Abstract
BACKGROUND
Introduction
At present, South Africa still does not have national policies and legislation to govern RF-EMF exposure from base station. However, it has adopted a precautionary policy. Nonetheless, as the progress of these environmental wireless telecommunication infrastructures increases throughout the country, the national regulatory framework necessary for protecting the public from the possible effects of prolonged exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) exposure has been slow to develop. It is widely recognized that RF-EMF exposure is an important determinant of health and that interventions, in particular policy recommendations, are a key component by which population health may be improved.
However, the current absence of national RF-EMF regulations impedes addressing RF-EMF-related challenges. This has raised public concern as A large portion of the population is exposed to the compound effect of electric and magnetic fields from base stations, wireless local area networks (WLAN), wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT), laptops, etc. The lack of effective RF-EMF national regulations synergies between policy, research, the private sector, and the government further complicates forecasting future RF-EMF exposure patterns, which is crucial to guarantee population health. The formulation of recommendations and policies on RF-EMF interventions requires the identification of relevant data and evidence, critical appraisal, and translation into recommendations and policy. Methods for hazard identification and risk assessment of environmental health hazards based on systematic reviews have considerably evolved.
In South Africa, the environmental health directorate is also responsible for developing national policies, strategies, research, norms, and standards that govern institutions that render environmental health services. Thus, pivotal to the implementation of preventative measures on the emerging RF-EMF health risks arising from exposure to environmental RF-EMF stressors are environmental health practitioners (EHPs). Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) are key public health components in rendering environmental health services to prevent environmental-health-related adverse health outcomes. Their main responsibilities are to identify and characterize risks to human health and propose preventative measures to protect public health. Moreover, EHPs are expected to evolve
with changing times and environmental health service delivery. Despite this expectation, barriers that limit professional capacity are globally identified, particularly in scientific functions within the scope of practice guiding environmental health services. Subsequently, knowledge gaps and inconsistencies when rendering environmental health services such as the RF-EMF assessment and monitoring, the investigation, diagnosis, and addressing of the RF-EMF hazard affecting the population, public health information, policy development, and planning, evaluation, research, and continuous development are identified as relevant barriers. Studies associated these professional barriers with a lack of knowledge and understanding of the role leading to the exclusion decision–making committees.
Aim
The study aimed at evaluating EHPs' RF-EMF exposure knowledge and health-risk perception. Risk perception of various RF-EMF sources, and their subjective knowledge about various exposure characteristics and their impact on possible health impacts. The secondary aim was to describe the RF-EMF exposure levels at EHPs' workplaces (offices) and the RF-EMF levels in the general environment (base stations) in Mpumalanga province. Data collection tools used include a questionnaire to assess EHPs' exposure and risk perceptions. An acoustic meter (model AM11) to measure RF-EMF exposure levels in both the general and the EHPs workplace environment.
Results
The study demonstrates that the understanding of the potential effects of RF-EMF on health and the knowledge about exposure characteristics and levels in everyday life situations is limited, and knowledge is associated with risk perception. The regression model demonstrates that distance to the exposure source is not perceived as a proxy for health risks in all presented RF-EMFs exposure situations. It is also observed that the use of a laptop on the lap is perceived as the most dangerous exposure situation (risk perceived mean of 3.41) and watching a smart TV as the least dangerous. Cell phone signal lines are perceived to be the most intensive RF-EMF exposure source in the general environment, with a perceived mean of 3.85, followed by smart meters and microwave ovens. Less intensive RF-EMF exposure sources perceived include base stations, WLAN, FM radios, cordless phones, smart TV, and mobile phones. This conclusion leads to the devaluation of base stations as a significant RF-EMF exposure source in the general environment.
Multiple studies evaluating the general environmental RF-EMF exposure, have associated cell phone signal lines and base stations with negative adverse health effects. However, base stations, on the other hand, are perceived to be less strong in exposure by the participants. The analysis of the occupational exposure sources from each RF-EMF exposure source showed that the total RF-EMF exposure was caused by the operation of a laptop connected to the Wi-Fi router. Furthermore, following the data pattern, the data did not follow a normal distribution pattern. The laptop use connected to a Wi-Fi router appears to have the greatest major contributor in the offices, with a mean exposure of 31.84 μW/m². Furthermore, because of the limited number of participants per municipality, outliers had a large impact on the mean of time-weighted averages. The contrast ratios of the "DECT telephone" declined most of the way, from 28.46 μW/m² to 9.89 μW/m². Outliers in "laptop" ranged from 31.84 W/m² to 16.67 W/m² based on the additional study of the personal recordings. Either way, the overall RF-EMF exposure levels measured from the offices and the general environment were compliant with the INCIRP reference levels.
Conclusion
The acoustic meter yields highly repeatable measurements, emphasizing the continuous monitoring and exposure assessments of RF-EMF. Environmental Health practitioners should need urgent restructuring to meet communities' changing and dynamic needs. In addition, they require specific competencies that will allow efficient work coordination in the field.
Keywords: Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields; environmental health practitioners; exposure knowledge; risk perception; health risks.