Cell Tower Radiation Rises - Resident Group

Microwave radiation limit from cell towers dramatically raised.

The permissible limit for exposing the public to radiation from cell towers for the functioning of cellular phones has been dramatically raised. But I have seen no reference to this in the daily media, which gets a lucrative income from advertising cellular phones.

The New Zealand Standard used to set the public exposure limit to 200 microwatts per square centimetre. But New Zealand now adopts the exposure limit of 450 microwatts per square centimetre, which was set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation. Previously Councils negotiated different levels at different locations and many of us were opposed to the level of 5.4 in Henderson for example. The old methods of determining sites often ran roughshod over our community’s wishes and this latest bombshell is totally unacceptable to ratepayers.

Dr Neil Cherry, Lincoln University, has issued a report, which is condemnatory of the International Commission and the permissive public exposure level it set. He quotes many scientific studies to support his critique.

The adoption of the higher exposure limit is the outcome of the Shirley Primary School losing its case against Telecom at the Environment Court. Councils and individuals will be reluctant to appeal the decision of Judge Jackson because of the high litigation costs involved when confronting formidable international communication companies.

The decision of Judge Jackson in the Shirley Primary School case is especially bewildering. Even Dr David Black, who appeared for Telecom, agreed with Professor Ivan Beale, when he said in evidence that there are “numerous studies on animals that show adverse effects of brief radiofrequency exposure at levels much lower than the thermal threshold…”

Because chequebook justice cannot deliver real justice and a healthful environment to the public (including ratepayers) our Association has forwarded the following two submissions to Government:

A. Our Association calls upon Government to provide legislation which will limit the exposure of radiation our communities are subjected to at a level consistent with no adverse health consequences, as evidenced in Dr Cherry’s Critique.

B. Our Association further calls upon Government to enact legislation, which will ensure that local communities regain control of their own destinies instead of being dictated to by outside companies, because of their financial domination within the Justice system.

ENDS

Ashley Bent (Representing Te Atatu Residents’ & Ratepayers’ Association with a watching brief on cellsites).

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