Microwave towers use radio frequency (RF) radiation for TV and radio broadcasting, cell phones and pagers. RF radiation is also used for microwave ovens, radar, industrial heaters and medical devices.

While the health effects of ionizing radiation (as in x-rays and gamma rays) are well documented, questions remain about both short and long-term health effects of low-level, non-ionizing radiation — the kind emitted from microwave towers.

The FDA, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the European Union and The Royal Society of Canada have all urged caution and more research to fully understand the health impacts of microwave radiation.

Manufacturers and telecom companies are quick to dismiss any worries about microwave towers, although because the technology is relatively new, there are no scientific studies showing that long-term exposure is safe. What we do know for certain is that children and developing fetuses are more vulnerable to the effects of environmental exposures in general than adults.

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits local municipalities from denying the installation of microwave towers on the grounds of potential health impacts. However, many school and local authorities both here in the U.S. and abroad have simply made the decision not to allow the siting of microwave towers at or near school facilities. They can be denied on the basis of their visual impact.

Resources:

EMF Facts Consultancy has produced a simple and strtaightforward pamphlet called "Consumer Health and Safety Advice" which answers the basic questions about Wi-Fi and human health.

The Interphone Study is an international effort in which scientists from 13 countries are trying to determine if RF exposure from mobile phones is associated with cancer risk. The study is being coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

The World Health Organization (WHO) has written an online Q&A about the known and suspected health risks associated with the use of mobile phones.