Curbing bheja fry

TECHNOLOGY: Policing on harmful radiation from gadgets likely soon.

If you always suspected that radiation from your mobile phone was frying your brain, here is something to add to your worries.

You are also exposed to dangerous levels of radiation from a whole host of modern gadgets, home appliances, gym equipment, cellphone towers and even power transmission lines. This "e-pollution" is what the little known NGO Saraswati Jankalyan Nidhi (SJN) wants to control.

While the Supreme Court took up the issue of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from mobile phone towers last week "" it sent notices to a host of ministries on the basis of a public interest litigation filed by the Gujarat based Karma Jyot Sewa Trust "" SJN has filed a broader public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court seeking measures to limit EMR from all kinds of gadgets and appliances, like microwaves, refrigerators and mobile phones.

While all over the world there are guidelines that set limits on permissible EMR, there are absolutely no such norms in India, claims the NGO.

"EMR is a factor in tumour promotion," says Professor J Behari, dean, environment at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who has extended his support to the SJN.

There is, however, no India-specific data either on the level of radiation or its ill-effects. Such an audit of e-pollution would require significant resources, which SJN does not have. So its case cites data from various international organisations.

"We should be focussing on ensuring EMR-safe products," says environmentalist Veer Pratap, who is from Karma Jyot Sewa Trust, but has extended his support to SJN.

While no-one wants to come on record, whisper-campaigns about the high radiation levels emanating from well-known international brands in India have been around for a few months. Companies exporting appliances from

India also make them EMR-safe but do not bother to do so when selling in India. That may change soon with both the courts seeking a response on radiation levels from a host of ministries.

However, there is no clear answer on how two similar cases could proceed in the High Court and the Supreme Court simultaneously. What seems certain is a reduction in the invisible threat to your brain... and your overall health.