They should restrict access to areas where exposure limits may be exceeded.”
WHO has referred to the International Commission on Non-lionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) which has prescribed the levels limiting Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) emission from Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) as safe for general public.
Department of Telecommunications adopted the EMF radiation limits prescribed by ICNIRP in 2008 which was further reduced to 1/10th of the safe limit prescribed by ICNIRP with effect from 01.09.2012.
Giving this information in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said that all telecom service providers have to comply with these prescribed limits of EMF radiation from mobile towers.
Shri Sibal also informed the House that Instructions regarding display of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values on mobile handsets have been issued which, inter-alia, include:
(i) Mobile handsets manufactured and sold in India or imported from other countries shall be checked for compliance of applicable SAR limits.
(ii) SAR level for mobile handsets shall be limited to 1.6 Watt/Kg, averaged over a mass of 1 gram of human tissue.
(iii) SAR value is to be displayed on the handset similar to display of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).
