Radio frequency radiation (RFR) from TV and radio transmitters at a pilot region in Turkey.
Sirav B, Seyhan N · 2009
View Original AbstractMultiple radio transmitters in one area can create radiation levels four times higher than safety standards allow.
Plain English Summary
Turkish researchers measured radio frequency radiation levels around a transmission site in Ankara that houses 64 TV and radio towers plus a mobile phone base station near residential areas. They calculated that radiation levels were approximately four times higher than Turkey's safety standards (which match international ICNIRP guidelines). The study highlights how multiple transmitters in one location can create cumulative exposures that exceed regulatory limits.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a critical gap in how we regulate EMF exposure in the real world. While individual transmitters may comply with safety standards, this research shows that when multiple sources operate in proximity, the combined radiation can far exceed what regulators consider safe. What makes this particularly concerning is the location near residential communities, where people experience this elevated exposure continuously. The reality is that our current regulatory framework evaluates transmitters individually rather than considering cumulative exposure from multiple sources. This Turkish study demonstrates why we need more comprehensive field measurements around transmission sites, especially those near homes and schools. The finding that actual exposure levels reached four times the safety limit underscores the importance of independent monitoring rather than relying solely on theoretical calculations from industry data.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
For the last 30 y, the biological effects of non-ionising radiation (NIR: 0-300 GHz) have been a major topic in bioelectromagnetism. Since the number of radiofrequency (RF) systems operating in this frequency range has shown an incredible increase over the last few decades, the dangers of exposure to the fields generated thereby has become an important public health issue. In this study, the aim was to evaluate the level of RF electromagnetic radiation in Yenimahalle Sentepe Dededoruk Hill in Ankara, Turkey that is a multiple-transmitter site hosting 64 different TV and radio towers and one base station for mobile phone communication
The site has been of interest as it is nearby a residential community.
Within the technical input data available on 31 of the radio and TV transmitters, the calculated rad...
Show BibTeX
@article{b_2009_radio_frequency_radiation_rfr_2603,
author = {Sirav B and Seyhan N},
title = {Radio frequency radiation (RFR) from TV and radio transmitters at a pilot region in Turkey.},
year = {2009},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19671591/},
}