A Study of Monitoring High Frequencies Electromagnetic Field Pollution on Urban Areas

In this paper, the results of a study of monitoring high-frequency electromagnetic field pollution in some residential areas of Spadafora (38 degrees 13' 29" 28 N Latitude, 15 degrees 22' 48" 36 E Longitude), a little town in the province of Messina with a large number of base stations, and a statistical analysis of values recorded for these stations, were reported. The measurement values were collected by means of a NARDA SRM-3000 radiation meter with an isotropic antenna that can be used for measurements in the frequency range 75 MHz-3 GHz. The obtained measurement levels were compared with the exposure limits, warning values and quality objectives established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the Council of Ministers Presidential Decree (D. P. C. M.) for electromagnetic fields generated in a frequency range between 100 kHz and 300 GHz. In particular, the amplitude fluctuations of the electromagnetic radiations radiated by the present five base stations were recorded for a long time and statistical analyses were performed for certain spectrum ranges under far-field conditions by using an isotropic field probe and selective spectrum analyzer. The measurement results for each station were compared and their contributions to the combined radiation were analyzed through a software packet to calculate the high-frequency electromagnetic field and for the interpolation points. The data were also processed using wavelet analysis. In almost all cases, the electromagnetic field values respected the established limits, but one case has proven more interesting, because of the strong vicinity of a base station near to inhabited houses and to an elementary school. In particular, in this urban area, values close to 5 V/m at the frequency of 900 and 2300 MHz were measured, very near to the limits indicated by the ICNIRP and the D. P. C. M. Further research is underway to assess the effects on health of people who live there.