The public's knowledge of mobile communication and its influence on base station siting preferences

Abstract

The present paper explores what people know about mobile communication and how this understanding influences people's perceptions and preferences in regard to this omnipresent technology. As shown in the past, cell phone base station siting often turns out to be a conflictive process. Citizens are not willing to tolerate base stations in their neighbourhoods because they fear health consequences. They insist on siting base stations outside residential areas. This solution resolves social conflict, but it may lead to more radiation for the phoning population. From a public health perspective, base stations should be located close to the people using cell phones. Knowledge and beliefs therefore play a critical role. A questionnaire, based on mental model methodology, was designed to learn more about people's knowledge, intuitive understanding, exposure awareness, and base station siting preferences. The mail-survey, conducted in the German-speaking part of Switzerland (N = 765; response rate 41%), showed that laypeople's knowledge varied considerably across knowledge domains and depended on demographic characteristics. Participants had limited knowledge about interaction patterns between cell phones and base stations, and they misjudged the resulting exposure magnitudes. The observed knowledge gaps or misconceptions were related to respondents' preferences regarding base station siting. These findings provide guidance to improved conceptualisation of consumer information in regard to personal exposure awareness and, if desired, prevention.

Keywords:

• risk
• risk perception
• mobile communication
• EMF
• technical knowledge
• health concerns

Acknowledgement

This research was funded by a grant from the Swiss Research Foundation on Mobile Communication (FSM).

Notes

1. In order to realise a connection, an increase of distance between cell phones and base stations forces both devices to radiate more. Radiation decreases with the inverse square of the distance from the source. Due to the proximity of cell phones to users' heads, cell phones account for much more of the exposure to individuals than do base stations (e.g., MMF 2005).

2. 1 V/m can be considered a high exposure value. A Swiss exposure study concluded that time averaged exposure values by GSM base stations are generally much lower than 1 V/m (Lehmann et al. 2004).

3. In order to formulate items about complex interrelations, some simplification must be accepted. The following items contain a simplification: item 10 is only true for GSM systems. This is still the most widespread mobile communication technology in Switzerland. In any case, this item was not included in the final knowledge scale. Item 13 is true in most situations, but one could think of specific situations when it is wrong. Item 15 is wrong in most situations, but one could think of specific situations when it is right.