Levels of electric field strength within the immediate vicinity of FM radio stations in Accra, Ghana.
Azah CK, Amoako JK, Fletcher JJ. · 2013
View Original AbstractFM radio stations produce extremely weak RF fields at ground level, thousands of times lower than typical cell phone exposure.
Plain English Summary
Researchers measured radio frequency radiation levels around 20 FM radio stations in Accra, Ghana, testing areas within 200 meters of transmission towers. They found extremely low electric field levels ranging from 0.000000074 to 0.00054 volts per meter - well below international safety guidelines. The study provides baseline data showing that FM radio stations in this urban area produce minimal RF exposure at ground level where people live and work.
Why This Matters
This study provides valuable real-world measurement data that helps us understand typical RF exposure levels from broadcast infrastructure. The measured electric field strengths of 0.000000074 to 0.00054 V/m are remarkably low - thousands of times weaker than what you'd experience holding a cell phone to your ear (which generates fields around 10-100 V/m at your head). What makes this research particularly useful is that it documents actual exposure levels in populated areas, not theoretical calculations. The authors note their findings are 'comparable with those reported from epidemiological studies conducted elsewhere,' which means this data can inform our understanding of the exposure levels associated with health outcomes in population studies. While the authors conclude these levels pose no known hazard based on current guidelines, the science demonstrates that even low-level chronic exposures warrant continued investigation, especially given emerging research on non-thermal biological effects.
Exposure Details
- Electric Field
- 0.000000074 - 0.00054 V/m
- Source/Device
- 30–300 MHz
Study Details
A survey of the RF electromagnetic radiation at public access points in the vicinity of 20 frequency-modulated (FM) radio stations has been made in Accra, Ghana. The fundamental object was to determine the levels of RF fields from FM broadcast antennae within 10–200 m radius about the foot of the FM base station and at a height of 1.5 m above the ground at selected locations.
A spectrum analyser and a bi-conical antenna element sensitive and effective within the frequency ba...
Results obtained indicated that the levels of electric field strength ranged from 5.4E−04 V m−1 at F...
The electric field levels presented in this work are comparable with those reported from epidemiological studies conducted elsewhere.
Show BibTeX
@article{ck_2013_levels_of_electric_field_834,
author = {Azah CK and Amoako JK and Fletcher JJ.},
title = {Levels of electric field strength within the immediate vicinity of FM radio stations in Accra, Ghana.},
year = {2013},
url = {https://academic.oup.com/rpd/article-abstract/156/4/395/1619023},
}