TETRA: A Critical Overview into the death of Officer Neil Dring
Important report on the UK Tetra health issue----B. Trower
9th August 2004
SAFETY LEVELS
HEAT
PULSING
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
LEGAL
THE ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT
excess calcium flow
GENERAL RESEARCH
PERSONAL OPINION
My History
In the 1960's I trained at the Government Microwave Warfare
Establishment. I worked with the Underwater Bomb disposal unit which
used microwaves within its unit.
In the 1970's one of my tasks over an eleven year period was to de-brief
spies involved in microwave warfare. The location and process that I
used I cannot go into as it is still considered secret. I have two
Degrees, and a Diploma and in my retirement I now teach Advanced Level
Physics, some Mathematics and some Human Physiology at South Dartmoor
College.
In September 2001 I was commissioned by the Police Federation to write
"The Tetra Report". The Tetra Report was written using Police equipment,
Police Secretarial staff in a secure location over a week.
Omega see "The Tetra Report" under :
http://www.buergerwelle.de/pdf/report_on_tetra.doc
Saturday 14th August, an article appeared in the Telegraph where a Chief
Inspector, Officers, Civilian Workers and 25 Residents complained of ill
health from a Tetra Transmitter. Chris Warren of the Norfolk Police
Federation is quoted as saying
"There is no scientific evidence that Tetra is injurious to Officer's
health".
O2 Airwaves said " All the medical evidence would suggest the symptoms
reported are not connected with the use of radio technology".
The symptoms reported were: Dizziness, headaches, nosebleeds, disturbed
sleep and skin problems.
In this report I wish to show that these comments are both incorrect and
ignorant of peer reviewed published research.
Firstly, let us look at what is sometimes called 'anecdotal evidence' ie:
sensible rational people complaining of ill health from the Tetra System
but the evidence not subject to scientific scrutiny.
80+ residents in Dersley with all of the symptoms listed above:
Approximately 11 Leukaemia's, 3 Motor Neurone diseases and other
illnesses in Fife.
Importantly, in the above locations the residents had no knowledge of
the Tetra masts. Hence, illnesses could not be psychosomatic. An
accusation often used by the Government for its scientists.
Further cases of Tetra illnesses:
Bognor: Headaches, nosebleeds, nausea, disorientation, confusion,
dizziness, skin problems.
Littlehampton, Worthing and so on: With all of the above.
Crime Scene Investigators claimed headaches, toothache, neuralgia, high
blood pressure and a cancerous tumour in the throat.
There is a dispute here with their senior authorities who say "their
problems are not on health grounds"...the metallic powders they use "are
a hazard".
Not in dispute is Professor Szmigielski's study where he spent many
years researching Military Personnel using pulse modulated microwave
radiation up to and beyond the Tetra range. He compared these results
with Personnel who were not exposed. His conclusion (in
part) was:
a double incidence of all neoplasms (tumours) with a three fold increase
of cancers of the alimentary tract (inc. Oesophagus and stomach) and a
six fold increase of malignancies of the haemopietic
(blood/cells/circulation.
I would like the reader to keep in mind the "threefold increase of
cancers".
Also, the death of Officer Dring was cancer of the Oesophagus, as
mentioned above.
In the Telegraph the Airwave person refers to Tetra as a Radio System,
this is incorrect.
In 1998 the International Commission designated all systems above 300
MHZ as microwaves. Tetra, without argument is a Microwave Communication
System, not a Radio Wave System.
Microwaves behave very differently in our water-based bodies that radio
waves, this is why the International Commission made this distinction.
Microwave transmitters, similar to the one being complained of in
Norfolk, by the Chief Inspector have been the subject of controversy for
a long time. In one unscientific study around just 19 transmitters,
there were 92 cancers reported which included breast, thyroid, bowel and
Leukaemia's, as well as all of the illnesses listed by the Chief
Inspector for Norfolk.
A similar study of 138 schools found miscarriages, brain cancers, breast
cancers and teachers reporting ill. As many as 8 cancers were confirmed
in one small community. Again, these claims are dismissed as anecdotal
by the communications industry, the Government and its Scientists.
