ASSESSMENT OF RADIOFREQUENCY RADIATION WITHIN THE VICINITY OF SOME GSM BASE STATIONS IN GHANA: A FOLLOW-UP

Area of Science:

• * Environmental Health
• * Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Studies
• * Public Health & Safety

Background:

• * Increasing deployment of Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) cell sites necessitates safety assessments.
• * Public exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from these sources requires evaluation against established safety standards.
• * Ghana's major cities have numerous public access points near cell sites, raising concerns about potential RF exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To conduct a follow-up safety survey of RF electromagnetic radiation at public access points in Ghana.
• * To determine RF field levels in residential areas, schools, and marketplaces.
• * To compare measured RF levels with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines.

Main Methods:

• * RF safety survey conducted across 46 towns and 76 GSM/UMTS cell sites in two major Ghanaian cities.
• * Measurements utilized calibrated log-periodic antennas connected to a spectrum analyzer.
• * Data collection focused on public access points, including residential areas, schools, and marketplaces.

Main Results:

• * Measured RF field levels ranged from 0.0008 to 182 mW/m².
• * The highest recorded RF value was 1.39% of the ICNIRP reference levels.
• * Overall, the surveyed RF levels demonstrated compliance with ICNIRP safety guidelines.

Conclusions:

• * RF electromagnetic radiation levels in public access areas near GSM/UMTS cell sites in Ghana are within safe limits.
• * The study confirms adherence to ICNIRP guidelines, suggesting no immediate public health risk from current RF exposure levels.
• * Continued monitoring is recommended to ensure ongoing compliance with evolving telecommunication technologies and international safety standards.