Iranian Journal of

Background and objectives: In recent decades, progress of telecommunication industry resulted in public availability to cost-effective cellular mobile hence, boom of base stations of cellular mobile in response to vast public demands. Base stations of cellular mobile are specific source of microwave production in a certain frequency in environment. Antennas are installed on high towers to create proper coverage. General public exposure because of possible health effects resulting from radiofrequency fields has become challenging problem. The purpose of this study was to investigate microwave radiation status in actual exposure in inside buildings vicinity of macro cellular base stations in Zanjan. Materials and methods: considering location of base station antenna in city, power density of microwave around 64 base stations in indoor sites such as health care places and residential areas at different distances and different heights was measured. Measurements were performed based on IEEE Std C95.1 standard method using a portable SPECTRAN, HF– 4060 Rev. 3. Analyzing of data was conducted using SPSS Ver. 18 software and statistical tests like Kolmogorov-Smirnov, univariant variance, and multi variant linear regression. Results: It was found that the maximum level of power density was measured at a distance of 20 m from base station about 0.03787mW/m². With increasing distance from base station, the density of wave power decreased. Minimum measured at a distance of 300 m from tower was 0.00108mW/m². The positive variation of power density with height increase was shown. Conclusions: The maximum level of power density among total of 252 measurements, in indoor sites was7.320mW/m². This is about 0.166 % of the Permissible Exposure Limits of the standards for public exposure. We did not consider factors such as building location and interior furniture. Therefore, we suggest such factors be included in the future studies.