The government of India has called for research proposals to study the effects of electromagnetic radiation on humans and other living organisms amid ongoing concerns over radiation from cell phone towers.
The call for proposals, a joint initiative from the Science and Engineering Board (SERB) and the Department of Telecommunications, follows a government decision made last year to lower radiation limits to one-tenth of the previous standard, from 9.2 w/m² to 0.92 w/m². However, despite the ruling, some cell phone towers have continued to operate at previous limits, and residents remained concerned regarding the potentially harmful effects of radiation.
Potential researchers have been asked to focus on the possible impact of electromagnetic radiation in the non-ionizing frequency band, including “any aspect—such as physiological, genetic, ecological, growth, development or morphogenetic—and level—such as cellular, sub-cellular, molecular, sub-molecular or biochemical—in any model system, including man, plants, animals, birds, fishes and microbes.” Studies on the aspects of epidemiology, social behavior and safety, as well as project proposals on relevant new architecture and designs, may also be submitted.
Proposals must be submitted on or before Aug. 14, 2013.
