The public's knowledge of mobile communication and its influence on base station siting preferences

Abstract

The present paper explores what people know about mobile communication and how this understanding influences people's perceptions and preferences in regard to this omnipresent technology. As shown in the past, cell phone base station siting often turns out to be a conflictive process. Citizens are not willing to tolerate base stations in their neighbourhoods because they fear health consequences. They insist on siting base stations outside residential areas. This solution resolves social conflict, but it may lead to more radiation for the phoning population. From a public health perspective, base stations should be located close to the people using cell phones. Knowledge and beliefs therefore play a critical role. A questionnaire, based on mental model methodology, was designed to learn more about people's knowledge, intuitive understanding, exposure awareness, and base station siting preferences. The mail-survey, conducted in the German-speaking part of Switzerland (N = 765; response rate 41%), showed that laypeople's knowledge varied considerably across knowledge domains and depended on demographic characteristics. Participants had limited knowledge about interaction patterns between cell phones and base stations, and they misjudged the resulting exposure magnitudes. The observed knowledge gaps or misconceptions were related to respondents' preferences regarding base station siting. These findings provide guidance to improved conceptualisation of consumer information in regard to personal exposure awareness and, if desired, prevention.