However, scientific studies have been completed. One such study, peer
reviewed and published in the Australasian Journal of Environmental
Medicine, Volume 21, April 2002, concludes, when referring to modern
western microwave transmitters..."breast, bladder, prostate, lung, colon
and cuteaneous melanoma cancers are all associated with each other
relate to radio frequency, electro-magnetic fields".
What they are suggesting here is that one cancer may lead to all of the
other cancers once it is established. The same research also studied two
countries, Sweden and Estonia before and after microwave transmitters
were installed. Their conclusion was that there was an increase in the
cancer mortality rate once the Western transmitters were allowed and
introduced all over the country.
Further scientific research by Dr. J. Walker has found that where the
main part of the beam falls on residential areas, this is the area of
highest incidence of cancer. From Dr. Walker's research, it is even
possible to predict the most likely houses to develop cancers once the
beam of the mast is established.
In his study on the health of people living in the vicinity of microwave
transmitters, Professor Santini of the National Institute of Sciences
concludes that these transmitters must not be sited closer than 300
metres to populations. I mention this because the Police Tetra system is
usually placed on top of Police Stations where officers are exposed
continuously, as are the surrounding Police houses where Officers may
live with their families and local residents.
Professor Santini found from a survey of 270 men and 260 women that up
to 300 metres from the transmitter there were complaints of nausea, loss
of appetite, visual and motor problems. Up to 100 metres he received
complaints of irritability, depression, concentration, memory, dizziness
and libido problems. As well as these, headaches, sleep problems and
skin problems were complained of. I refer the reader back to the
complaints reported by the Chief Inspector in Norfolk.
SAFETY LEVELS
Conscious of the reported illnesses, 19 of the world's top scientists
met at Salzburg in the year 2000 and set a maximum level of microwaves
entering the body at 0.1 units. Some other countries allow slightly more
in the way of units, such as the Toronto Health Board, which allows 6
units, Russia, Italy and China 10 units. The International Commission
for Tetra allow 208 units and our own NRPB allow 2,640 units. To put
this into perspective, if you were to go to a chemist and the chemist
said to you, you may take 1/10th of one pill, or 208 pills or 2,640
pills, clearly somebody has to be wrong. We allow the highest level of
microwave radiation into our bodies in the world.
Our Government scientists always quote the International Commission's
level when challenged on doses of radiation. However, a High Court
ruling:
Yasmin Skelt -v- the Secretary of State
Stated "Reliance on the International Commission Certification is not
enough".
The reason for the Salzburg decision described by them was, for
'Preventive Public Health Protection".
I will argue that our safety levels are far too high and this is one of
the contributing factors to the many illnesses reported by Officers
carrying Tetra Sets and the populations living near Tetra transmitters.
HEAT
Why are our safety levels so high?
The answer is simple:
Our Government and its scientists only measure Thermal effects, in other
words how warm you feel. The rest of the world measure how the electric
and magnetic parts of the wave interacts with the physiology of the
body. Our Government and its scientists refuse to acknowledge below
thermal effects. Yet, published and pier reviewed research by the
world's leading Professors and Universities have reported many illnesses
due to long-term low level microwaves below thermal effects.
As an example, changes in the blood brain barrier, which is a very
important barrier that protects the brain. Changes in nighttime
melatonin, which is attributed to the breast cancers in women, among
other things. Heat shock proteins, which can protect cancer cells from
destruction and changes in the physiology of the cells within the body.
Following the long term low level microwaving of the American Embassy by
the Soviet Union, during the Cold War, which lead to many leukaemia's
and cancers, miscarriages and illnesses of the Embassy Staff, Professor
John Goldsmith was called in to diagnose the problem and write a report
on such. Professor Goldsmith is possibly the world's leading Professor
in microwave radiation. He holds 11 Professorships, represented Europe
for the World Health Organisation and is an International Consultant for
Microwave Communication Systems.
Regarding heat, he says:
"To use the lack of significant heating effect as evidence of lack of
risk is a Red Herring".
In other words he disagrees totally with our Government Scientists using
heat as its benchmark.
