RF Safe

Spatial variability of outdoor exposure to radiofrequency radiation from mobile phone base stations, in Khartoum, Sudan

Environmental science and pollution research international · 2021 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 1015

Spatial distribution measurements in Khartoum covered 282 antennas operating with GSM900, GSM1800, and UMTS2100. Average measured power densities were 0.01933 W/m² (GSM900), 0.0067 W/m² (GSM1800), and 0.0046 W/m² (UMTS). Kriging interpolation suggested substa…

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental science and pollution research international · 2021
Study typeexposure_assessment
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Spatial variability of outdoor exposure to radiofrequency radiation from mobile phone base stations, in Khartoum, Sudan Mohammed O A Mohammed, Ahmed A Elzaki, Babiker A Babiker, Omer I Eid. Spatial variability of outdoor exposure to radiofrequency radiation from mobile phone base stations, in Khartoum, Sudan. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2021 Oct 8. doi: 10.1007/s11356-021-16555-x. Abstract The wide-spread exposure to constantly evolving wireless technologies believed to pose a serious health threat. Human beings are persistently exposed to RF radiation from mobile phones and their base stations. The current study aimed at classifying and characterizing the exposure to RF radiation from the mobile phone base stations. Spatial distribution measurements were carried out in Khartoum city during two time periods, first in 2012 (pilot survey) and again during Sept. 2019-Jan. 2020, to cover a total of 282 antennas operating with GSM900, GSM1800, and UMTS2100. The tested antennas belong to three mobile communication companies namely Sudani, Zain, and MTN companies, that randomly coded into company A, company B, and company C for security purposes. Measurements were performed using frequency-selective RF analyzer at fixed distances from the antennas/towers. Data were subjected to advanced repeated measures ANOVA, linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and spatial interpolation with ArcGIS. The averages of GSM900, GSM1800, and UMTS measurements were 0.01933 W/m2, 0.0067 W/m2, and 0.0046 W/m2. The high levels of power densities for each single antenna were recorded at 90 m, 110 m, 130 m, and at 150 m distances, for the majority (70%) of the measured antennas and the peak/highest values reported mainly at 110 m distance. Conversely, the discriminant loadings as part of LDA, suggested that, much of variance among measurements is attributed to measurements at 150 m, 170 m, and 190 m distances, while visual illustration of group centroids implied that, the RF signals of the different companies were measured separately which support accuracy of frequency-selective measurements. The LDA has confirmed the ANOVA results that, the overall difference between the three companies was statistically significant for UMTS, and GSM900 measurements but not significant for GSM1800 measurements. Kriging interpolation using ArcGIS provided a strong evidence of great spatial distribution of exposure across the study area, with market places and typical urban residential quarters showing highest levels of RF. Few extreme values exceeding ICNIRP limits are reported but excluded from the calculations because of an issue of normality of data that is considered a prerequisite for parametric data analysis. Existence of extreme levels of RF indicates a need for further investigation and some antennas of Company B are mounted on towers belongs to Company C, implying multi exposure. Unexpected pattern of RF levels continued to increase up to 190 m distance and possibly beyond 190 m is reported for UMTS measurements of Company C. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeexposure_assessment
Effect directionunclear
PopulationNot supplied
Sample size282
ExposureRF · Two measurement periods: 2012 (pilot) and Sept 2019–Jan 2020
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Spatial distribution measurements in Khartoum covered 282 antennas operating with GSM900, GSM1800, and UMTS2100. Average measured power densities were 0.01933 W/m² (GSM900), 0.0067 W/m² (GSM1800), and 0.0046 W/m² (UMTS). Kriging interpolation suggested substantial spatial variability with highest levels in market places and typical urban residential quarters; a few extreme values exceeding ICNIRP limits were reported but excluded from calculations due to normality issues.

Outcomes measured

  • Outdoor RF power density (W/m²) by band (GSM900, GSM1800, UMTS2100)
  • Spatial distribution/variability of RF exposure across Khartoum
  • Between-company differences in measured RF levels
  • Distance-related patterns of RF power density from antennas/towers
  • Exceedances of ICNIRP limits (reported as extreme values)

Limitations

  • A few extreme values exceeding ICNIRP limits were excluded from calculations due to normality assumptions for parametric analysis
  • Frequencies are described by service bands (GSM900/GSM1800/UMTS2100) but no single numeric frequency values are provided in the abstract
  • Outdoor measurements at fixed distances from antennas/towers; indoor/personal exposure not described
  • Company identities were coded (A/B/C), limiting interpretability of operator-specific findings
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Two measurement periods: 2012 (pilot) and Sept 2019–Jan 2020"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 282,
  "outcomes": [
    "Outdoor RF power density (W/m²) by band (GSM900, GSM1800, UMTS2100)",
    "Spatial distribution/variability of RF exposure across Khartoum",
    "Between-company differences in measured RF levels",
    "Distance-related patterns of RF power density from antennas/towers",
    "Exceedances of ICNIRP limits (reported as extreme values)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Spatial distribution measurements in Khartoum covered 282 antennas operating with GSM900, GSM1800, and UMTS2100. Average measured power densities were 0.01933 W/m² (GSM900), 0.0067 W/m² (GSM1800), and 0.0046 W/m² (UMTS). Kriging interpolation suggested substantial spatial variability with highest levels in market places and typical urban residential quarters; a few extreme values exceeding ICNIRP limits were reported but excluded from calculations due to normality issues.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "A few extreme values exceeding ICNIRP limits were excluded from calculations due to normality assumptions for parametric analysis",
    "Frequencies are described by service bands (GSM900/GSM1800/UMTS2100) but no single numeric frequency values are provided in the abstract",
    "Outdoor measurements at fixed distances from antennas/towers; indoor/personal exposure not described",
    "Company identities were coded (A/B/C), limiting interpretability of operator-specific findings"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "RF exposure assessment",
    "mobile phone base stations",
    "power density",
    "GSM900",
    "GSM1800",
    "UMTS2100",
    "spatial variability",
    "Kriging",
    "ArcGIS",
    "Khartoum",
    "ICNIRP limits",
    "frequency-selective measurements",
    "ANOVA",
    "linear discriminant analysis"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.1,
      "reason": "Outdoor environmental measurements near base stations; not clearly occupational but involves exposure around infrastructure."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.65,
      "reason": "Reports comparison to ICNIRP limits and mentions exceedances."
    }
  ]
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16555-x
PubMed: 34622411

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