freiburger Appeal
http://www.emrnetwork.org/news/IGUMED_english.pdf


Websites to Research:
http://www.bioinitiative.org
http://www.emrnetwork.org
http://www.safewireless.org/
http://www.noodlenak.com/the-courts-are-delivering-blows-against-mobile-masts-and-cell-towers.htm