Professor Goldsmith reported that Embassy Staff subjected to long term,
low level microwave radiation of just 10 of our units:
Headaches, fatigue, irritability, dizziness, loss of appetite,
sleeplessness, difficulty in concentration, memory loss, depression and
emotional instability.
He also reported a threefold increase in cancers. I refer the reader
back to the illnesses reported by the Chief Inspector of Norfolk and the
populations around Tetra Masts and the threefold increase in cancers as
reported in the Journal of Environmental Medicine.
In September 2002, the Catania Resolution from the University of Vienna,
where again leading scientists of the world met, stated "we take
exception to arguments suggesting that weak, low intensity
electromagnetic fields cannot interact with tissue". They continue
"there are plausible explanations for electromagnetic induced effects
which occur below present International Guidelines".
Released under the Freedom of Information Act, a document published by
the American Government, Number 1810S March 1976, addressed to all
Government Personnel exposed to microwave communication systems below
thermal effects, warns that they may experience more neurological
cardio-vascular and haemodynamic disturbances than personnel unexposed.
They go on to say that other symptoms to be expected and/or were being
complained of, by the Personnel, were:
Headaches, fatigues, dizziness, menstrual disorders, irritability,
agitation, tension, drowsiness, sleeplessness, depression, anxiety,
forgetfulness and lack of concentration.
This list may now start to sound familiar to the reader.
In another section of the same document the US Government also states
"if the more advanced nations of the West are strict in the enforcement
of stringent exposure standards, there could be unfavourable effect on
industrial output and military functions".
I will argue this is why our levels of microwave radiation are so high
and why we are getting the reported illnesses were are receiving.
Professor Adey, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
and a distinguished visiting Professor of the Royal Society of Medicine,
said quoting his own research
"Similar studies in Russia in the early 1980's showed that radio
frequency and the lower microwave range effected enzyme systems that
regulate growth and division of white blood cells".
White blood cells are of course and essential part of our Immune System.
PULSING
In 1997 the Health Council of the Netherlands Radio Frequency Radiation
Committee said concerning the Tetra range
"The following illnesses could be expected - Hot spots inside the body;
visual problems; neurotransmitter problems; reduced foetal mass and
special problems with infants, the elderly, the sick, people with
metallic implants and pacemakers"
They stated that if the microwaves are pulsed, as is Tetra, these
effects will be found sooner.
In October 2002, 2,500 Doctors and Consultants published the Freiburger
Appeal. They reported illnesses from microwave communication systems as
problems with :
Concentration, behaviour, blood pressure, heart rhythm, epilepsy, brain
disorders, cancerous afflictions, leukaemia, brain tumours, headaches,
migranes, exhaustion, agitation, sleeplessness, tinatus, susceptibility
to infection, and nervous tissue pains.
Again, they stress the problem with pulsed microwaves and they state
"One can no longer evade these pulsed microwaves. They heighten the risk
of already present chemical and physical influences and stress the
body's immune system."
I have many other studies from Research Institutes around the world
telling exactly the same story, but I feel it is unnecessary to repeat
myself over and over again in this report.
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
Professors Sosskind, Provsnitz, Lai, Cherry and the Russian
International Medical Commission have all reported from their research
that doses of microwave radiation are accumulative.
In January 2001 the French Health General Directorate warns the
population of the cumulative exposure from low-level microwave
radiation.
I will argue that in the case of Police Officers, once they finish duty
there is not enough time for the body to re-establish itself before
going back on duty. Therefore a build up of the effects from microwave
radiation will occur over many shifts.
This effect in the brain is called Entrainment and the after effect is
called Long Term Potentiation.
Long Term Potentiation has been recorded in some cases to last up to 6
weeks.
LEGAL
I would like to inform the reader I am not qualified or trained in law
and any legal queries should be referred to a top legal expert for
clarification.
One expert I would recommend would be Mr. Alan Meyer, Consultant
Solicitor for Bircham Dyson Bell at 50 Broadway, Westminster, London
SW1H OBL. Telephone 020 7227 7000.
