Radiofrequency Power Density Measurements of Telecommunication Masts around Some Selected Areas in Delta State

The health implication associated with exposure from telecommunication masts is demanding attention due to the expansion of networks and base station installation. This study measures the power density from various telecommunication masts of the different network providers using a radiofrequency meter, an Electrosmog from LESSEMF, USA at a radial distance of 360m around some selected areas in Delta State. The readings obtained ranges from 0.03 µW/m-2 to 5.66 µW/m-2 .Comparing the result with the recommended international maximum permissible exposure limit of 107µW/m2 reveals that the exposure levels in these areas are low and as such not able to produce significant health risks among the people of these areas. Keywords: Power density, Health risks, exposur

Evaluation of kilovoltage failure in conventional X-ray machines among selected X-ray Centers in Jos North Local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: The goal of quality assurance of x-ray machine is to obtain accurate and timely diagnosis and low dose to patients.Aims and Objectives: To determine peak kilovoltage (kVp) accuracy and reproducibility of 23 individual X-ray machine and compare their values with recommended standards.Materials and Methods: Measurements were taken in the 23 diagnostic centers (XRY1 – XRY23 ). Unfors Thinx RAD detector which served as the mimicked patient was placed at Source to Image Distance (SID) of 100 cm. At a constant tube current, several kVp values were used for both the accuracy and reproducibility test. Any results above ±5% were termed “Not Acceptable”. Data analysis value was done using GraphPad Prism version 5.0 statistics software.Results: A total of 16 X-ray machine passed the kVp accuracy test (69.57%) while 7 X-ray machine failed the test (30.43%). Also, 15 X-ray machine passed the kVp reproducibility test (65.22%), while 8 X-ray machine failed the test (34.78%).There was no correlation (P = 0.916) between kVp accuracy and reproducibility test also no significant difference (P = 0.5134). Very good statistical significant difference was seen between the machine age, kVp accuracy and reproducibility respectively (P<0.05)Conclusion: This study has shown that more than one third of the total X-ray machines failed both kVp accuracy and reproducibility test. There are strong indications that machine age had significant effect on kVp accuracy and reproducibility.Keywords: Peak kilovoltage, Radiation dose, X-ray, Unfors Thinx RAD detector, Milliampere second