Managing Health and Safety The Role of Local Authorities Dr E. van Deventer Team Leader, Radiation Programme Department of Public Health, Social and Environmental.

Managing Health and Safety The Role of Local Authorities

Managing Health and Safety The Role of Local Authorities

Dr E. van DeventerTeam Leader, Radiation Programme

Department of Public Health, Social and Environmental Determinants of Health

International WorkshopTELECOMMUNICATIONS, ANTENNAS, DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSION AND HUMAN HEALTH

Lima, Peru,10- 11July 2014

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:UNMSM_coatofarms_seal.svg

UNMSM-MTC International workshop, 11 July 2014, Lima, Peru2 |

National management approachesNational management approaches

Relevant authorities– National level– Provincial level– Local level

• Dispense building and planning permits• Direct contact with public and operators• May introduce further conservative measures based on politics rather

than science


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OUTLINEOUTLINE

What you should know about ….– The situation in your country regarding wireless networks– Your role as local authorities– How wireless networks operate– The health effects from wireless networks– The national and local rules and regulations– How to communicate effectively with stakeholders

Examples of some situations around the world


What is the situation in your country for wireless networks?

What is the situation in your country for wireless networks?

Are there national rules or guidelines that apply to the development of wireless network infrastructure?

– Network operators’ obligations to provide coverage– Limits for exposures to RF fields– Requirements to demonstrate compliance with RF exposure

limits and other obligations– Building permits– Constraints on mast / antenna siting and requirements to share

sites– Visual impacts/aesthetics


What is the landscape in your country for wireless networks? (cont'd)

What is the landscape in your country for wireless networks? (cont'd)

What local procedures apply? Are they compatible with any national rules? Are new rules / procedures needed?

What kinds of national support are available to assist at the local authority level?

What information is available to interested local communities / residents about the health and safety of wireless networks and how can they get it?

What consultation processes are in place if sites are controversial?


What is your role?What is your role?

Role Possible responsibilitiesPlanning authority or regulator • Authorise siting of wireless networks

• Set planning rules for wireless networks• Approve land use near wireless networks• Protect public health

Source of information

• Respond to questions about wireless networks from local residents, elected representatives

Landowner of site housing a wireless network

• Decide whether to lease site• Act as a good neighbour • Use position as landowner to encourage or promote local

prioritiesNetwork operator • Provide a public WiFi service

• Operate radio telemetry network to monitor status of local infrastructure

• Operate mobile radio network to communicate with staff

Employer • Meeting occupational health and safety responsibilities for staff working near wireless network transmitters


What should you know about how wireless networks operate?

What should you know about how wireless networks operate?

Radiofrequency fields used in wireless networks are non-ionizing radiation

Different types of RF sources/antennas– Emitters vs. transmitters– Frequency (TV, AM, FM, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, …)– Power (strength, steady vs. traffic, intermittent)


Network type/purpose

Comments Power (maximum)

Frequency Exposures to public† Typical antenna size

Typical coverage*

Mobile phone network – macro site

Normally on high poles, masts or buildings to cover large areas

10 – 200 watt 700 – 2700 MHz

Maximum typically ~ 0.05 W/m2 (~1%), generally much lower

1 – 2 metres 1 - 30 km

Mobile phone network – micro site

Often used to provide capacity ~10 watt 700 – 2700 MHz

Maximum ~ 0.05 W/m2 (~1%), generally much lower

1 – 2 metres < 1 km

Mobile phone network – pico/ femto (small cell) site

Often mounted indoors (e.g., shopping malls, offices) to provide capacity or improve coverage.

~1 watt 700 – 2700 MHz

Maximum ~ 0.005 W/m2 (~0.1%)

0.5 metres ~ 100 m

Mobile radio – traditional (e.g., for taxis, trucks)

Sited on hills in open areas, or on buildings used by network operator

25 watt: several transmitters may be used together at the same site

150 – 450 MHz

Maximum ~ 0.05 W/m2 (~2%)

1 metre ~ 35 km

Mobile radio – TETRA (terrestrial trunked radio)

Provides greater security and capacity than traditional mobile radio, often used for emergency services; Sited on hills in open areas, or buildings used by network operator

25 watt: several transmitters may be used together at the same site

400 MHz ~ 0.002 W/m2 (~0.1%) 1 metre ~ 8 km

WLAN (Wi-Fi) wireless internet

Short-range data communication between an access point and one or several users

0.1 - 1 watt 2450 - 6000 MHz

Maximum ~ 0.001 W/m2 (~0.01%)

30 cm ~ 200 m

WiMAX fixed or mobile internet

Delivery of last mile broadband wireless access as an alternative to cable

3 watt 2450 – 5000 MHz

Maximum ~ 0.0002 W/m2

(~0.002%)30 cm ~ 35 km

Base station smart meters (not home units)

Some smart metering systems communicate via mobile phone networks or WiMAX

2 watt 900 MHz < 0.0001 W/m2 (<0.002%) 1 metre 1 km


http://www.celtnet.org.uk/mobile-phone/img/cell-coverage.gif

There is no wireless network without the base stations !!!

http://www.celtnet.org.uk/mobile-phone/img/cell-coverage.gif


What should you know about health effects from wireless networks?