Omega see under
http://mastaction.co.uk/Legal%20Letter%203rd%20March%202003.htm
I will add that I do not receive payment for recommending this
consultant; in fact I have never taken payment from anybody for the
number of years I have been doing this Research. I work entirely for
free.
In May 2000, Sir William Stewart reported in his "Stewart Report" ..."To
avoid frequencies above 16 waves a second (para. 5.59) Airwave operates
at 17.6 waves a second. Accordingly adopting the EU/Stewart
precautionary approach, Tetra Masts should be located as far away as
possible from permanently occupied property such as hospitals, homes and
schools".
In the Bottomley -v- the Secretary and members of Todmorden Cricket
Club, the Court of Appeal on 13th November 2003, the Court spelled out
the duty of care resting on the landowner/occupier of land in respect of
activities which he permitted or encouraged on his land.
This may be of interest to Chief Constables who allow transmitters on
their Police Stations.
Mr. Wulf Dietrich Rose, expert in mobile communications of Kitzbuehl,
Austria, internationally known for his Research Works in this field, won
his High Court case for the third time. He proved, through his studies
and researches that mobile radiation represents serious health risks to
the nearby living population, like cancer, brain tumours, genetic
problems and deformity of newly borns. High Austrian Court of Justice
(Federal Court) Az 6 Ob 69/01t; verdict of 26 April 2001)
On 5th January 2004 Mr. Emrys Jones, Chief Planning Officer for
Birmingham City Council, wrote
"I believe there is a pressing need for urgent further research into the
health aspects of telecommunication development, together with a review
of the existing Guidance and Regulations on how such proposals should be
considered."
In his report Sir. William Stewart stated " there is now biological
evidence however, which suggests that there may be biological effects
occurring at exposures well below these guidelines".
He continues
"We conclude therefore that it is not possible at present to say that
exposure to RF Radiation, even at levels below national guidelines is
totally without potentially adverse health effects, and that gaps in
knowledge are sufficient to justify a precautionary approach".
THE ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT
In May this year an article appeared in The Times, by Michael Meacher,
Minister for the Environment 1997-2003. He was very critical of the
Government and how the Government obtains its scientific results. He
wrote
"Universities, eye the donor as a potential of source of funds and try
to ensure nothing is said which might jeopardise big new cash
possibilities"
Academics who raise embarrassing questions
… Who is paying for the Lab?
… How independent is the peer review?
… Who profits from the research?
… Is the University's integrity compromised?
Soon learn that keeping their heads down is the best way not to risk
their careers.
He continues, making money is good and dissent is stifled.
A similar article appeared in Scientific American, that same month by
Congressman Henry A. Waxman.
MP's have four times tried to raise these issues in Parliament, without
success.
On 21st May 2004 reported in Hansard, Section 1245 an MP reported ill
health around microwave transmitters and requested that sensible people
should not be ignored in their observations. He also reported much
illness from school children.
Section 1247 reports illnesses from Tetra Transmitters. What is unclear
in this section is that the same MP reports 11 children under 11 years
of age with Leukaemia, it is not clear whether these are Tetra
Transmitters from the wording or other microwave transmitters.
Section 1258 reports that transmitters should not be placed near
schools.
Published in the Ecologist Science and Technology chapter, June 2004:
"You will hear statements by supposed experts, always the same few in
the pay of the telecommunications industry, to the effect that
cell-phones/cell towers/microwave radiation have been proven safe in
countless studies". It is an easy lie, one that the news media have been
eager to propagate. Such studies don't exist.
Quite the contrary, it has been shown that just as for X-Rays there is
no safe level for exposure to microwave radiation."
On 28th January 2004 many MP's again tried to bring this problem to the
House of Commons and covered 20 pages of Hansard. The reply from the
Minister was
"UK and International Guidelines are based on a comprehensive assessment
of current scientific knowledge".
I will argue that, that scientific knowledge is purely based on an
opinion of our Government scientists and not worldwide research.
For example:
I have 17 peer reviewed and published research papers going back from
the 1970's up to present day, showing that low level microwaves cause
excess calcium flow in the body. Calcium flow around cells and nerve
endings is essential for brain cell and physiological functions.
