Shield Desert Sage High School from a cell tower

Desert Sage High School in midtown Tucson is located half a block from a T-Mobile cell tower that was recently “upgraded to 5G”. After the upgrade, microwave radiation in the classrooms facing the tower doubled, rising far above well established, science-based safety guidelines. Desert Sage is a tuition-free, public charter school.

What needs to be done? What is the cost?

To stop the radiation from entering the building, the walls facing the tower need to be shielded with radiation-blocking aluminum mesh screening from roof to ground. To test the materials, volunteers from Safe Tech Tucson shielded the classroom that had the highest radiation, reducing it by 92 percent. The materials for this project will cost $1,850.

Why shield the school from the radiation?

Microwave radiation is an environmental toxin, like tobacco smoke and asbestos. It increases risks of neuropsychiatric effects that impede student learning, including behavioral and memory problems, attention deficit disorder, anxiety and depression. Common symptoms among school children are headaches, nausea, dizziness, difficultly focussing, memory problems, skin rashes, nose bleeds and hyperactivity. Long-term exposure can lead to reproductive and DNA damage, and cancer (view the science at Tech Safe Schools).

What is our government doing to help?

Nothing. Radiation exposure limits are stronger, and protective actions are being taken in other countries (for example France, Russia, India and China), but not yet here in the U.S. Laws and public policy will take time to come to fruition. Meanwhile, parents and teachers must take the necessary actions right now to protect our precious children so they can learn and grow to their full potential.

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