Investigation Of Public Exposure To Radiated Emf From Cellular Base Stations: A Case Of Dodoma Urban

ABSTRACT

There has been a proliferation of base station towers in recent years due to an expansion of mobile telephone networks. This has been accompanied by an increase in the level of community concern about possible health effects from the radio frequency (RF) radiation emissions from antennae mounted on the base station towers. The researcher aimed at measuring RF electromagnetic energy (EME) levels and compare with the maximum permitted limit for general public exposure given by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The researcher used questionnaires and field measurement methods to obtain both qualitative and quantitative data required in the study. The questionnaire results revealed that there is much of concern from the public on the EMF health effect caused by living near cellular mobile phones. Then measurements of RF EME emission levels from cellular Base stations in six sensitive Dodoma urban locations using the frequency selective Narda 3006 equipment were conducted. The results clearly demonstrate that the RF EME emissions from cellular base stations are several orders of magnitude below the maximum permitted limit contrary to the public perception. For example the maximum Electric field strength obtained was 4.0210V/m or 6.59 % of the limit for the general public exposure given by ICNIRP guidelines. This level shows that the people living closer to BTS are safe from health hazards which may be caused by EMF exposure.