Assessment of Electromagnetic Radiation Levels from Mobile Phone Base Stations in Residential Areas of Enugu City

Background: Rapid proliferation of mobile telecommunications infrastructure in Nigerian cities has raised public concern about electromagnetic radiation exposure from base transceiver stations. Systematic measurement studies are necessary to assess compliance with international safety guidelines. Aim: This study assessed electromagnetic radiation levels from mobile phone base stations in residential areas of Enugu City, South East Nigeria. Methods: Power density measurements were conducted at 30 base station sites using a Narda SRM-3006 selective radiation meter. Measurements were taken at distances of 5, 10, 20, and 50 metres from the base of each tower at ground level. Results were compared with ICNIRP reference levels for general public exposure. Results: Measured power density values ranged from 0.004 to 0.87 mW/m2 across all sites and distances. All measured values were well below the ICNIRP general public reference level of 10 W/m2. Power density decreased with distance as expected, following an approximate inverse-square relationship. Conclusion: Electromagnetic radiation from mobile base stations in Enugu residential areas poses no measurable health risk based on current ICNIRP standards. The study recommends ongoing regulatory monitoring to ensure sustained compliance as network densification continues. Keywords: electromagnetic radiation, base stations, Enugu, power density, ICNIRP.