Re: Telus Tower, Hockley
This issue was brought up at the April 7 council meeting. There is a great deal of research relating to the health risks for those living close to these base towers. None of this was mentioned at that council meeting. Our aim is to inform you about these issues, which we were not aware of ourselves until researching studies relating to the health risks. There are hundreds of articles and studies researched by neurologists, physicians, the World Health Organization, the Medical Officer of Health for Canada and others.
Here are some of their findings: headaches, slowed reaction time, memory loss, sleep deprivation, vertigo, tinnitus, increase in Alzheimers disease, DNA breaks in brain cells (study done on rats), chromosome aberrations, increased oncogenic (cancer-related) activity in cells, altered brain activity, altered blood pressure and increased brain cancer, increased risk of cancer-related growths, and in children, increased incidence of leukemia.
At the end of every research study, it states further research is needed. In other words, no one can conclusively state that there is no health risk in these towers.
Telus must notify those living within approximately 700 feet from the proposed tower site. What about those living 750 feet, 900 feet or even one mile from the tower?
This deal was struck in June of 2007. There was no notification given to the residents within the 700 feet range until March 2008. Then any concerns had to be given to Telus by April 3, 2008. The deal was closed long before anyone in our community knew about it.
The letter Telus sends out to those in the 700-feet range states that each system must be approved by Industry Canada and comply with Safety Code 6, which was created in the 1950s and has changed little since then.
No one ever thought second-hand smoke was directly related to cancer. Our government sanctioned DDT on crops. Our government has been wrong before.
By allowing this tower, we are setting a precedent in our township. The government has stated that in order to avoid proliferation of communication towers, they must be shared. What will other companies such as Bell attach to this tower?
To our knowledge, there are no other towers in Adjala Township. There is a tower at Highways 89 and 10, which is well off the road in a field away from residents. We live in a farming community. There is surely such an open area to be found here.
We are aware better cell phone coverage could save a life when calling 911. But the location of this tower could put future generations at great risk. Will we be a study in 2020?
The Precautionary Principle of Science says to avoid what has not been proven completely safe. We feel that there should be an alternate site considered that is not in close proximity to where people reside.
This issue will be discussed at the next council meeting May 5 at 6:30 p.m.
Concerned residents of Adjala Township:
Dr. Randy and Pat Templeman
Mr. and Mrs. J. Sondergaard
Dr. and Mrs. J. Cornaby
Don and Anne O’Leary
Mr. and Mrs. Perkins
Greg Hines,
Lynda Blenham