)near field( )far field(

mobile phonecordless phone

broadcast transmittermobile phone base station

other people’s mobile and cordless phones

close to body environmental

Source: M. Röösli, 2014

RF-EMF: Two types of exposure




Where to find reliable information (from national authorities, international organizations)

Different types of studies – laboratory studies vs. epidemiological studies

Different health outcomes– Cancer and other health effects

Different populations– Children, pregnant women, EHS, people with pacemakers, …


What should you know about regulationsWhat should you know about regulations

Exposure limits in your country– International limits – Basis for differences between countries

Your role regarding compliance and enforcement of limits, urban planning, siting, site sharing, administrative processes and timelines

– Number of licences– Construction permits – Location of base stations– Site sharing/co-location


Management OptionsPlanning measures

Management OptionsPlanning measures

Access around fixed installations

Provisions to prevent public access around fixed installations


How to communicate effectively with stakeholders


Understanding basic risk perception concepts


Risk PerceptionRisk Perception

New technologies alarm people

– Affecting children – influencing future

generations– Potentially disastrous

consequences– Cannot be seen or smelt– Unfamiliar– Cannot be controlled





Who are your stakeholders?


With Whom to Communicate?With Whom to Communicate?





Who are your stakeholders? – Local politicians, citizens, operators, national authorities, ….– Local media, social media

Information to stakeholders (local residents, users of public spaces) … prior to installing base stations

Dialogue with stakeholders on the health, social and environmental issues related to base station antennas

– through forums, community outreach events (malls,…)


Management OptionsDialogue

Management OptionsDialogue

Dialogue– public debates, mediation, focus groups, round

tables

www.who.int/emf

Requirements for informing /consulting stakeholders in the planning process for fixed installations

82% public announcements or inquiries

38 % meetings or information sessions

http://www.who.int/emf


What to Communicate?What to Communicate?

Communicating the science

– Use trustworthy sources

Explaining national and local policy measures

Putting the risk in perspective


RadiationRadiation

Public Health

Radon

UV

EMF

X-rays

Public Concern

Radon

UV

EMF

X-rays


Examples of some situations around the world


Examples of restrictive local regulationsExamples of restrictive local regulations

Some municipalities enact local restrictive rules on cellular antenna siting

Consequences for the deployment of modern services (e.g. 4G/LTE)

Consequences for the customers / subscribers


Salzburg, AustriaSalzburg, Austria

UMTS expansion was delayed until agreement between the city and the operators in 2004

Exposure limits mandatory in Austria based on 1999 EU Council Recommendation

Salzburg "milliwatt" limit (0.001 W/m2) was brought to parliament but rejected by majority in 2002


Brussels, BelgiumBrussels, Belgium

Presented at the International Advisory Committee of the WHO International EMF Project, Paris, June 2013


Reducing Exposure Limits Impacts on Network CoverageAdditional Base Stations needed

Reducing Exposure Limits Impacts on Network CoverageAdditional Base Stations needed

Existing outdoor coverage areas (marked in red) (left) and post-3 V/m estimation along with the number of additional base stations required for just one operator to

restore coverage to existing levels (right) after required power reductions to obtain manageable compliance boundaries. About 40% more base stations required.

(Example for Brussels).



Case study of France(2009-13)





Multi-stakeholder operational committee (COMOP/COPIC)

Study the feasibility of lowering exposure to RF emitted by mobile phone masts while maintaining service coverage and quality

16 communities over 1 year (ultimately 4 years)

Conclusions– Reducing exposure to 0.6 V/m would be accompanied by

“a sharp deterioration in network coverage, particularly indoors.” To compensate for this loss of coverage, about three times as many antennas would need to be installed

– increasing opportunities for public information and dialogue and decreasing the possibility for localities to adopt heterogeneous policies and practices

August 2013


Martin Röösli 31

Distanz

Source: M. Röösli, 2014

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The International EMF ProjectRadiation and Environmental Health

Public Health and EnvironmentWorld Health Organization

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Switzerland

email: [email protected]: www.who.int/emf