Base transceiver station antenna exposure and workers’ health

Abstract

Objectives. With the rapid development of technologies related to the communications industry, human exposure to electromagnetic fields has increased during recent decades. The study aimed at investigating the effect of exposure to waves emitted from the base transceiver stations (BTS) on workers' health.

Methods. 240 workers participated in the study. In order to determine the general health conditions in two groups, along with electromagnetic waves exposure measurement, the general health questionnaire (GHQ) was completed and the data on blood parameters were assessed.

Results. The mean age and job experience in the case and control groups were 34.1 ± 4.8 and 10.1 ± 6 years and 31.6 ± 5.5 and 8.8 ± 7 years, respectively. According to the GHQ results, only anxiety and insomnia subscales showed a significant difference between the two groups. The white blood cell and red blood cell counts in the case and control groups were 6715.6 ± 1591 and 7594 ± 2416, 5.3 × 106 ± 4.6 × 105 and 5.05 × 106 ± 5.39 × 105 per ml, respectively. Analysis of the results showed that the difference between the two groups was significant.

Conclusion. The results revealed that blood parameters in the BTS operators showed more changes. Thus, it can be concluded that these health impacts result from occupational exposure to BTS waves.

KEYWORDS:

• electromagnetic field
• health
• workers

Acknowledgements

This study was part of the M.Sc. thesis by A. Rahmati at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The authors thank all of the participants in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical considerations

This work supported by Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (No: ETRC-9448).

Additional information

Funding

This work supported by Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences [No: ETRC-9448].