At all of the talks I have given when a Government spokesman has been
asked about Calcium flow, they always repeat that they have been unable
to replicate these experiments and therefore do not recognise them.
Some Scientists may say that this is a level of arrogance unparalleled
on this planet, that the rest of the world is wrong and our Government
Scientists are correct.
Similarly, Loescher found from his research that there was a two-fold
increase in breast cancer from these microwaves. To date our Government
has failed to reproduce his experiments, which he himself has repeated.
On 4th July 2004 Dr. Keith Baverstock who was the World Health
Organisation's Senior Radiation Advisor in Europe, says that science has
been perverted for political ends by Government agencies, which should
be protecting Public Health.
He also accuses the NRPB of misusing science.
The British Wireless Consultancy Service, a leading telecommunications
consultancy based in the UK and operating worldwide, recommended for the
Tetra System
- The UK's Fire and/or Ambulance Service should investigate the cost
implications of using an alternative digital network to airwave.
On September 9th 1999 the European Commission was critical of the Home
Office's Tendering procedure for Tetra. The EC ruled that the Home
Office had unlawfully limited the Contract to Tenders that could supply
the Tetra Standard.
With regard to Officer's Health & Safety, the NRPB document, Volume 12,
Number 2, 2001, states in Section 135
"Human volunteer studies should be carried out to measure changes
incognative performance arising from exposure to Tetra handsets."
They continue:
"The Tetra system is expected to be deployed widely for use by staff in
Emergency Services".
This is a relatively stable workforce with defined patterns of work, it
would be worth carrying out studies to examine working practices and
conditions of exposure and radiation from Tetra.
Section 128 of the same report...
They do not exclude the possibility that RF Radiation from cellular
phones might carry a risk of cancer that becomes manifest many years
after first exposure, or that relates to intense exposure over many
years.
Nor do they rule out a hazard from RF radiation, modulated specifically
around 16 pulses a second.
In their 64th report, the Committee of Public Accounts on Airwave said
"It was by no means clear to us who will bear the risk if concerns about
the effect on health of using the airwave system proved to be real".
At the Police Federation Tetra Conference 23rd October 2002, I asked Dr.
Levy of the Home Office questions relating to the then, 212 officers who
had complained of ill-health from using the Tetra System, via their
Union Representatives.
In front of witnesses, she said to me
"I don't believe they are sick, they are not sick enough to stop this
trial".
She continued
"They can always leave the Police Force".
Referring back to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee's 64th
Report, Mr, Richard Bacon MP is asking questions from Mr. Asque of the
Home Office Science and Technology Unit.
I am referring to Sections 240 of this report to 244.
How many Policemen have complained that their radios are making them
ill?
A number of people have expressed concerns on the health issues..
How many?
The numbers are not fed directly to us. We get representations from the
Police Federation, which we have been in contact with, answering the
concerns on behalf of their members.
We have not dealt directly with Policemen.
I am looking at a letter in the Police Magazine from March 2002 from a
Mr. Nigel Wood from Lancashire who writes that he knows personally of
new cases of skin problems, sleeplessness, migraines, depression,
difficulty in concentrating and headaches.
In the December 2001 issue there is reference to Tetra causing a variety
of things including potentially heart and blood disorders, affecting the
brain electro-chemistry, increasing the risk of
leukaemia and so on.
What is the current state of play on Health Research?
The current state is that we are addressing all of the recommendations,
which were made in the report you referred to.
A list of recommendations was drawn up and we have research projects
going on all of those recommendations, addressing them in great detail.
Do the Research Projects have people wearing these things and making
them operate and then checking out whether they get migraine or
depression or whether they loose concentration?
Projects are being developed which will have that sort of aspect. At the
moment we do not have a user base.
We are in negotiation with one of the Police forces, which has offered
to participate in a trial of that order, but it has not started yet.
That was July 2001, it is not April 2002 and you have just said that at
the moment you do not have a user base. Do you not have people you can
test this on?
The issue is that there is no proof that there are any of these effects.
I would like to state here that unlike a drugs trial, where the industry
has to prove a drug is safe before it is released, with Tetra the onus
is on the Police Officer to prove that Tetra is causing the illness.
