Radiofrequency Exposure From Gsm Mobile Phone Handsets in Ghana: Exposure Assessment and Modelling With Exposure Parameters

Abstract

ABSTRACT Ghana remains one of the countries in the world with high cellular communication subscription. The public is becoming more concerned about any potential Radiofrequency (RF) health hazards that may exist. However, very little studies have been conducted in Ghana on RF exposure from mobile phones. This work researched on the influencing factors that affect GSM mobile phone SAR. It concentrated on how distance of phone from the head, phone position, phone orientation and transmission channel affect the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of regulatory approved and unapproved Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) mobile phones. Even though the approved phone recorded statistically significant higher SAR values relative to the unapproved phone, its SAR values were more regular and predictable compared to the unapproved phone. SAR values were below the ICNIRP and FCC basic restrictions with the highest SAR being 25 % of the limit. SAR values of high earn phones agreed with that of the unapproved phone but rather lower than the approved phone. The study shows that, moving the phone just 1 cm from the head reduces the 10 g SAR of the approved phone by 53 % whiles interestingly increasing that of the unapproved phone by 71 %. A one-phase exponential model and an exponential decay model were derived to predict SAR as a function of phone distance from head. A SAR calculator application has been developed, providing mobile phone users with an alternative, inexpensive, and easy way to estimate their RF exposure. The work adds to base line data for regulators and government agencies to inform policy. It also complements relevant scientific knowledge expanding the data frontiers on mobile phone RF exposure.