Cellphone tower upsets residents

MOST Namibians remain uninformed about the specifics of numerous, serious scientific studies that indicate long-term health hazards associated with living too close to cellphone towers.

This is what a group of concerned Windhoek residents write in a strongly worded public letter published in today’s The Namibian.The main bone of contention is a base transmitter station that MTC planned to erect on Bowker Hill in Klein Windhoek. A public meeting that was scheduled for this evening has been postponed – not cancelled as the group claims – MTC spokesman Albertus Aochamub said yesterday. According to him, the mobile telecommunication provider only became aware of the dissatisfaction of this specific group of residents after it had already received the municipal go-ahead for the intended project. However, it was decided to postpone the meeting, because as far as MTC knows, there wouldn’t have been ‘a critical mass’ at the meeting. Said Aochamub: ‘And we can’t have the meeting for one or two people.’And until the matter has been resolved, no tower will be erected on Bowker Hill, Aochamub told The Namibian.Contrary to what the spokesperson said, the group is concerned about more than aesthetics. ‘In addition to aesthetic impacts, there is concern about involuntary exposure to long-term, low-level, 24-hour per day radio frequency radiation of mobile phone towers.’ The group cites ‘studies… showing that our bodies can be affected by radio frequency emissions over the long term, and that biological effects can increase with regard to, for example, cancer, genetics, changes to cellular/ molecular structures, behavioural patterns, nervous system/ brain, cardiovascular, sleeping disorders, hormonal/ immune system disturbance, metabolic effects, impaired learning, fertility impairment.’Upon enquiry, Aochamub added: ‘The relevant legislation and the applicable municipal regulations dictate that the public be consulted on the erection of mobile transmitter towers. Should there be overwhelming disapproval of such, after following due processes, we would be duty bound not to provide services to such communities. In this [specific] instance, consultations are still ongoing.’Should the tower eventually be erected, it can’t be disguised by a palm tree to make it look better because civil aviation regulations stipulate that at this altitude it would need to be visible. This, Aochamub said, poses an additional challenge.

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