IMAPCT ANALYSIS OF HOMES NEAR POWER LINE AND MAST OF SELECTED AREA IN PORT HARCOURT RIVER STATE

IMAPCT ANALYSIS OF HOMES NEAR POWER LINE AND MAST OF SELECTED AREA IN PORT HARCOURT RIVER STATE

TABLE OF CONTENT

 

Title page- – – – – – – – – i

Approval page – – – – – – – -ii

Dedication – – – – – – – – -iii

Acknowledgement – – – – – – – -iv

Abstract – – – – – – – – – -v

Table of content – – – – – – – -vi

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION – – – – – – – -1

1.0 Background of the study – – – – -1

1.1 Statement of the problem – – – – -5

1.2 Purpose of the study – – – – – -6

1.3 Significance of the study – – – – -8

1.4 Research questions – – – – – -9

1.5 Scope of the study – – – – – – -10

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

LITERATURE REVIEW – – – – – – -11

CHAPTER THREE

 

Research methodology – – – – – – -39

Design of study – – – – – – – -40

 

CHAPTER FOUR

 

Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data – -48

 

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

Summary of findings – – – – – – -60

Conclusion – – – – – – – – -61

Recommendations – – – – – – – -62

Suggestions for further research – – – – -64

References – – – – – – – – -65

Appendix I – – – – — – – – -68

Questionnaire. – – – – – – – -69

 

 

Abstract

Our Telecommunications industry in Nigeria has been revolutionized by the advent of mobile phone technology. This technology comes with the siting and erection of cell towers in urban centers around the country which is beginning to generate public concern as to whether the utilization of such technology is safe to human health. A case study of the effect impact analysis of homes near power line and mast of selected area in Port Harcourt river state was done; the power densities of electromagnetic radiation on buildings around the cell tower were calculated. The calculated values were then compared with radiation norms adopted in Nigeria and other countries after which inferences were drawn. Also, the magnetic fields on buildings around the high tension transmission lines were obtained through the inverse square law and by direct measurement using a gauss meter. The results were found to exceed the safe radiation level of 0.4µT using the European standard. Possible solution to ameliorate these ill effects was proffered.

Key words: cell tower, transmission line, radiation, power density, buildings

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the study

For several decades high voltage power lines, once suspected of being a cause of childhood leukemia and other illnesses have driven down property values and scared homeowners into fearing for their health(EPA, 1990). Subsequent research has shown the link between power lines and physical ailments, and those who live near these lines are exposed to the effects. Most mobile phone users enjoy the benefits of the technology without giving adequate attention to the health implications of these phones. Most members of the public are not aware of hazards associated with mobile phones, high tension power lines and cell tower radiations which are harmful due to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure. The numbers of cell phones and cell towers are increasing without giving due attention to its hazards to the society. In recent times, there has been global debate about whether there are health risks associated with radiation from cell phones, high tension power lines and cell towers. A cell phone transmits 1 to 2 Watt of power in the frequency range of 824 – 849 MHz (CDMA), 890 – 915 MHz (GSM900) and 1710 – 1780 MHz, 1805-1880MHz (GSM1800). In Nigeria, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit for cell phones is 1.6W/Kg which is actually for 6 minutes per day usage (ICNIRP, 1998). It has a safety margin of 3 to 4, so a person should not use cell phone for more than 18 to 24 minutes per day. This information is not commonly known to people in Nigeria, so people use cell phones for more than an hour per day without realizing its associated health hazards. The radio frequency field given off by cell phones and cell phone towers is a type of non-ionizing radiation. It is similar to the type of energy used in AM/FM radio and TV broadcast signals. Unlike ionizing radiation (as emitted by X-ray machines), RF energy from cell phones and other wireless devices cannot break chemical bonds in your body. Cell phones emit low-levels of radiofrequency (RF) energy, some of which is absorbed into the body. The amount of radio frequency energy absorbed depends on many factors such as the closeness of the cell phone to the body and the strength of the signal. Cell phones are designed to operate at the minimum power necessary to connect and maintain a quality call. Cell phones send and receive radio signals from a network of fixed low-power cell phone towers (or base stations). These towers are usually located on rooftops, towers and utility poles. The transmitting power of a cell phone varies, depending on the type of network and its distance from the cell phone tower. The power generally increases the further one moves away from the nearest cell phone tower. A base station and its transmitting power are designed in such a way that mobile phones should be able to transmit and receive enough signal for proper communication up to a few kilometers. Majority of these towers are mounted near the residential and office buildings to provide good mobile phone coverage to the users. These cell towers transmit radiation every second, so people living within tens of meters from the tower will receive 10,000 to 10,000,000 times stronger signal than required for mobile communication. Buildings located at certain distances from cell towers are found to absorb high power densities which are dangerous to humans. This paper is therefore meant to determine the effects of electromagnetic radiation on inhabitants’ health around cell towers, high tension power lines and also proffering solutions on the reduction of such effects. The epidemiological evidence on magnetic fields and childhood leukaemia relates primarily to exposure in the home. The doubling of childhood leukaemia risk associated with magnetic field exposures above 0.4μT refers to the so-called time-weighted average exposure.[Draper G.J et al 2005] . In fact, there are a variety of ways to characterize exposure to power-frequency magnetic fields, for example the average night-time exposure or the maximum day-time exposure, and the issue of which exposure metric or metrics are most relevant to health risk has been discussed for some time. However new science and electricity supplying authorities claim that electromagnetic radiations from power lines do not interfere with bioelectrical life process and therefore are not to blame for causing diseases like cancer and premature aging (Linet M.S et al., 1997). Alternative research reveals that both the new science and electricity supplying authorities are misguided in their views. However, it is an established fact that a magnetic field is produced whenever an electric current flows and that the larger the current, the higher the magnetic field produced (Huss A. et al., 2009).

