Health Concerns

Citizens are concerned about the potential health impacts of the increased radiation levels that
would accompany the proposed digital television transmitters. A letter from the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states,

“The FCC’s current exposure guidelines, as well as those of the Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation
Protection, are thermally based, and do not apply to chronic, nonthermal exposure situations.”

To read the entire EPA Letter, click here...

Expert Testimonies

Dr. Johnson
Representing the Jefferson County Department of Health, Dr. Johnson testified at the August 2004 hearing. (Hearing record 15892) Here is how he concluded his testimony:

“However, I did end my letter which in fact that I think it would be prudent to use the *ALARA principle which has been spelled out to you. As I look at the ALARA principle and again there have been some changes in the testimony and the evidence that has come out, I think it would not be prudent to do anything that would increase the exposure to radiation on Lookout Mountain and I think you need to take that into consideration. I also think although it is a very difficult thing and sometimes goes against common sense particularly depending on where you live, I think it also would be prudent to have radiation exposure to as small a population as you possibly can. That may mean that you need to look at other sites.”  *ALARA stands for As Low As Reasonably Achievable

Dr Richard Hoffman
The Chief Medical Officer of the State Health Department, Dr. Richard Hoffman testified at a 1999 Lake Cedar Group hearing (1999 Court Record 6030), the record of which was incorporated into the later hearings. Here is how he concluded his testimony:

“I don’t know what the risk is. I can’t quantify the risk exactly, but it’s our view in our agency that there is...there are some studies that have been published that indicate that there may be an association and it’s on that basis that we have evolved to a position consistent with what Dr. Johnson put in his transmittal letter to you dated February 17th, in which he talked about trying to achieve as low as reasonably achievable exposure to radio frequency.”

For a video playback of Dr. Hoffman's testimony, click here...

Recent Medical Studies & Scientist Resolutions

National Institute of Health/Colorado State University Study of Lookout Mtn. Residents
September 25, 2006 - Canyon Area Resident for the Enviroment (CARE) Press Release

Lookout Mountain Residents with increased amounts of broadcast radiation (RF) have statistically significant elevations of certain types of white blood cells that are immune system markers.

The National Institute of Environmental Health commissioned Colorado State University to examine the effects of long-term exposure to radiation on hundreds of residents of Lookout Mountain. This study follows the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment’s July 2004 findings that statistically significant elevated numbers of brain tumors exist in residents near the broadcast antennae towers atop Lookout Mountain.

Professor Jim Burch, M.S., Ph.D., one of the authors of the CSU study observes:

“This study does show biological changes in the Lookout Mountain residents’ immune system markers that are associated with RF.  Various immune markers increase with increasing RF exposure.  For example, the T cells and lymphocytes go up in a statistically significant manner with increases in RF.  The reason for this reaction within the human body for this biological response in unclear. 

The fact that there are RF limits imposed by the federal government shows that broadcast radiation is harmful beyond certain amounts.  Everyone knows too much is hazardous. The issue is whether there are effects below the broadcast radiation levels that heat the body. In other words, are there also nonthermal effects?  The CSU study was never designed to determine the risk of RF (radiofrequency radiation); it was designed to see if the RF caused changes in the biomarkers. No one study can prove or disprove the safety of broadcast radiation. This study shows there are some biological effects.”

This is the first official study to measure radiation amounts on Golden’s Lookout Mountain, Colorado State University’s Department of Environmental Health confirms that residents closest to the broadcast antennae towers experience high radiation levels: one in four Lookout Mountain residents experience radiation levels far in excess of the levels that the median population experiences. More specifically, those residents living in the same elevation levels as the towers have the highest radiation levels.

To read the entire NIH/CSU study, click here... 

Benevento Resolution
The International Commission for Electromagnetic Safety (ICEMS) held an international conference entitled “The Precautionary EMF Approach: Rationale, Legislation and Implementation”, hosted by the City of Benevento, Italy, on February 22, 23 & 24, 2006. The scientists at the conference endorsed and extended the 2002 Catania Resolution and agreed to assist in the promotion of EMF research and the development of strategies to protect public health through the wise application of the precautionary principle. Key resolutions included:

• More evidence has accumulated suggesting that there are adverse health effects from
  occupational and public exposures to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields, or
  EMF1, at current exposure levels.
• Existing evidence shows present sources of funding bias the analysis and interpretation
  of research findings towards rejection of evidence of possible public health risks.
  4. Arguments that weak (low intensity) EMF cannot affect biological systems do not
  represent the current spectrum of scientific opinion.
• Based on review of the science, biological effects can occur from exposures to both extremely low frequency fields (ELF EMF) and radiation frequency fields (RF EMF).
• Epidemiological and in vivo as well as in vitro experimental evidence demonstrates that exposure to some ELF EMF can increase cancer risk in children and induce other health problems in both children and adults.

To read the entire Resolution, click here...

Literature Reviews

Dr. Henry Lai, Ph.D.
Research Professor in Bioengineering, University of Washington
Prepared a list of Studies reporting biological effects of radiofrequency radiation at low levels. To read
the entire list, click here...

Dr. Roger Mattson
Director of Systems Integration for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and is a former Director at the EPA
Organizations from around the world that have expressed concern that small doses of nonionizing radiation accumulating over a long period of time will eventually lead to harmful effects. To see
Dr. Mattson's compiled literature review for "Chronic Exposures to Low-Level, Nonionizing Radiation",
click here...