Mobile phone antennas cause concern

Several Gozitans from Xaghra, Qala, Nadur, Victoria, Xewkija and Kercem aired their objections to the installation of mobile phone base stations (antennas) in residential areas and on churches to various local councils and to the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA).

Anthony Bajada, of Xaghra, went to court after his pleas were ignored by the then Planning Authority and the mobile phone company concerned. Following the installation of a base station a few metres away from his home in Xaghra in March last year, together with his neighbours, Isabelle and Alex Melrose, he presented his protest in court. They asserted that the low intensity pulsed microwave radiation could have serious negative effects on their families' health. The antenna is not transmitting until the court case is closed.

The Malta Communications Authority, responsible for the regulation of antennas, is checking whether the radio frequency emissions fall within international standards. In a recent statement the authority said that until now all tests proved to fall within this limit and that the base stations are safe. But on being contacted, Mr Bajada, the co-founder of a recently set up group - Campaign for Awareness on Radiation Emissions (CARE) - said that he is not surprised with these results.

"The international standard has been criticised by several scientists of international standing as being too lenient because it is purely thermally based. This means that it simply limits the intensity of the radiation to ensure that tissue heating is not in excess of such radiation. There already is documented evidence of short-term effects. These include headaches, nausea, fatigue, memory loss and lack of concentration," he said.

"This is why many countries like Russia, China, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy have taken a precautionary approach and changed the standard to ensure that emissions do not cause any harm. Why should Malta and Gozo be so different from these countries which have the required know-how and are protecting their citizens?"

The Melrose family said: "We are very perturbed that a mobile phone base station has been set up opposite our home. Although nothing as yet has been proven about the danger of emitted radiation, there is great concern in well-informed circles that continual exposure to radiation is detrimental to health, especially to young children and the elderly.

"We feel that not enough consideration of the potential danger of these transmitters has been taken into account, nor the views of residents. The transmitters should be situated in open country, far from residential areas as is the rule in other countries, where the potential danger has been considered."