A Government-initiated investigation into the dangers of radiation emissions from cell towers has discovered that workers at several sites are at risk of radiation exposure.

And the report, carried out for Government by Arizona-based Roger Choquette of Comgate Telemangement Ltd., also noted that four of the 38 sites have emissions which exceed US standards.

The Southampton Princess, Elbow Beach Hotel, Cumberland House and Fort George cellular sites were listed by Mr. Choquette as having emissions which exceed the US Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) radiation standards. The Battery Park transmission site also showed high levels of emissions.

Fort George in St. George's, which is home to Harbour Radio, is the worst offender with even visitors to the facility subject to the higher levels of radiation emissions.

In his report Mr. Choquette said: "With respect to controlled exposure standards wherein potential exposure to workers within controlled areas (e.g.

on a roof) may exceed FCC levels for such workers.

"We recommend that the owners and operators of the Southampton Princess, Elbow Beach Hotel, Cumberland House and Fort George cellular sites, be advised to post warning signs on the roof or at access points on the roof (as appropriate) or take other appropriate action to advise radio workers and others that non-ionising radiation risk exists on the roof in close proximity of the cellular antenna.'' The report also advises Government to impose regulations which ensure that "radio workers and others working within 1.5 metres of the antenna not be exposed to the radiation of the cellular antenna for more than six minutes''.

In the case of Fort George, the report revealed that the general public runs the risk of being exposed to emissions at the top of the stairway and on the metal walkway leading to the entrance of the building.

Mr. Choquette suggested that radio workers at Fort George should not remain in these dangerous zones for longer than eight minutes and that no work should be carried out on the antennae unless the low frequency transmitters are turned off.

Cell phone tower study Procedures to evaluate human exposure to emissions from each tower where power exceeds 1000 watts is another recommendation Government has been urged to adopt by Mr. Choquette.

The report was received by the Ministry of Health last Monday and released to the public yesterday. In a press conference yesterday, Health Minister Nelson Bascome said that Government will implement the report's recommendations.

"We will be adopting the suggestions made by Mr. Choquette for measuring techniques and emission standards in Bermuda,'' he said.

"No tower will henceforth be permitted to come on line unless the appropriate measurements have been made, and electronic emissions found to be within acceptable standards.

"Any change to the configuration of antennas on a tower or to the power of transmitters using the tower, will also have to be measured before a variation of the licence in force for that site will be permitted.'' Mr. Bascome also commended the pressure group Committee Against Radiation Emissions for its part in raising awareness on the topic.

CARE was formed after a cellular phone tower was built in the Faraway, Warwick neighbourhood. Protests from the group resulted in Government commissioning the Choquette report.

The Faraway tower fell well within the FCC regulations but Mr. Bascome noted: "Their concern may well have eliminated something that might have developed into a danger to people's health in the future, so I think the community owes them a vote of thanks''.

Yesterday, Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb explained why her Ministry chose to use FCC regulations: "One of the reasons we chose the FCC is that we can be comfortable that if science changes in the future and our procedures also have to change, the FCC will be one of the very first bodies to recommend new regulations.'' Telecommunications regulations in Europe are the same as those followed by the FCC.

But CARE spokesman Steve Thompson was dubious of the report's findings with respect of the Faraway tower. "I have not seen the report as yet but I understand that low levels are recorded for the tower, but when they took those readings the tower was not operating.

"I'm glad something is being done but I will question the expert's opinion of having 38 cell towers in such a small island and ask why he hasn't mandated the shared use of towers as is being done in other much larger jurisdictions,'' he said.

Report: Renee Webb