This is an almost impossible task for the Officer and a very simple task
for the industry, the Government and its Scientists to blame other
things.
GENERAL RESEARCH
Lots of international research has been carried out into long term low
level microwaves which has been both peer reviewed and published in
reputable Scientific Journals.
One such report presented in May 2000 for the Parliament's of New
Zealand, Italy, Austria, Ireland and the European Parliament in
Brussels, contained 122 references. Each of these references is a
peer -reviewed study in its own merit and probably represents up to 10
years of work. This particular document probably represents collectively
over 1,000 years of top scientific research. The illnesses listed as
being caused by long-term low-level microwave radiation are:
Heart problems, blood diseases, problems with bone marrow, tumours, DNA
problems, altered calcium irons in cells, impairments to the Immune
System. 46% reduction in night time melatonin (causing suppression of
the Immune System) Enhanced arthritis or rheumatic diseases, skin
problems, lymphatic diseases, vaginal discharge, ear problems,
leukaemia, childhood cancer, sleep problems, suicidal tendencies,
depression, irritability, memory loss, mental conditions, neurological
illness, miscarriage, and infertility.
They recommend a maximum dose for long-term use of 0.01 of our units;
this is 20,800 times less than the safety limit recommended for Tetra.
In 1979 the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration warns staff exposed to
microwaves, including the Tetra range of hazards such as:
Problems with:
Menstrual cycle, miscarriage, eyes, heart, central nervous system,
reproduction and cell tissue.
They stress that a false sense of safety may exist because the effects
occur inside the body and cannot be felt on the skin. They also say that
non-thermal effects are much lower than normally recognised. Again I
have several documents, which I will not refer to here from
international committees or scientists saying exactly the same.
Interestingly, in February 2003, Professor V. H. Binhi held a conference
in Russia, which was attended, by 120 of the world's leading scientists
from 40 countries, concerning microwave transmitters, used on or near
the body. Some of its general recommendations were:
"These should not be used by children under the age of 16, or pregnant
women or persons suffering from neurological conditions including mental
disorders, neurosis, sleep disorders or epilepsy".
They recommend a limit of duration of call to a maximum of three
minutes, allowing a period of 15 minutes between calls.
I am concerned of the use of handsets by Officers on a 10-hour shift,
especially in Emergency conditions, where the set may be on full power.
PERSONAL OPINION
I think it is highly probable from all of the information I have
provided that the unfortunate death of Officer Dring was caused by
over-exposure to microwave radiation.
One question may be -
Why does the Government appear to be deaf to the requests of communities
all over the country, their MP's and Scientists?
One explanation, which was published in the Europe Daily Bulletin No.
8445 17th April 2003, states that the American National Security Agency
is putting pressure on our Government not to stop the Tetra roll-out.
Once Tetra has been fully adopted by our Emergency Services, it has
potential sales to over 30 countries around the world. This article
states that the American Government have access to the chips from the
Tetra system and can therefore 'eavesdrop' on all of our Police Networks
and any other user of Tetra, such as MI5/MI6. If Tetra is adopted
worldwide, the National Security Agency will also be able to 'eavesdrop'
on any country that this system is sold to. Whilst I cannot verify the
sourcing of this article, I can verify that I have been interdentally
told the same story whilst at a meeting overseas.
When looking at the plethora of international information on low level
pulsed microwave radiation, and the safety levels imposed around the
world, except for this country, I can only describe the actions of our
Government, the NRPB and this industry as Intentional Ignorance.
What I find disturbing is that no single named person seems to be taking
responsibility for this system. For example:
The Government charge the NRPB to look at effects only from the thermal
point of view to which the NRPB report back to the Government that the
system is safe enough to go out.
Thence, each gives permission for the industry to supply the Police
Force.
With this set up, it is impossible to find a named person responsible
without getting caught into a Governmental loop.
I believe at this stage that named persons should declare responsibility
for the Tetra system, pending any future legal cases. Whilst untrained
in law, I am thinking of charges similar to Corporate Manslaughter.
I was told at a meeting by a senior person connected with Tetra - "Deny
everything and prepare for Court".