Measurement and Analysis of Power Density around Selected Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Base Station Masts in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

摘要

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and other telecommunication technologies are now ubiquitous worldwide. There has been considerable increase in the radiofrequency (RF) radiation exposure of the public from GSM and telecommunication transmitting and receiving antennas. If the RF radiation emanating from these devices exceeds internationally recommended limits it may pose health risk to the public. There is, therefore, the need for database of RF distribution levels in Nigeria for safety assessment. In this study, the power density of mobile phone base station masts in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria was measured and analyzed to check if it is within the public standard recommended by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). A total of forty (40) mobile phone base station masts were studied and their power density (mW/m~2), magnetic field strength (A/m) and electric field strength (V/m) were determined by means of a digital Electrosmog meter, model MECO 9810 RF covering the frequency range 10 MHz - 8 GHz. The measurements were made at the base of the masts and at distances 25, 50, 75 and 100 m respectively from the base of the masts. The results obtained show that the mean power density, magnetic field strength and electric field strength range from 0.589 ± 0.198 to 127.718 ± 11.301 mW/m~2, 0.318 ± 0.056 to 4.166 ± 2.041 A/m and 0.934 ± 0.139 to 11.745 ± 3.427 V/m. The measured and calculated power density values were compared and found to indicate high positive correlation. Also the values of the power density obtained in this study at the different distances and locations were found to be far below the ICNIRP public exposure limits ranging from 2000 - 10000 mW/m~2 in the frequency range of 10 MHz - 300 GHz.