مملكـــة البحريـــــن
/THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
الهيئــة العامــة لحمايــة الثــروة البحريــة والبيئــة والحيــاة الفطريــة
PUBLIC COMMISSION FOR THE PROTECTION OF MARINE RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE
/الإدارة العـامة لحـماية البيئـة والحيـاة الفطـرية
General Directorate of Environment & Wildlife Protection
FIELD STUDIES OF RF & EMF IN BAHR AIN
Mirza Salman Khalaf
Head of Pollution Control Section
Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment & Wildlife
KINGDOM OF Bahrain
ABSTRACT
The Kingdom of Bahrain with a population of over 700,000 and land area of 712sq. km. consist of 33 islands. The land limitation is responsible for having a population density of around 900 persons per sq. km., which in the highest in gulf countries. The high population density, limited land resources, fast urbanization and industrial development are creating a host of public health and environmental related problems.
The Kingdom of Bahrain like other developing countries is also making use of modern and up-to-date technologies and are using tools, equipment, and machinery for individual, domestic, medical, commercial and industrial purposes which radiate RF and EMF, which may become a source of hazard to the public health and the environment. The Public Commission has taken due cognizance of the subject and in the process of establishing Radiation Protection Unit in the Pollution Control Section of the Directorate of Environment Control.
To date three comprehensive surveys and studies have been carried out by the Author along with the experts in the years 1995, 1999 and 2001. The studies have elaborated on the hazardousness associated with the RF & EMF, investigating the protection procedures standard, prevention policies and exposure limits, as well as the adverse impacts on the people located near to the facilities. During the surveys, significant sources of NIR(RF&EMF) have been evaluated including telecommunication, meteorological and electricity generating and transmitting stations, navigational aid facilities, air traffic control, broadcasting and medical facilities, overhead transmission lines etc.
The results obtained from the three surveys have depicted that the overall measurement values from the above mentioned sources are insignificant, less than the allowable international safety limits and below the safety standard values. The survey also showed that mobile base stations and telecommunication towers produce weak RF & EMF. The paper provides the low and high measurement values of power transmission antennas, which are normally considered hazardous source to the general public.
Based on the three surveys and associated studies, the Public Commission has established the NIR standards for electromagnetic paging system, safe distances from residences and effective radiated power emitted by GSM antennae.
The recommendation include preparation and enforcement of NIR for the country, effective monitoring and evaluating procedures, creating awareness and educating the direct users of tools and equipment. The Public Commission has also proposed that all existing and new transmitting stations have to obtain a license prior to construction in order to safeguard public health and environmental resources.