On hold
Mobile phone industry thwarts radiation guidelines
India has adopted the limits on electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones and base stations set by the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (icnirp), but still not adopted guidelines for regulation. According to an official in the Department of Telecommunications, the delay is because the telecom industry opposes guidelines dealing with the health effects of radiation.
On May 27, 2008, the Telecom Commission adopted the limits for power density, that indicates the strength of electromagnetic radiation, and the rate of radiation absorption by the body, called the specific absorption rate (sar), for cell phones and mobile base stations (see Safety limit).
Implementing these limits has, however, been tricky. Draft guidelines on electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones have existed since 2006, after the Supreme Court sent notices to the central government asking about regulations on radiation from mobile handsets and base stations. In September 2007, representatives of telecom equipment manufacturers and service providers were asked to comment on a draft, prepared by independent technical consultants and officials of the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (tec). These guidelines were based on who recommendations and icnirp guidelines.
Down To Earth has three versions of the guidelines. Industry was fidgety right from 2006, the beginning. The Cellular Operators Association of India (coai), an association of gsm operators, asked for numerous changes in the first draft. Most concerned the health of children and pregnant mothers, and hospitals. Other opposed guidelines included giving the sar value as a menu option in cell phones or on screen.
After receiving industry comments, tec brought out a second draft in February 2007. Guidelines on the safety of pregnant mothers and children are deleted here. The September 2006 draft had recommended
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