Answer to Question #1372 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Q

I recently bought and moved into an apartment condominium unit which is beside the Japanese Embassy. The Embassy has a communication tower that has a 10 to 15 foot or more satellite dish almost directly pointed at my four-month-old daughter's bedroom. The dish is almost 25 feet from where we stay. We live on the 15th floor and the tower is almost as high as ours. Is there any reason for me to be concerned about my family's health?

A

You should have no greater concern than anyone else since the dish does not emit radiation, but is a receiver of microwave communications. Therefore, there is no more microwave radiation in the vicinity of the dish than anywhere else in your vicinity. Furthermore, this type of radiation is not the same as x rays. It is nonionizing radiation that does not cause birth defects, cancer, or genetic damage, even at much higher exposures.

Finally, the exposure level from communication microwaves is extremely small. On all these counts, you should not be concerned about any risk to your daughter from the presence of the satellite dish. You did not mention whether the Embassy has a microwave antenna, which does emit microwaves. But even these antennae emit amounts of radiation far below levels that result in any biological effects. I do not know where you live, but I assume you live in Washington, DC. That means that everyone in Washington has approximately the same exposure to communication microwaves as do you and your family. If you are still concerned you can email me back. Remember that my answer is not a guarantee of anyone's health, it only indicates that your present proximity to the dish will not measurably increase your risk of illness.

Robert Brent MD, PhD