Are cellular phone transmitters hazardous to your health?

As more people use cell phones and cell phones have more features, more cellular phone transmitters pop up on the landscape. Just like the cell phone itself, cellular phone transmitters raise concerns about potential radiation exposure.

The Federal Communication Commission is the US government agency that monitors the radiation level of cell phone transmitters. In 1996, the FCC adopted guidelines for evaluating the safety of cellular transmitters. The limit set by the FCC is many times greater than the radiation exposure at the base of cellular phone transmission towers.

Cell phone transmitters works by sending out radio waves in a rather narrow field directed toward the horizon. The energy in those waves dissipates rapidly as it moves away from the transmitter. It makes sense that radiation released at the top of a 50- to 200-foot cellular transmission tower will pose little risk to people on the ground below.

A bigger health concern arises when cellular transmitters are located on rooftops in urban areas. Exposures closer to the FCC safety guidelines are possible when a person is very close to a rooftop transmitter. Therefore, as a precaution, cellular phone transmitters should not be placed on roofs that have public access.

Is the rooftop cell phone transmitter a hazard to people living or working in the building? Rooftop transmitters normally operate at lower power levels than tower-mounted transmitters. That and the amount of energy absorbed by the building itself make rooftop cell phone transmitters relatively safe.

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About The Author:

Wendy Whittaker is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-cell-phones.com. A cellular phone industry resource featuring articles, comparisons and reviews of cellular phone and service plans.

	Cellular Phone Transmitter
Are cellular phone transmitters hazardous to your health?