Research Work on the Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Health

International Journal of Medical and Biological Sciences 6 2012

Estimation of Electromagnetic Radiation from Base Station Antenna
R. K. Singh
Abstract—In the present paper, an observation of electromagnetic radiation from base station antennas installed for various communication purposes has been done on the basis of equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) calculations. For this purpose, a typical wireless communication site has been selected where GSM, CDMA, 3G/UMTS and WiMAX antennas are installed. The overall ration of EIRP and threshold EIRP combining all these services have been calculated at ground level (0.03133648), and nearby building (0.0126787). It has been found that the ratio of EIRP and threshold EIRP is less than unity and thus the particular site is normally compliant and does not cause any adverse health effects. For the general public, the exclusion zone (compliance distance) from GSM, CDMA, 3G/UMTS and WiMAX antennas have been found at 8.103m, 6.755m, 6.466m, and 7.196m, respectively. Keywords—Compliance distance, EM radiation, Equivalent isotropically radiated power, Non-ionizing radiation. I. INTRODUCTION Several surveys have found a variety of self-reported symptoms for people who live close to base stations [4]-[6]. Collectively, they have not provided evidence of a relationship, but they have had sufficient limitations to leave the question unresolved [7]-[8]. ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) study has concluded that the exposure levels due to cell phone base stations are generally around one-ten-thousandth of the guideline levels [9]. Moreover, the WHO has classified mobile phone radiation on the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) scale into Group 2B - possibly carcinogenic to humans [10]. That means that there ‘could be some risk’ of carcinogenicity, so additional research into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones/wireless technologies needs to be conducted.There is a need

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