Determination of Electromagnetic Radiation Levels at Two Primary Schools near Base Stations

Abstract

In today’s world, technological devices use for nearly every type of work is so much popular. These devices such as cellular phone, tablet, laptop, etc. facilitate and expedite our daily personal and technical works. Together with their advantages, disadvantages of them are also possible. Cellular phones work together with base stations mounted in residential areas while they are providing communication service to community. Base stations forward a call started from a cellular phone to the radio network controller. Then, the radio network controller forwards the call to another base station giving service to the called cellular phone. Cellular phones can communicate with base stations without a cable connection via radiation of electromagnetic (EM) waves. This type of EM radiation is called as non-ionizing radiation. As a result of researches carried out up to now, adverse health effect of radiation emitted from cellular phones and base stations is not certain. However, long term researches should be completed to show exact health effects of it on human health. In this context, till this topic is obvious and proved, we should be cautious about their radiation. Also, exposure levels of their radiation should be technically monitored periodically. This situation is of great importance for especially vulnerable groups of general public such as older, sick people, and kids. For these reasons, in this study, measured electromagnetic radiation levels at two primary schools near base stations in Konya, Turkey were recorded and analyzed according to the standard values determined by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA) in Turkey.