Measurement and mapping of the GSM-based electromagnetic pollution in the Black Sea region of Turkey

Investigation of extremely low-frequency (1 Hz-400 kHz) pollution frequently encountered in social life: a case study of a shopping mall

It is important to periodically measure, analyze, and map electromagnetic radiation levels due to potential risks. This study aims to draw attention to new electromagnetic pollution caused by radio frequencies and extremely low frequencies. For this reason, electric field and magnetic field measurements were carried out in the 1-Hz-400-kHz frequency band in a shopping mall, where electronic devices cause low-frequency electromagnetic radiation intensively. The measurements were performed with the EHP-50F device for 24 h a day for a week. The measurements were made at 10 points in the shopping mall, and the measurement results were evaluated over five different sectors: electronics, clothing and accessories (male-female), personal care and cosmetics, supermarket, and the playland for children. Magnetic maps of each sector were produced. In addition, the specific absorption rates (SAR) of male and female customers in these workplaces were determined. This is the first study carried out to find SAR caused by low-frequency radiation. Although the safe limit value of SAR for the whole body is 0.08 W/kg, the SAR values calculated in the playland and electronics sectors were obtained to be 0.763 and 0.39 W/kg, respectively. Results clearly demonstrate how especially small children are exposed to danger in the long term.

Spatial variability of outdoor exposure to radiofrequency radiation from mobile phone base stations, in Khartoum, Sudan

The wide-spread exposure to constantly evolving wireless technologies believed to pose a serious health threat. Human beings are persistently exposed to RF radiation from mobile phones and their base stations. The current study aimed at classifying and characterizing the exposure to RF radiation from the mobile phone base stations. Spatial distribution measurements were carried out in Khartoum city during two time periods, first in 2012 (pilot survey) and again during Sept. 2019-Jan. 2020, to cover a total of 282 antennas operating with GSM900, GSM1800, and UMTS2100. The tested antennas belong to three mobile communication companies namely Sudani, Zain, and MTN companies, that randomly coded into company A, company B, and company C for security purposes. Measurements were performed using frequency-selective RF analyzer at fixed distances from the antennas/towers. Data were subjected to advanced repeated measures ANOVA, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and spatial interpolation with ArcGIS. The averages of GSM900, GSM1800, and UMTS measurements were 0.01933 W/m², 0.0067 W/m², and 0.0046 W/m². The high levels of power densities for each single antenna were recorded at 90 m, 110 m, 130 m, and at 150 m distances, for the majority (70%) of the measured antennas and the peak/highest values reported mainly at 110 m distance. Conversely, the discriminant loadings as part of LDA, suggested that, much of variance among measurements is attributed to measurements at 150 m, 170 m, and 190 m distances, while visual illustration of group centroids implied that, the RF signals of the different companies were measured separately which support accuracy of frequency-selective measurements. The LDA has confirmed the ANOVA results that, the overall difference between the three companies was statistically significant for UMTS, and GSM900 measurements but not significant for GSM1800 measurements. Kriging interpolation using ArcGIS provided a strong evidence of great spatial distribution of exposure across the study area, with market places and typical urban residential quarters showing highest levels of RF. Few extreme values exceeding ICNIRP limits are reported but excluded from the calculations because of an issue of normality of data that is considered a prerequisite for parametric data analysis. Existence of extreme levels of RF indicates a need for further investigation and some antennas of Company B are mounted on towers belongs to Company C, implying multi exposure. Unexpected pattern of RF levels continued to increase up to 190 m distance and possibly beyond 190 m is reported for UMTS measurements of Company C.

Measurement and mapping of the electromagnetic radiation in the urban environment

People are increasingly exposed to electromagnetic radiation with the rapid development of technologies such as broadcasting and mobile communication system. There is a concern that long-term exposure at low levels may be associated with various non-specific physical symptoms and ecological effects on animals and plants. It is extremely important to measure and analyze the electromagnetic radiation levels in order to protect people from the possible effects of electromagnetic radiation. A large-scale assessment of the effects of electromagnetic radiation on health or on ecology requires the ambient electromagnetic radiation levels over areas too vast to cover with conventional measurement methods. In this article, detailed information about the measurement tools and measurement method are given. The electromagnetic radiation exposure levels were measured on the main streets in the dense urban areas of Beijing, the capital of China. We apply ordinary kriging as an interpolation technique to assess the electromagnetic radiation exposure in large outdoor areas based on car-mounted measurements along the surrounding roads. The electromagnetic radiation exposure levels for larger areas can be investigated visually on the electromagnetic pollution map, which can assist decision makers by identifying the hotspots.