Mobile Phones and Black spots

Across the city of Dublin, mobile phone coverage is often very poor. There
is no excuse for this. The usual causes have been the failure of mobile
phone companies and those in the public sphere – councils, government and
politicians to insure that the service is excellent. Like many things in
this country, voodoo intervenes and residents form opposition groups to
transmission masts on the grounds of aestheticism and alleged toxicity.
This activity is a godsend to craven politicians who fan the flames of
prejudice and ignorance to successfully garner votes. Meanwhile the silent
majority struggle on unable to understand why they cannot use their phones
effectively at home and at key points in the local area. In Northwest,
notorious blanks occur along Griffith Avenue between Swords Road and
Ballymun Road, at Glasnevin Avenue near Beneavin Road, at Cappagh Road near
Ratoath Road, near Santry village. The absurd sight of people campaigning
against masts texting each other never fails to depress me.

Labour and Sinn Fein have been in the vanguard of reaction in this area.
To those who are incredulous, I will quote the Local News free sheet
Christmas 2009 noeth edition headline – “Finglas Masts “playing with
people’s health”

The first paragraph then states “councillor John Lyons has told the Local
News that four controversial telecommunications masts erected on Raven House
in Finglas are “playing with people’s health” Lyons went on the acknowledge
that there were two opinions on the subject and said “I don’t know which
camp is right but I don’t think that we can afford to give these masts the
benefit of the doubt”

And then to compound the scare mongering goes on to state “The fact that
they’re right next to a primary school is the most worrying aspect of this.
We shouldn’t be taking a chance where kids are concerned. You’re basically
playing with people’s health”

PD Fianna Fail’s Paul McAuliffe is correct on this issue when he states that
his main misgivings are not related to health with the aesthetic view in
Finglas village – a legitimate point of view. Dessie Ellis Sinn Fein, who
should know better as an electronic technical wizard, is quoted “In most EU
countries you aren’t allowed erect a telephone mast within 30 metres of
schools and other designated buildings. Something needs to be done about
Ireland’s legislation in this area.”

Mobile phone transmitters use 20 watts and phones themselves about 14 watts
of radio waves. More power drowns out the phone transmitters.

Even thought there are claims that mobiles increase the risk of gliomas and
acoustic neuromas on the favoured hearing side, the literature is equivocal
on the issue. A big study flagged in 2008 in the British Medical Journal
June 28th found that there were no toxic effects. There is a big literature
on the subject and unless there is robust clear data to the contrary, I
believe that this radiofrequency system is harmless. Other epidemiological
data is more equivocal but may be confounded by in appropriate methods.

The anti-mobile phone campaigners and their political allied owe it to the
rest of us to prove their case. Thus far, no compelling evidence of toxicity
exists.