New standard in Israel lowers radiofrequency (wireless) radiation exposure

An Israeli municipality plans to introduce a standard which dramatically lowers the amount of radiofrequency (wireless) radiation exposure for residents.

The announcement was made following the development of cancer by three students in classrooms located near mobile phone antennas, which sparked a September demonstration by parents of students.

Zvika Zarfati and Eshel Armoni from the Mayor’s office, wrote to parents at the school, promising action to protect the community from radiation from the base stations. ‘The city of Kfar Saba decided to have the strictest standard that exists today—1 μW/cm2 and to strive to reduce the radiation in educational institutions to the minimum possible, in any case below 1 μW/cm2,’ they wrote.

The letter advised parents that the city had negotiated with the telecommunications companies that owned antennas near the school to redirect the main beans of transmissions, such that they no longer fall across the school.

In the letter, the city promised to undertake further actions to protect students at the school. These include prohibiting the use of mobile phones at the school, relocating students to classrooms with the lowest radiation levels and monitoring radiation emissions.

‘The mayor will lead a national move for coordination between Government Ministries to set a serious policy regarding everything that is related to cellular antennas that are close to educational institutions,’ the letter said. It also undertook to encourage national authorities to update its radiation standard for educational institutions.

(Hasharon Post, 08.09.14, translated by Iris Atzmon)