ID Number		1703
Study Type		Social Sciences
Model		Residential proximity to military antenna clusters in Cyprus and perception of risk from RF exposure
Details		Residents in Akrotiti, Asomatos, and Pano Kyvides in Cyprus living near local military radar antenna arrays from a UK military base were surveyed to examine correlations between residential proximity and subjective effects. Although field strengths were higher in the exposed villages vs unexposed areas (avg 0.5-0.6 V/m versus <0.01 V/m), military transmissions (17.6 MHz) only accounted for ~10-20% (the dominant sources were cell phones, towers, and national broadcast systems). The authors report that residents in the "exposed" villages reported significantly higher incidences of migraines, headaches, and dizziness (OR = 2.7, 3.7, 2.7 respectively  p<0.001 for each) as well as increased depression. No significant difference was observed for pregnancy, child birth, diabetes, asthma, respiratory problems, epilepsy, nervous disorders, cancer or leukemia, or infections. Based upon the field measurements the authors conclude that the symptoms were not likely to be caused by the military antenna. Interestingly, the residents of one village had a much higher perception of risk than another that was equidistant away, and the authors suggest the better visibility or aircraft noise in the villiage with the higher perception of risk may be the cause of the headache differences.
Findings		No Effects
Status		Completed With Publication
Principal Investigator		University of Bristol, UK - a.w.preece@bristol.ac.uk
Funding Agency		MTHR (NRPB), UK
Country		UNITED KINGDOM
References		Preece, AW et al. Occup Environ Med, (2007) 64:402-408
Comments