A radiation scientist told the county Board of Appeals last night that radio frequency energy from a proposed cellular phone tower near an Ellicott City middle school would have a "negligible" effect on students and area residents.
But later in his testimony, Dr. John B. Osepchuk said he could not guarantee residents' safety after long-term exposure to the tower.
"It's impossible to prove a negative," said Dr. Osepchuk, who has studied microwave devices and radiation hazards for more than 25 years. "I can't prove these incandescent lights are safe. I'm not God. I can't prove anything is conclusively safe."
Last night's hearing was the second held by the board on the proposed tower. Nearly 50 people signed up to testify at the Oct. 18 hearing, so the board continued the hearing to last night.
Cellular One, a subsidiary of Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems Inc., wants to build a 125-foot communications tower near Patapsco Middle School on land it leases from First Church of the Nazarene on Rogers Avenue. The tower would be about 185 feet from school fields and about 450 feet from the school.
Company officials say the tower is needed to improve service for the firm's cellular phone customers using nearby Interstate 70.
About 70 people attended last night's hearing, many wearing homemade blue-and-white paper badges reading, "No."
"It's a strong, silent affirmation that I don't believe what they're dishing out to us," said Jean McKee, who opposes the tower and has two daughters at Patapsco Middle School.
Residents fear that the proposed tower would emit electromagnetic radiation that could harm students at the middle school and at a nearby elementary school scheduled to open in August 1997.
Dr. Osepchuk said electromagnetic radiation from cellular phone towers meets accepted national safety standards and that other structures, such as television towers and microwave ovens, emit far higher levels of radio frequency energy.
"Compared to existing energies, it's negligible," he said. "Based upon what is known, there is no indication there will be any serious chronic health concerns under these safety levels."
Towson land planner Sam Crozier said the proposed tower is compatible with the neighborhood, Wilton Acres.
"We are set back, the building is enclosed," Mr. Crozier said. "We're not generating any light, any noise, any pollution. We're quite compatible with the neighborhood."
He also said the proposed tower, which would be built in woods surrounded by an 8-foot-high chain link fence, would be one of the most unobtrusive kinds of cellular phone towers.
"This type of facility and the nature of it has far less impact," Mr. Crozier said. "Other ones have guide wires. They make a bigger visual impact on the neighborhood."
Not all residents agreed.
"It's an unnecessary risk our children should not be forced to take," said Anne Lukiewski, who fears that electromagnetic radiation from the tower would harm her two children. "The children of our neighborhood deserve better. They should not be exposed to this unnecessary risk."
Board member James Caldwell told Ms. Lukiewski that she and others who are fighting the tower are asking too much in requesting that Cellular One ensure residents' safety from radiation.
"Anything could be potentially risky," Mr. Caldwell said. "It's a difficult thing for a company to assure you there's no risk."