Assessment of Geo-Spatial Proximity and Magnetic Pollution from 132kV and 330kV Power Transmission Lines to Infrastructures in Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract

Urbanization and development within cities has made people to build houses, workshops, religious centres, schools and farms close to or under transmission power lines. Meanwhile, transmission power lines produce electromagnetic fields which are harmful to humans. This study practically examines the magnetic field component of electromagnetic field generated around a transmission line using Osogbo as case study. Measurements were taken with a gaussmeter at a vertical distance of 1.04 meters at the center, right and left side of a selected number of power transmission lines respectively. The results were evaluated with the standard limit of exposure established by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Committee (ICNIRP). This paper also carried out a survey research with the use of GIS analysis, using the satellite image of osogbo in ARCGIS environment in order to map out the power lines and infrastructures close to the transmission power line in osogbo. A buffer of 500 m interval was created along the power lines, this was used to measure the distance from the power lines from the nearest infrastructure. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) regulations, Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning (LSURP) regulations and Occupational Health and Safety Code (OHSC) regulations were used to assess the infrastructure close to the power lines to determine the infrastructures violating the regulation and those which could expose inhabitants to health hazards which result from exposure to electromagnetic radiation.