A large-scale measurement of electromagnetic fields near GSM base stations in Guangxi, China for risk communication.

Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure from wireless telecommunication base station antennae can lead to debates, conflicts or litigations among the adjacent residents if inappropriately managed. This paper presents a measurement campaign for the GSM band EMF exposure in the vicinity of 827 base station sites (totally 6207 measurement points) in Guangxi, China. Measurement specifications are designed for risk communication with the residents who previously complained of over-exposure. The EMF power densities with the global positioning system coordinate at each measured point were recorded. Compliance with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines and Chinese environmental EMF safety standards was studied. The results show that the GSM band EMF level near the base stations is very low. The measurement results and the EMF risk communication procedures positively influence public perception of the RF EMF exposure from the base stations and promote the exchange of EMF exposure-related knowledge.

[1]  V. Covello.  Risk communication, radiation, and radiological emergencies: strategies, tools, and techniques. , 2011, Health physics.

[2]  Lawrence J. Harte,et al.  CDMA IS-95 for Cellular and PCS: Technology, Applications, and Resource Guide , 1997 .

[3]  Kjell Hansson Mild,et al.  Radiofrequency exposure on fast patrol boats in the Royal Norwegian Navy—an approach to a dose assessment , 2010, Bioelectromagnetics.

[4]  Risk communication in healthcare: An overview , 2008 .

[5]  D G MacGregor,et al.  Perception of Risks from Electromagnetic Fields: A Psychometric Evaluation of a Risk-Communication Approach , 1994, Risk analysis : an official publication of the Society for Risk Analysis.

[6]  G Berg-Beckhoff,et al.  Quality control for exposure assessment in epidemiological studies. , 2010, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[7]  Reilly Jp.  Comments concerning "Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz)". , 1999 .

[8]  S. Radiman,et al.  Assessment of radiofrequency/microwave radiation emitted by the antennas of rooftop-mounted mobile phone base stations. , 2006, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[9]  Georg Neubauer,et al.  Classification of personal exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) for epidemiological research: Evaluation of different exposure assessment methods. , 2010, Environment international.

[10]  J. Herbertz.  Comment on the ICNIRP guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz) , 1998, Health physics.

[11]  K. Joyner,et al.  Comparative international analysis of radiofrequency exposure surveys of mobile communication radio base stations , 2012, Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology.

[12]  J J Fletcher,et al.  Assessment of radiofrequency radiation within the vicinity of some GSM base stations in Ghana. , 2012, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[13]  H-P Neitzke,et al.  Determination of exposure due to mobile phone base stations in an epidemiological study. , 2007, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[14]  Holger Schütz,et al.  The Precautionary Principle and Risk Perception: Experimental Studies in the EMF Area , 2005, Environmental health perspectives.

[15]  Seong-Ook Park,et al.  Evaluation of RF electromagnetic field exposure levels from cellular base stations in Korea , 2010, Bioelectromagnetics.

[16]  G. Vermeeren,et al.  In situ LTE exposure of the general public: Characterization and extrapolation , 2012, Bioelectromagnetics.

[17]  J. Fletcher,et al.  Measurement and analysis of radiofrequency radiations from some mobile phone base stations in Ghana. , 2009, Radiation protection dosimetry.

[18]  Luc Martens,et al.  In-Situ Measurement Procedures for Temporal RF Electromagnetic Field Exposure of the General Public , 2009, Health physics.

[19]  G. Thuróczy,et al.  Comparison of personal radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure in different urban areas across Europe. , 2010, Environmental research.

[20]  M. Blettner,et al.  Residential characteristics and radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposures from bedroom measurements in Germany , 2012, Radiation and environmental biophysics.