Needs of communications with general public about the potential risk of electromagnetic fields and methods for achieving this goal

Abstract

In the recent years concerns whether exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) from base station antennae can cause adverse health effects are grown. Great attention is paid on risk of EMF exposure to people living in a close proximity of base stations. In this issue, a point of interest is the personnel mounting, adjusting and maintaining base stations. Their working tasks require stay in high EMF levels' conditions. There are only few studies concerning this specific occupational group. The results from our previous investigation (Zaryabova and Israel 2006) show that in many cases on performing some specific tasks operators are overexposed according to our national legislation, and ICNIRP guidelines. Here, we present an extended study covering more base stations and more precise scenario for performed tasks and working positions. Results of exposure assessment are presented. They include energetic load calculations on the basis of Bulgarian national legislation, and the corresponding SAR values. Data are used to determine permissible time duration for each particular work operation and served as a base for limiting the exposure and proposal for protective measures for the personnel.Good communication between different groups of interest among the society are important opportunity for faster implementing of new technologies in our life, and their safe use without any inadequate health risk perception by the general population. This refers particularly to the issue of health risk from electromagnetic fields (EMF). Electromagnetic fields are among the most important ''strategic'' risk factors of the environment and they are considered by researchers, international and ecological organizations, in connection to suspected causal relationship with some severe human diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, hypertension and coronary heart disease, behavioral problems and cancer. Public is concerned that exposure to EMF created for example by power lines, radars, mobile phones and related base stations can have hazardous effects on health and mainly on children. As a result, in some countries the construction of new power and distribution lines or mobile communication networks faces significant public opposition.The broad public have access to scientific and popular literature where, unfortunately, there are serious contradictions and inadequately proven scientific facts related to ask questions-sometimes they are correct, often unclear, and inaccurate. Because of the quick development of technologies connecting with electromagnetic irradiation (EMR), and the lack of effective system for public information as well as for communication between the interested groups, the new EMF technologies sometimes provoke fear and disbelief.Public relations (PR) have a key role in human relations using two-directional activity aiming to establish trust, harmony, good will and understanding on the basis of effective dialogue. The PR practice is based on the understanding that only the informed public acts reasonably.

Impact of physical factors on the society and environment

“…This exposure could happen in work environment as well as in home. For some specific work conditions, the assessment of the RF EMF has been performed (Karpowicz and Gryz 2007;Israel et al 2007;Zarjabova and Israel 2007).…”

“…The Kyoto protocol failure, mainly because of the USA and Australia in Fig. 2 Role of science in explanation of new environmental conditions (following Cutlip et al 1999 andZarjabova and with permission) December 2011 went further. No China and India enrolled in this treaty, but Canada, Russia, and Japan declared withdraw from the program designed to save the planet.…”