1.1 Statement of the problem

The world and particularly Nigeria is becoming a global village due to great advancement in telecommunication. A major break-through is the wireless telephone system especially Global System of Mobile Communication (GSM) which currently use low intensity, pulsed microwave radiation (Hyland, 2000). The market for mobile telecommunication is very big and it is a major economic driver in many countries including Nigeria. In the U.K alone, over £22 billion was realised on the sale of licences to the mobile phone industry. (Eileen, 2005). However, this great technology of advanced telecommunication system is not without some demerits and one of the major disadvantages is that of environmental and health hazards of its radiation. At present time, the greatest polluting element in the earth’s environment is the proliferation of electromagnetic radiation. It is considered to be greater, on global scale, than warming and chemical element in the environment. (Robert, 2006). The synergistic hazard effect of high voltage cable and telecom masts erected close to each other due to improper siting can easily be imagined. Although power lines produce majorly electric and magnetic field (EMF) which are non-ionizing radiation but often carry many transient which are in the radio-frequency (RF) part of the spectrum this may result in effects similar to ionizing radiation. Therefore, the challenges of telecommunication radiation should not be left unaddressed. In this research, we access imapct analysis of homes near power line and mast of selected area in port harcourt river state.

 

1.2 Purpose of the study

As energy costs rise and new sources of energy are tapped, high voltage transmission lines become more and more economical for transferring large amounts of electrical power because the higher the transmission voltage, the more efficient and cheaper the transmission. As more and more high voltage lines crisscross the nation, related public health concerns mount. There is no doubt that electric and magnetic fields can have biological effects. Yet epidemiologic studies which have attempted to detect related health effects in human populations have to date proved contradictory and inconclusive. Some indicate measurable effects,’ while others do not.5-9 This research was designed to add to the available research in this area, examine several specific symptoms which have been connected to power line exposure in past research, and address some of the methodological problems which have plagued similar studies of adjacent resident populations.

1.3 Significance of the study  

It is hoped that the result of this study concerning the impact analysis of homes near power line and mast would contribute to current knowledge on radiation emission awareness and its effect on those living around it. Secondly, the finding unearthed will be useful to government ministries as well as it regulatory agencies and power/telecommunication service providers throughout the country. This would also help stakeholders in the power/telecom sector to formulate and implement policies that will help them to effectively increase the level of awareness and developed a action plan that will reduces residents exposure to radioactive radiation emitted from this plants.

Lastly, the findings of this research will serve as a guide to future research work in this area of study.

 

1.4 Research questions

1. What is the estimation of radiation density on homes around power line and mast (Arial extract) of selected area in Port Harcourt river state?
2. What is estimation of power absorbed by a human body in homes around the power line and mask of selected area in Port Harcourt river state?
3. What is the impact analysis of homes near power line and mast of selected area in Port Harcourt river state?

 

1.5 Scope of the study

The study aims at assessing impact analysis of homes near power line and mast of selected area in Port Harcourt river state. The study covers the homes found in areas where major power line runs across as well as area where mask are sited in port Harcourt , River State. This area was selected because the researcher sincerely believed that these set of respondents area directly impacted and as such are suitable for this research.

IMAPCT ANALYSIS OF HOMES NEAR POWER LINE AND MAST OF SELECTED AREA IN PORT HARCOURT RIVER STATE

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