Evaluation of electric field (E) exposure levels and its relationship with the sleep quality of residents around the BTS antennas in Sabzevar, Iran.

Radiation protection dosimetry · 2024 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 5833

Study snapshot

PublicationRadiation protection dosimetry · 2024

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Mobile devices and base transceiver station (BTS) are the main sources of human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the levels of exposure to RF-EMF in three different time intervals and three different distances from BTS antennas in Sabzevar. Additional goals were to investigate the electric field (E) difference between different microenvironments, between the suburbs and downtown, and evaluating the sleep quality of residents around BTS antennas at different distances. The results showed significant differences between the values of E Avg and E max Avg at different times (T1, T2, and T3), different distances (50, 100, and 300 m) from BTS antennas, and between BTS antennas located in the suburbs and downtown. No significant differences were observed between the values of E Avg and E max Avg in terms of microenvironments. Poor sleep quality (>5) was recorded in the residents around the BTS antennas at different distances, and a significant difference was observed between the sleep quality of the residents at a distance of ˂100 m compared to the residents at a distance of ˃300 m. The recorded levels of E in all places and times were below the human safety limits set by the Iranian National Standardization Organization, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, indicating the absence of potential risk due to exposure to E in the study area.

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 typecross_sectional

Effect directionmixed

PopulationResidents living around BTS antennas in Sabzevar, Iran

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · Measured at three time intervals (T1, T2, T3) and at distances 50, 100, 300 m from BTS antennas

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Electric field metrics (E Avg and E max Avg) differed significantly by measurement time, by distance from BTS antennas (50, 100, 300 m), and between suburbs vs downtown, but not by microenvironment. Poor sleep quality (>5) was recorded among residents around BTS antennas, with a significant difference in sleep quality for residents living <100 m compared with those >300 m away. Recorded E levels at all places and times were below limits set by Iranian authorities and ICNIRP.

Outcomes measured

Electric field exposure levels (E Avg, E max Avg)
Differences in E by time interval (T1, T2, T3)
Differences in E by distance from BTS (50, 100, 300 m)
Differences in E by location (suburbs vs downtown)
Differences in E by microenvironment
Sleep quality (poor sleep quality >5) by distance from BTS

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Frequency characteristics of RF exposure not reported
Sleep quality instrument/scale not specified beyond a cutoff (>5)
Cross-sectional design limits causal inference

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Measured at three time intervals (T1, T2, T3) and at distances 50, 100, 300 m from BTS antennas"
  },
  "population": "Residents living around BTS antennas in Sabzevar, Iran",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Electric field exposure levels (E Avg, E max Avg)",
    "Differences in E by time interval (T1, T2, T3)",
    "Differences in E by distance from BTS (50, 100, 300 m)",
    "Differences in E by location (suburbs vs downtown)",
    "Differences in E by microenvironment",
    "Sleep quality (poor sleep quality >5) by distance from BTS"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Electric field metrics (E Avg and E max Avg) differed significantly by measurement time, by distance from BTS antennas (50, 100, 300 m), and between suburbs vs downtown, but not by microenvironment. Poor sleep quality (>5) was recorded among residents around BTS antennas, with a significant difference in sleep quality for residents living <100 m compared with those >300 m away. Recorded E levels at all places and times were below limits set by Iranian authorities and ICNIRP.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Frequency characteristics of RF exposure not reported",
    "Sleep quality instrument/scale not specified beyond a cutoff (>5)",
    "Cross-sectional design limits causal inference"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency",
    "base transceiver station",
    "BTS",
    "electric field",
    "exposure assessment",
    "distance",
    "time variation",
    "sleep quality",
    "ICNIRP",
    "Iran"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Abstract explicitly references ICNIRP safety limits for RF exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1093/rpd/ncae180
PubMed: 39214550

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