Authors
- Adilza C. Dodea, b, e ,
- Mônica M.D. Leãoc, ,
- Francisco de A.F. Tejod,
- Antônio C.R. Gomese,
- Daiana C. Dodee, f,
- Michael C. Dodee,
- Cristina W. Moreirab,
- Vânia A. Condessab,
- Cláudia Albinattib,
- Waleska T. Caiaffag
a Minas Methodist University Center Izabela Hendrix, Belo Horizonte
City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
b Municipal Government of Belo Horizonte, Municipal Health
Department, Belo Horizonte City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
c UFMG—Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-Belo Horizonte,
Environmental and Sanitary Engineering Department, Belo Horizonte City, Minas Gerais
State, Brazil
d UFCG—Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Center of Electrical
Engineering and Informatics, Academic Unit of Electrical Engineering, Paraíba
State, Brazil
e MRE Engenharia (Electromagnetic Radiations
Measurement—Engineering), Belo Horizonte City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
f Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medicine-Belo Horizonte, Belo
Horizonte City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
g UFMG—Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais-Belo Horizonte, Urban
Health Observatory, Belo Horizonte City, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Abstract
Pollution caused by the electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of radio
frequencies (RF) generated by the telecommunication system is one of the
greatest environmental problems of the twentieth century. The purpose of this
research was to verify the existence of a spatial correlation between base
station (BS) clusters and cases of deaths by neoplasia in the Belo Horizonte
municipality, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, from 1996 to 2006 and to measure the
human exposure levels to EMF where there is a major concentration of cellular
telephone transmitter antennas. A descriptive spatial analysis of the BSs and
the cases of death by neoplasia identified in the municipality was performed
through an ecological–epidemiological approach, using georeferencing. The
database employed in the survey was composed of three data banks: 1. death by
neoplasia documented by the Health Municipal Department; 2. BSs documented in
ANATEL (“Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações”: ‘Telecommunications National
Agency’); and 3. census and demographic city population data obtained from
official archives provided by IBGE (“Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e
Estatística”: ‘Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics’). The results
show that approximately 856 BSs were installed through December 2006. Most
(39.60%) of the BSs were located in the “Centro-Sul” (‘Central-Southern’)
region of the municipality. Between 1996 and 2006, 7191 deaths by neoplasia
occurred and within an area of 500 m from the BS, the mortality rate was
34.76 per 10,000 inhabitants. Outside of this area, a decrease in the number of
deaths by neoplasia occurred. The greatest
accumulated incidence was 5.83 per 1000 in the Central-Southern region and the
lowest incidence was 2.05 per 1000 in the Barreiro region. During the
environmental monitoring, the largest accumulated electric field measured was
12.4 V/m and the smallest was 0.4 V/m. The largest density power was
40.78 μW/cm2, and the smallest was
0.04 μW/cm2.
Highlights
► Base Station (BS) clusters and deaths by neoplasia
in the Belo Horizonte municipality have been identified.
► The mortality rate has been higher for the residents within an
area of 500 m from the BS.
►
The radiation superposition near the BS has also been observed; the nearer the
stronger.
► Measured values stay below Brazilian Federal Law
limits that are the same of ICNIRP. ►
The human exposure pattern guidelines are inadequate. More restrictive limits
must be adopted urgently
All the authors declare that they have no conflicts of
interest.
FONTE : Science of The Total Environment
