Determination of safety distance for installing GSM mast in residential areas in Nigeria

Abstract

Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) technology is one of the fastest growing technologies and most demanding application all over the world. But the health implication of its equipment used or  installed in residential area has become subject debate among Nigerian. This work, made an attempt to determine the safety distance for installing GSM mast in residential area by measuring power density radiated from the foot of the GSM mast at different distances; 10m, 15m, 20m, 25m, 30m, 35m, 40m, 45m and 50m. Fuzzy logic technique was used to forecast power density measured from the GSM mast as 38.9μW/m2, 9.26μW/m2, 9.30μW/m2, 9.24μW/m2, 2.47μW/m2, 2.47μW/m2, 2.38μW/m2, 2.37μW/m2 and 2.36e-6μW/m2. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is computed as 1.09e-4W/Kg, 2.60e-5W/Kg, 2.61e-5W/Kg, 2.62e-5W/kg, 6.94e-6W/Kg, 6.69e-6W/Kg, 6.66e-6/Kg and 6.63e-6W/Kg from the forecasted power density respectively. The calculated SAR is compared with the standard SAR values, for localize and whole part of the body (0.08Kg/W and 2.00Kg/W) given by the International Commission on Non – Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and found to be far below recommended level. This work also, suggested that, 10m is a good distance for installing GSM mast away from residential areas.

Keywords: Power Density, Fuzzy Logic, Risk, Distance, Specific Absorption Rate and Safety