Mobile mast destroyed over cancer fears

By Graeme Wearden

A 150-foot high mobile phone mast was attacked last weekend by local residents who believe the mast has caused several cases of cancer in the area.

The mast, located in the Cranlome area of Dungannon, Northern Ireland, was brought down on Saturday evening. Those responsible are thought to have broken through an electrified fence before using an angle grinder to sever its four legs.

Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE), which owned the mast, has condemned the action -- which it claims has also endangered local electricity supplies.

"This facility identifies faults on the network and transmits information to NIE's control centre. It also allows NIE's engineers to communicate with each other by radio, which is vital when we have to deal with the sort of widespread damage a storm can bring," said NIE spokesman Robin Greer. "This damage will hamper the restoration of electricity supplies if there is any damage to the local electricity network in the coming months, and will delay the implementation of new network monitoring systems," Greer added.

As well as being used by five mobile phone operators, the mast alsoprovided radio communications facilities for a range of servicesincluding the ambulance service, the water service and Dungannon Borough Council.

Local residents have been campaigning against the mast, claiming that several cancer cases have been caused by the electromagnetic radiation it emits.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the attack is thought to have been triggered by the death of a local man from cancer last week.

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,39020336,2127669,00.htm

Informant: PW.DM.WARD

SV: VS: mobilephone masts - Basestation - urgent

Last August I asked you for help in the matter referred below.
I received many useful answers and good technical advice.
To start with these people did not have any knowledge on masts and health effects of EMF/MW etc. I then supplied these people with all the information available, including your information. This knowledge enabled them to write relevant letters of protest against the this mast to authorities, companies, ministers etc.
The result is that the local authorities have turned down the application of the telephone company to raise this mast at this site.
They wrote that they think it is not necessary to have more mobilphonemasts in this area, which is a natural protected area. It will not improve any telecommunication conditions, since there is already one mast in a nearby area.
These people have now become very interested and active in the mobile phone masts issue. They will try to have a broadcast in the local radio/TV and can now give advice to other groups of people facing the same situation.
Thank you all for your help, it can really pay to protest.

Sianette Kwee

"I am contacted by a group of people here in Denmark on the following: The telephonecompany wants to raise a mobilephone mast, 24 m high, on top of a school. This is a rather densely populated holiday resort. The inhabitants are protesting, but are only given a few days before the decision is made. The company said they are willing to move it to a place they indicate. Their question now is, how far away is "safe"? We have no information about field strengths etc. Anyway the standard answer is always, that it is below the accepted atandards (WHO, ICNIRP).
I recall a message about New RF/MW exposure from Spain, where they mention 500 m. Should this really be sufficient?
I am grateful for some very fast reactions, since time is running out.
Thank you.

Sianette Kwee
Omega: Email from Sianette Kwee (last August).

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