Measurement of radio frequency radiation (RFR) power levels from some GSM base stations and phones

Abstract

With the upsurge in the number of network providers and the attendant increase in the installation of mast in Nigeria, the environment is being inundated with radiofrequency radiation (RFR). There is, therefore, increasing concern about the health implications of this development. In this study measurements of RFR output power densities were made in the mornings and afternoons at distances of 5 m, 15 m and 25 m respectively away from four selected mobile phone base stations belonging to MTN, Globacom, Zain and mast hosting Starcomms and Zoom network with all transmitting at a frequency of 1800 MHz. Using this as the baseline of study, measurements were again made in the afternoons at near-field zone of 15 m and farfield zone of 100 m away from the base stations. The RFR output power densities of mobile phones of different types were also measured while making or receiving calls with them. The results obtained show that the lowest and highest RFR output power densities from the base stations were 0.139 ± 0.004 mW/m² and 2.300 ± 0.091 mw/m². RFR output power densities from mobile phones while making or receiving calls with them, ranged between 0.648 ± 0.013 mw/m² and 18.278 ± 1.031 mw/m². Comparing these values of RFR output power densities with that of the International Commission on Non- Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) safety limit for exposure which is 9.0 w/m² shows that the RFR output power densities obtained in this study are relatively low and considered safe for the public.

Keywords: Radiofrequency radiation, power density levels, base stations, mobile phones.