Abstract
The widespread mobile station’s antennas and the continued increase in the number of mobile phones users throughout the Gaza strip causing great panic in the population relating the debate overexposure to electromagnetic radiation EMR emitted from the antennas of mobile base stations. Therefore, this study was conducted to measure the levels of electromagnetic radiation emitted from the antennas of cellular base stations in Gaza governorate as well as to evaluate the citizen’s awareness and practices regarding potential health risks and mitigation methods of exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted from cellular base stations, respectively. Fifty cellular base stations out of 197 stations were selected depending on the criteria of selecting one site per kilometer using Global Positioning System (GPS). Electromagnetic power density, electric field strength, and the magnetic field strength emitted from cellular base stations were measured using Narda-550. Assessment tool for observation was used to collect operational information of each station. A structured questionnaire with four-level Likert rating scale was used to survey 384 mobile phone users from the areas surrounding the selected cellular base stations. The results showed that the electromagnetic radiation levels of all stations were low and less than the national and international acceptable limits. Furthermore, the awareness of participant about health risks that could result from exposure to electromagnetic radiation emitted from cellular base stations and mobile phones was low. Nevertheless, the participant’s practices in mitigating the adverse impacts of electromagnetic radiation emitted from cellular base stations and mobile phones on their health were good.
Highlights
Mobile or cellular phones are an integral part of modern telecommunications
Twenty sex stations located on the roofs of residential towers, 20 stations were on houses rooftops, and 4 stations were established on roofs of institutional buildings
The distance between the antennas bases and protective fences was less than 5 meters for 6 stations, while it was more than 5 meters for 44 stations
Summary
Mobile or cellular phones are an integral part of modern telecommunications. In many countries, over half of the population use mobile phones and the market is growing rapidly. In some parts of the world, mobile phones are the most reliable or the only phones available [1] [2] [3] This wireless technology relies upon an extensive network of fixed antennas, or base stations, relaying information with radiofrequency (RF) signals. Radio waves can be used for various types of communication, are found in the lower part of the spectrum and classified as non-ionizing radiation. There are different types of electromagnetic waves with different frequencies; each has its own properties and characteristics which make it distinguished from others. A cellular communication system consists of several transmitters called base stations, covering adjoining zones called cells, and the in-use mobile phones. Several mobile radio systems are available, ranging from analog to digital systems and having different multiple access types and frequency carriers [8] [9]
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