A Study on Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) Due to Non-Ionizing Radiation from Wireless/Telecommunication in Bangladesh

Abstract

In the work exposure to the non-ionizing electro-magnetic radiation from some mobile cellular telephone operators and radio, TV and radar antennas of Bangladesh has been investigated. The mobile telephone operators considered were City cell, Grameenphone, Aktel and BanglaLink. The radio operators studied were 17 in number and all of them were sub stations of Bangladesh Radio. The TV antennas were all of BTV. Together with it 4 radar stations were also studied. The frequency range covered in the investigation is 800 MHz to 2800 MHz. Calculations were done for specific absorption rate (SAR) and consequent rise of temperature in human tissues. Maximum power density value (for far field) observed is that for the BanglaLink operator (= 1.27x10-6 W/m2). SAR values and the corresponding temperature rise were calculated for the eye, brain and nerve tissues exposed to RF fields, for the general public and occupational workers of Bangladesh for each of the mobile operators. Among the tissues, eye showed the highest and nerves the lowest SAR values. Of all the 4 operators Grameenphone possesses the highest SAR values (approximately 1.6 W/kg), still remaining within the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and other safety limits (= 1.6 W/kg). Upto 960 MHz of frequency the mobile operators of Bangladesh show higher SAR values compared to those of the literature. The RF radiation studied does not pose any health hazard for the general public. Temperature rise in 6 minutes time as a consequence of absorption of RF radiation from mobile operators is of the range 0.022 K to 0.763 K