Radio frequency radiation at satellite earth station and the effect to occupational workers and general public / Mohd Shaiful Asri Sulian

This paper presents on Radio Frequency (RF) Radiation at Satellite Earth Station and the effect to occupational workers and members of the public. This research and measurement was requested by OSH Committee, Satellite Earth Station, Telekom Malaysia Berhad due to concern raised by their workers and member of the public about potential health hazard caused by the RF radiation emitted at Satellite Earth Station. This study shall produce the Radio Frequency radiation strength at Satellite Earth Station and the measurement will include the electric field strength, magnetic field strength and power density at determined locations at the Satellite Earth Station. In general, results of the research indicate that the radio frequency radiation present in the Satellite Earth Station were measurable but of very low levels. The research and measurement was carried at three (3) Telekom Malaysia Earth Stations which are Cyberjaya Satellite Earth Station, Kuantan Satellite Earth Station and Melaka Satellite Earth Station. The data measurements were taken from 17th November 2014 until 28th November 2014. The result of the measured radiations is evaluated based on the exposure limits and the recommendations set by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for occupational workers and members of the public. At Cyberjaya Satellite Earth Station, the averaged Electric field for frequency from 3MHz - 18GHz measured over six minutes were found to fluctuate between 0.0856V/m to 5.7069V/m which the highest level that corresponds to about 9.36% from the MCMC exposure limit for public. As for Kuantan Satellite Earth Station, the averaged Electric field for frequency from 3MHz - 18GHz measured over six minutes were found to fluctuate between 0.0113V/m to 0.5769V/m with the highest level is 0.95%) from MCMC exposure limit for public. Lastly, for Melaka Satellite Earth Station, the averaged Electric field for frequency from 3MHz - 18GHz measured over six minutes were found to fluctuate between 0.0161V/m to 0.6782V/m in which the highest level is 1.11% from MCMC exposure limit for public. Based on the evidences presented, the researcher is convinced that the health hazard is minimized and the radio frequency radiation at Satellite Earth Station has no adverse effect to the health, and the claim done by workers and member of the public at the Satellite Earth Station is unfounded and baseless.