OPINION: A letter to City of Houghton and Portage Township residents on proposed cell phone tower near Houghton Elementary School

Houghton Elementary School. Concerned parents are discussing a potential Verizon cell phone tower to be built near the school. Some consider it a danger to children's health. Concerned parents and other residents are invited to a meeting to discuss the issue at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. (Photo by Allan Baker for Keweenaw Now)

By Krissy Sundstrom*

A major review of health effects from cell tower base stations found that both anecdotal reports and some epidemiology studies have found headaches, skin rashes, sleep disturbances, depression, decreased libido, increased rates of suicide, concentration problems, dizziness, memory changes, increased risk of cancer, tremors, and other neurophysiological effects in populations near base stations.**

Although the science is emerging and not yet definitive, the study recommends as a general guideline that cell base stations should not be located less than 1500 feet from the population and at a height of 150 feet. Verizon has proposed a 75-foot high cell tower base station in Houghton near the Houghton Elementary School.

As a precaution until the science has proven cumulative increases in electromagnetic radiation from cell towers is safe and you would prefer Verizon find another location for their cell tower please click here to sign a petition.

If you have children that go to Houghton Elementary or you are a taxpayer in the district please contact the Superintendent Doreen Klingbeil directly at 482-0451 Ext. 1030 or email doreen@hpts.us.

A meeting for parents and community members to gather and discuss the proposed cell tower next to the Houghton Elementary School will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, in the Community Room, Portage Lake District Library.

A City of Houghton Planning Commission meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, in the City Council Chambers. Please come to show your opposition. the city's only action is a site plan review to make sure it meets the ordinance. It's out of their hands, but your attendance is crucial to show the school board and Verizon that a significant number of people are concerned.

Notes:

* The author of this article, Krissy Sundstrom, is a concerned parent and resident of Portage Township.

** Click here to read this article by B. B. Levitt and H. Lai: "Biological effects from exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell tower base stations and other antenna arrays." Environmental Reviews (2010) 18: 369-395.

Editor's Note: Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect the views of Keweenaw Now.