Mobile Phone Base Station Radiation Study for Addressing Public Concern

Problem statement: The proliferation of mobile phone base stations had increased concerns from the public on the radio frequency radiation hazards that might come from them. The world wide public concern involved health risk due to radio frequency radiation. In Malaysia also public interest has increased, although it is not as intense as probably in other parts of the world, but had also resulted in tearing down of a few base stations. Due to this growing concern, a study was conducted to evaluate the radio frequency radiation levels near several mobile phone base stations in two major cities in Malaysia. Approach: Measurements in terms of electric field strength, power density and specific absorption rate were made to check the exposure level at public locations. Broadband meter were first used to survey the sites near the base stations. From the survey, spots with relatively higher readings will be further investigated using narrow band measurements. The measured values were then compared with the recommended international maximum permissible exposure limit. Results: The study showed that the measured values were found to be less than 1% of the maximum permissible exposure. Conclusion: The amount of radio frequency radiation from the selected base stations in the two major cities are adhering to the international limits although the physical radio base station infrastructures spawning out everywhere in these areas may give the reverse impression.