Effect of BTS on the quality of sleep and life of nearby residents

Abstract

<strong>Introduction: </strong>Communication between mobile phones and antenna BTS (Base Transceiver station) is carried by electromagnetic waves that have energy, according to their nature. Increasing use of mobile phones because of the proliferation of antennas the concerns about them are proposed in society. In the present study the correlation between distance from the BTS antennas and the quality of sleep and quality of life have been investigated for residents of the surrounding population. <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>For assess the quality of sleep the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality standard questionnaire was used and for quality of life the SF-12 questionnaire was used that contains two parameters: Mental Health Composite Scores = MCS and Physical Health Composite Scores = PCS. <strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of the data (810 people, including 411 females and 399 males) showed residents are living at a distance from 50 to 100 meters have the most sleep disturbance and the minimum average MCS score (p<0.05). Inhabitants who are within 100 to 200 meters from the antenna according to the Quality of Life Questionnaire have the fewer average PCS score rather than the other residents. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present study demonstrates that exposure to electromagnetic waves probably can affect the sleep quality, mental and physical life quality of the residents depended to distance from the BTS. It seems that antennas implant must be set in patterns that have the lowest intensity regarding to beam convergences for all residents.