Assessment of Radiation Hazards from Mobile Phones and GSM Base Stations

Abstract

The tremendous growth of telecommunication industry results in increase in the
number of handset user everyday. To support the growing number of users, base stations
can be seen in almost everywhere. This has created uncomfortable feelings in the scientific
community due to radiations from GSM devices. This study was designed to ascertain how
informed and prepared consumer/users are against the reported health hazards from GSM
technology. The work was done in Rivers State, Nigeria. Selected places and BTS sites
located at schools, residential areas and worship centres were used for data collection;
which was done via questionnaire, oral interview and measurements. The results revealed
that GSM operators in Nigeria do not detail consumers the full content of their product and
slightly adhere to ICNIRP guidelines. Majority of handset dealers and users have little or no
knowledge regarding the hazardous effects currently debated by the scientific community.