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Assessment of levels of occupationsl exposure to workers in radiofrequency fields of two television stations in Accra, Ghana

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Authors not listed · 2015

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Television broadcast facilities can expose nearby communities to RF radiation over 4 times higher than public safety limits.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured radiofrequency radiation levels at two television stations in Ghana to assess worker exposure. They found RF levels ranging from 0.006 to 58.5 volts per meter, which stayed below occupational safety limits but exceeded public exposure guidelines by over 4 times in some areas. This highlights how broadcast facilities can create significant EMF exposure zones that affect both workers and nearby communities.

Why This Matters

This study reveals a critical gap in EMF protection that extends far beyond Ghana's borders. While the measured levels stayed within occupational limits designed for trained workers, they exceeded public safety guidelines by more than 4-fold in some locations. This matters because television broadcast facilities exist in populated areas worldwide, potentially exposing nearby residents to RF levels never intended for the general public. The reality is that occupational safety standards assume workers understand the risks and can take protective measures, while the public receives no such warnings or protections. What makes this particularly concerning is that these are continuous, long-term exposures from fixed installations, not brief encounters. The science demonstrates that chronic RF exposure, even at levels below acute harm thresholds, can have cumulative biological effects over time.

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 30 MHz - 2.0 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 30 MHz - 2.0 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Unknown (2015). Assessment of levels of occupationsl exposure to workers in radiofrequency fields of two television stations in Accra, Ghana.
Show BibTeX
@article{assessment_of_levels_of_occupationsl_exposure_to_workers_in_radiofrequency_fields_of_two_television_stations_in_accra_ghana_ce1221,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Assessment of levels of occupationsl exposure to workers in radiofrequency fields of two television stations in Accra, Ghana},
  year = {2015},
  doi = {10.1093/rpd/ncv326},
  
}
DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncv326PubMed: 25979743

Quick Questions About This Study

Electric field strength ranged from 0.006 to 58.5 volts per meter at one station and 0.007 to 28.5 volts per meter at the other. The highest readings were 4.3 times above public safety reference levels.
The study measured frequencies from 30 MHz to 2.0 GHz. One station had higher emissions in the 30-400 MHz range, while the other peaked in the 400 MHz to 1.7 GHz range.
Worker exposure stayed below occupational safety limits set by international guidelines. However, some workplace areas exceeded public exposure limits by more than 4 times, indicating significant radiation zones within the facilities.
All measurements remained below occupational reference levels for trained workers. However, field intensity at some locations was 4.3 times higher than safety limits designed to protect the general public.
Researchers used a spectrum analyzer with two antennas: a bi-conical antenna for 30-300 MHz frequencies and a log-periodic antenna covering 200 MHz to 2.0 GHz ranges.