Assessment of environmental impact of telecommunication base transceivers stations in residential areas

• Published in: IOP conference series. Earth and environmental science Vol. 655; no. 1; p. 12066
• Main Authors: Elehinafe, F. B, Ayeni, A. O., Mamudu, A. O, Odunlami, O. A, Abatan, O. G, Folayan, A. J, Sonibare, J. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.02.2021
• Subjects: Air quality; Boreholes; Carbon monoxide; Chemical analysis; Electromagnetic radiation; Emission analysis; Emission measurements; Environmental assessment; Environmental impact; Fossil fuels; Frequency measurement; Methane; Noise levels; Noise measurement; Outdoor air quality; Parameters; Particulates; Public health; Radiation; Radiation measurement; Residential areas; Safety margins; Sampling; Spectral emittance; Stations; Sulfur dioxide; Suspended particulate matter; Transceivers; Wastewater; Water analysis; Water sampling
• ISSN: 1755-1307; 1755-1315
• DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/655/1/012066

Abstract This paper assessed the environmental impact of a telecommunication base transceiver stations (BTS) located at Cardoso Close, Apapa, Lagos State, Nigeria with the coordinates 6°4392’N, 3°3126’E. The ambient air quality parameters: SO 2 , NO, CO, CH 4 and total suspended particulates (TSP) were measured using the ITX Emission Analyzer at four sampling points within the base station. The concentrations of SO 2 , NO, CO and TSP atthe base station ranged between 0.3-0.5 ppm, 1.9-2.2 ppm, 5.5-7.5 ppm, 101-110 µg/m 3 respectively for 24-hour averaging period. CH 4 was not detected at any of the sampling points. A digital Realistic Sound Level Meter was used in measuring the noise level. The measured average noise levels in all the four sampling points at the BTS studied ranged between 83.1-88.7 dB (A). Samples of water were collected from boreholes around the base station and were subjected tophysico-chemical examinations using the ‘standard methods for water and waste water’ 14th edition prepared by American Public Health Association (APHA). The analyses of the water samples showed that all the parameters are within limits. To measure the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the station during the field study, the SPECTRAN HF-4049 RF, an in-situ dosimeter for radio frequency measurement was used. The results obtained showed that, the measured averageradiation levels in all the four sampling points within the BTS studied ranged between 0.051-0.054 µW/m 2 . All the measured parameters are within safety margins apart from SO 2 and NO. SO 2 was not traceable to the BTS while NO was only partly connected with the fossil-fuelled electricity generating sets. The parameters of the physico-chemical analysis of the borehole water were significantly below limits.