Perceived Environmental Effects of Base Transceiver Stations on Residents in Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract

The enormous increase in the usage of mobile phone telecommunication
has led to the growing number of telecommunication Base Transceiver
stations (BTS) commonly located within residential areas, thereby
exposing residents to their possible negative effects. These effects,
especially on residents in Osogbo, Nigeria, have not been given adequate
attention in the literature. Hence, the study set out to investigate perceived
environmental effects of BTS on the residents in Osogbo, Nigeria. Both
stratified and convenience sampling techniques were used in collecting
data for the study. The study adopted the statutory stratification of the
study area into three zones, such as the core, intermediate/transition zones
and the periphery. Six neighbourhoods having TBS, comprising two from
each zone, were purposively selected: Oja Oba and Gbemu in the Core,
Kelebe and Uniosun area in the intermediate and GRA and Oroki Estate
in the periphery. One BTS was purposively selected from each of the six
selected communities. All buildings within 300 metre radius of the existing
34 telecommunication base transceiver stations in Osogbo were identified
to be 1900. However, there were 355 residential buildings within 300m
radius of the BTS in the selected communities. Therefore 150 residential
buildings representing 42.3% were selected through systematic random
sampling technique, from where household heads were purposively
selected and sampled with the aid of a set of pre-tested questionnaire.
Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics
such as frequency count, percentages, cross tabulation, Relative Impact
Index (RII) and correlation. Findings revealed that t residents considered
Noise emanating from the BTS generating plant (RII = 3.75 and MD =
1.00) and Vibration (RII = 3.61 and MD = 0.86) as the major
environmental effect of BTS. The study also revealed a statistically
significant correlation between BTS location and headache (r = 0.168**
at p = 0.000 levels, and BTS location and sleeplessness (r = 0.063** and
p = 0.000) indicate that the more the residents are closer to the BTS the
higher the level of occurrence of headache and sleeplessness. The study
concluded that BTS should not be located in areas less than 300 meters to
residential buildings.