Public Awareness Of The Health Effect Of Radiation Emitted From Telecommunication Mast

Table 1: Classification of gender………………………………………..……42

Table 2: Educational Statue ………………………………………………..…43 

Table 3: Ability to identify telecommunication mast ……………………….44

Table 4: Knowledge of Health Hazards Association with Living Close to a Mast………………………………………...

Table 5: Respondents awareness of biological effect of radiation ……………………………………….......46

Table 7: Chi –Square Analysis…………………..……………………………48

 

Aim: To determine the level of awareness of the health effect of radiation emitted from telecommunication mast among inhabitants of Enugu south local government area residing around a telecommunication masts. 

Method: A cross sectional prospective study of people residing 50 meters within the circumference of a telecommunication mast. Participants were adults comprising of 127 (62.9%) males and 75 (37.1%) females with mean age of 32 + 12.22 years. Six telecommunication mast and 219 respondents were randomly and conveniently selected respectively. A16-item self-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The study lasted for a period of three months.

Result: Two hundred and nineteen respondents were studied, the result of the study reveals that 122 (60.4%) respondents were able to properly identify a telecommunication mast,114(56.4%) respondents were  aware that a telecommunication mast emits electromagnetic radiation, 94(46.5%) respondents were able to correctly identify various radiation health related hazards, 93(46.0%) are aware that living close to a telecommunication mast is harmful to one’s health while 109(54.0%) are unaware of this, there is no significant difference between the mean population of people who are aware that living close to a telecommunication mast is harmful to health and the mean population of people who are unaware that living close to a telecommunication mast is harmful to health (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:  This study unveils the awareness level of the health effect of radiation emitted from telecommunication mast in Enugu south local government area which will assist policy makers, legislators and government officials who often have to deal with demands for public health safety and need to make difficult decision based on reliable information on health aspect of radiofrequency field.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION  

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW  

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY     

CHAPTER FOUR: TABLE AND RESULT 

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 

 

Telecommunication masts or towers are tall structures designed to support antennas or aerials responsible for the transmission of telecommunication signal. These masts make use of electromagnetic radiation (a form of energy which have both electric and magnetic component and is propagated through space) in transmission of this signal (1).

Every day there are more cellular telecommunication antennas being erected close to or even upon schools, daycares, retirement homes and residential buildings that are affecting the health and wellbeing of everyone(2). The erection of these antennas has created lots of problem between families and friends, tenants and landlords due to the huge amount of money accrued to leasing or selling of land to telecommunication companies for the purpose of installation of telecommunication mast at the detriment of their health and the needed luxury of space for proper ventilation due to them.  It has been mentioned that we are now virtually living within a microwave oven!!!(1) Although the effects of the radiation that cell phone towers emit are harmful and above all it has not been proved safe by the telecommunication companies, there are more and more towers being approved by the municipal governments(3). Scientifically, evidence shows that the electromagnetic radiation caused by cellular telecommunications, has now become the worst man-made hazard for all life and the environment (1). Moreover, the negative effects of this radiation have being shown by scientists. Studies like the one conducted by Dr. George Carlo and published in his book “Cell phones invisible hazards in the wireless age”, demonstrated the unwillingness of the cell phone companies to admit in public the results and to be responsible for the impacts this technology has in the human body. The biggest immediate concern is that the cellular telecommunications companies are targeting the younger generation, the teenagers and children of tomorrow who are more sensitive towards radiation because their skulls do not block as much radiation and are affected by these rays much more than adults(1).These particular groups of people have: Thinner skulls which do not block as much radiation as an adult's skull does, a more sensitive nervous system, not such a strong immune system, an increased rate of cell division, which is the reason why cell damages spread faster.

Living closer to a cell phone antenna, can cause in children more than in any other group of people; cancer, loss of memory, attention and concentration disorders, sleep disorders, mental disorders and hyperactivity among others(2).

In Valladolid, Spain, a cellular telecommunications antenna had to be removed after 11 children have been diagnosed with cancer within a short period of time(2). In New Zealand, cell phone towers are prohibited close to schools due to possible health hazards such learning disabilities and brain tumors(2). Furthermore, studies by Prof. Roger Santini, France and Prof. A. Enrique Navarro, Spain and others, proved the symptoms of illness found within a radius of between 300-400 meters from mobile telephone transmitters as the so-called microwave syndrome. This includes sleep disturbances, headaches, exhaustion, headaches, impaired concentration, tinnitus, heat sensations on the ears and many other effects. Prof Kundi from the Environmental Hygiene Institute in University of Vienna has proven that a higher incidence of circulatory illnesses, hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes occurs in the proximity of mobile phone base stations.