Perils of Tower Climbing

WGAL Susquehanna news reported that police in York County, Pa were searching for the person who tied a bed sheet to a radio tower sometime between Nov.28 and Nov.30.

Police were concerned that exposure to the radio frequencies could cause potential medical problems. What would these effects be? I know that people with various medical devices need to avoid various forms of radio wave, microwave and magnetic wave sources; but what might the effects be on a perfectly healthy individual?

If you use a microwave at home, you may have a general idea how it works. As microwaves (they are one form of what is called non-ionizing radiation) enter the food, molecules move about and collide, generating friction and heat. Basically, this is what cooks the food. A tremendous amount of heat can be generated, as anyone knows who has grabbed food out of the microwave and promptly burned themselves. The same thing can happen to the human body when exposed to radiation; tissue and internal organs can be heated and burned. Since the prankster got away, he probably didn't suffer any immediate serious or painful burns. In fact, he may not have felt a thing; but that does not mean that no harm was done. Energy such as ionizing radiation (think x-rays or gamma rays) or non-ionizing radiation (microwaves, radio waves) can penetrate the skin and cause damage below the surface nerves; you wouldn't necessarily feel anything, just as you don't feel any direct pain when you get a dental x-ray or radiation treatments for some cancers.

The CWA site (Communication Workers of America) discusses the possibility of organ damage, particularly to the eyes and male testes, resulting in damage to eyesight, cataracts, or partial to permanent sterility from certain forms of non-ionizing radiation. Apparently, scientific evidence also suggests a link between exposure to various forms of radiation and birth defects as well as damage to the central nervous system.

Communications workers are trained professionals and follow stringent safety guidelines. Some towers can be shut down for maintenance, and workers have access to protective clothing and equipment. Most, if not all, of the towers I've seen (as well as water towers) are secured by fences and locked access to the poles/ladders used for climbing. Still, people seem to climb them on a fairly regular basis. Water towers are especially tempting for teens who wish to proclaim their nicknames, world views, or undying love for the girl next door to the world in spray paint. Hobbyists use towers for B.A.S.E. jumping (the acronym stands for building, antenna, span, earth). There is always a risk involved; people have been injured in falls, or have been electrocuted. Tower climbing may seem like an exciting pursuit or hobby, but it is both illegal and dangerous; of course, that has never deterred urban climbers, who scale bridges, buildings and monuments as well as towers, usually without benefit of ropes or safety harnesses.

The mysterious York tower climber may have assumed that he/she got away with the prank, and is now enjoying the fleeting sensation of being a minor celebrity. Unfortunately, a price could be paid much further down the road.

Sources: WGAL.com
CWA (www.cwa-union)