Features

City officials and residents will discuss a controversial radio tower installed on the roof of Berkeley’s downtown Public Safety Building at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. 

Some residents think it’s an eyesore and furthermore fear that it may be emitting dangerous microwaves. Residents who say a past study of the tower’s risks and alternatives was not good enough want the city to take another look. 

On Tuesday City Council will consider a second study. 

“There’s a definite concern,” said City Councilmember Dona Spring. “There are health concerns with the electromagnetic radiation and the tower being so close to schools and residences.” 

Despite such fears, members of Berkeley’s Public Works Department say the claims are unfounded.  

“It’s simply not true. It’s not possible for the tower to emit microwave rays. It’s on a totally different frequency,” said Rene Cardinaux, director of Public Works. 

Though Cardinaux says that Public Works has provided expert testimony on the safety of the tower, critics say the testimony is biased. 

Berkeley Planning Commissioner and retired UC Berkeley Research Scientist Gordon Wozniak isn’t afraid to live near the radio tower. Similar structures that have been around since the 1930s have not been known to cause health problems, he said.  

Radio towers and TV towers emit radiowaves and microwaves, but not at radioactive or dangerous levels. 

Ionizing radiation, which is found at health care facilities, research institutions and nuclear reactors, is what has causes damage to the environment, and is a health risk. According to Wozniak, ionizing radiation can change the chemical form of matter but microwaves cannot. Microwaves are only capable of heating things up a little. 

Wozniak said he thought the main concern with the radio tower was one of aesthetics.By Chris Nichols 

Daily Planet Staff 

City officials and residents will discuss a controversial radio tower installed on the roof of Berkeley’s downtown Public Safety Building at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. 

Some residents think it’s an eyesore and furthermore fear that it may be emitting dangerous microwaves. Residents who say a past study of the tower’s risks and alternatives was not good enough want the city to take another look. 

On Tuesday City Council will consider a second study. 

“There’s a definite concern,” said City Councilmember Dona Spring. “There are health concerns with the electromagnetic radiation and the tower being so close to schools and residences.” 

Despite such fears, members of Berkeley’s Public Works Department say the claims are unfounded.  

“It’s simply not true. It’s not possible for the tower to emit microwave rays. It’s on a totally different frequency,” said Rene Cardinaux, director of Public Works. 

Though Cardinaux says that Public Works has provided expert testimony on the safety of the tower, critics say the testimony is biased. 

Berkeley Planning Commissioner and retired UC Berkeley Research Scientist Gordon Wozniak isn’t afraid to live near the radio tower. Similar structures that have been around since the 1930s have not been known to cause health problems, he said.  

Radio towers and TV towers emit radiowaves and microwaves, but not at radioactive or dangerous levels. 

Ionizing radiation, which is found at health care facilities, research institutions and nuclear reactors, is what has causes damage to the environment, and is a health risk. According to Wozniak, ionizing radiation can change the chemical form of matter but microwaves cannot. Microwaves are only capable of heating things up a little. 

Wozniak said he thought the main concern with the radio tower was one of aesthetics.