Anxiolytic and explorative behavioral effects of low SAR microwave radiation exposures on Sprague Dawley rats

This paper reports the effects of low SAR MW exposures on explorative activities and anxiolytic behaviours Sprague Dawley rats. 30 rats of both sexes, 6-8 weeks old, weighing 90 -130 g were exposed to various values of SAR from MW generator model ER660E from Toshiba UK. Exploratory activity studies were carried out using white-painted wooden board with 4 elevated plus maze (EPM) holes 1 cm diameter and 2 cm depth. Anxiolytic studies were carried out using EPM and Y-maze models. The mean number of dips in the explorative study varied with time after exposure from a minimum of 1.1 in females exposed to 2.39 W.kg-1 6 days post-exposure to 15.4. 1 h post-exposure to SAR of 0.48 W kg-1, the number reduced from 15.6 ± 4.88 to 8.5 ± 0.58 in males and from 14.8 ± 1.51 to 8.3 ± 0.44 in females. In the anxiolytic activity studies, the variation in the percentage time spent at open end of maze models was from a minimum of 3.92 % with SAR of 2.39 W kg-1 in males 1 h post exposure, to 75.11 % in females after 15 days. 1 h after exposure, it reduced from 79.13 to 28.45 with females and increased gradually with time to attain the control value after 15 days. These results showed that MW exposures influence the anxiolytic and exploratory behavioural activities in rats

Monitoring of Radiofrequency Radiation from Selected Mobile Phones

Investigation of possible presence of radiofrequency radiations from mobile at distance not less than 20cm was carried out within Covenant University, Ota, using ten different handsets. Radiation measurement was carried out using a cell sensor manufactured by Action Electronic, USA that is optimized to measure radiofrequency and extremely low frequency radiation. The average power density from the handsets was 0.10mW/cm2 and 0.45mW/cm2 with highest value from both NOKIA 1100 and SAGEM My X5 and lowest from SAGEM My X1 at distance not less than 20cm. These results show that those using handsets are exposed to radiation beyond the background levels but are within the limit set by the Federal Communication Commission (F.C.C

Analysis of Radiation Dose around Some Base Stations in Ota and Lagos Environ

The aim of this work is to investigate radiation dose around some GSM base stations within Ota and Lagos metropolis in Nigeria. This was done using a radiation alert monitor (M4EC) manufactured by S.E. International, Inc., USA. The measurements were carried out on ten different masts cited in some places in Ota Ogun State and Lagos. Measurements were carried out by positioning the radiation meter at five various distances to the masts and the mean value considered. The study showed that there is presence of radiation levels from masts beyond the background radiation levels but is within the permissible limit for public. The radiation dose measured where one mast was erected varied between 0.001 and 0.027 x 10-3 mSv/week. The radiation measured from location where two masts were erected varied between 0.001 and 0.039 x 10-3 mSv/week. The radiation measured where three masts were erected vaied between 0.001 and 0.050 x 10-3 mSv/week. The highest equivalent dose was obtained at 1 m away from the masts where three masts are erected and the radiation went to minimum at 16 m away from the masts. Also, where one mast was erected the highest radiation was measured at 1 m and went to minimum at 6m away from the mast except for BS 3 with the shortest mast 84 ft where minimum radiation was obtained at 8 m from the mast. It can be concluded that radiation dose depends on the number of mast erected in a particular location which implies that the more the number of masts in a location the more the distance should be kept from them. The study showed that the height of the mast plays significant roles in the radiation incurred by people around, in other words, the higher the mast, the safer it is for those around it. Technicians should be advised to desist from crowding a location with too many masts since the higher the number of masts the higher the radiation incurred the mast should be of appropriate height

Health impact of climate change due to combustion of fossil fuel

The analysis of temperature data obtained from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) database showed that each of the last 13 years was one of the warmest years for the last several thousand years in the temperature record. In this study, it was observed that the changes in the weather parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind etc., due to increase in greenhouse gases, adversely affect human health and environment. Consequently, posing challenges to the health of humans and environment. The affected environments are extreme events, storm, crop failure, flood, etc., which manifested in diseases such as malnutrition, diarrhea, malaria, respiratory diseases, heart attacks etc

Safe Distance to Extremely Low Frequency Radiation Associated with Power Transmission Lines Located in Ota, Southwest, Nigeria

The study investigates the level of extremely low frequency radiation from power line and to determine safe distance for dwellings and human activities. The study was bored out of the fact that people built houses and shops under power lines with the opinion that the place is free. The measurement were carried out during normal daily human activity 8:00 am to 4:00 pm between February and May, 2013 when the lines are supplying electricity in all locations with power lines in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) associated with transmission power lines in some locations in Ota, Nigeria were measured using an ELF Detection meter manufactured by Action Electronics, USA. The lowest average ELF measured was 1.15 mG obtained at 200 ft (61 m) away from the transmission lines and the highest was 50 mG measured at the base of the power transmission line. It was observed that the ELF field decays rapidly with distance from source or hot spots. The study hereby suggests that erection of houses or human activities is not safe at any distance less than 200 ft (61 m) to power transmission lines. There is need for awareness on the need to avoid undue exposure to ELF radiation and strict adherence to standard regulation/policy to keep certain distance off from the power transmission lines in order to reduce the ELF exposure incurred and to avoid health challenges that can result from exposure to ELF radiation

Measurements of radioactivity levels in part of Ota Southwestern Nigeria: Implications for radiological hazards indices and excess lifetime cancer-risks

Super SPEC RS-125 radiation detector with large 2.0 x 2.0 NaI crystal and linear energy ranging from 0.80 MeV to 1.2 MeV was used to measure the activities of primordial nuclides and the radiation dose exposures rate in Iyana-Iyesi, Ota, southwestern Nigeria. The measured activities vary from 17±0.02 Bqkg-1 to 30.49 ±0.01 Bqkg-1 , 50.01 ±0.16 Bqkg-1 to 158.49±0.17 Bqkg-1 , and 406.9±0.42 Bqkg-1 to 1275.48±0.82 Bqkg-1 for238U,232Th and40K respectively. The acquired gamma radiation dose rate range from 138.696 ±2.06 (nGyh-1 ) to 350.103±7.21 (nGyh-1 ) with mean value of 148.22 (nGyh-1 ), almost three times higher than the recommended safe limit of 55 (nGyh-1 ). The measured activities and radiation dose rate were engaged to estimate the annual outdoor effective dose, gamma index, excess lifetime cancer risks and annual gonadal dose equivalent. It was observed from all the estimated parameters, those values in the study area are well above the recommended safe limit for normal background radiation. This suggest that the dwellers and those using the excavated geomaterials from this area for construction purposes are exposed to very high radiation from natural radionuclides. Further research to evaluate the mineralogy and geochemistry of the clay deposits in the area is highly recommended

Analysis of non-rainy attenuation on earth-space path in Ota, Southwest Nigeria

Propagation effects due to atmospheric gases and tropospheric scintillation requires accurate modelling in the design of satellite communication systems. The combination of the two attenuation phenomena was observed within the period of August 2014 to December 2015. The result of this paper presents the on-going observation and data analysis of non-rainy attenuation on earth-space path in Ota, Southwest Nigeria. Results of clear-sky attenuation vary between 0 dBm and 4.85 dBm in January and February 2015 respectively. While a value of 4.23 dBm and 4.75 dBm were observed in October 2014 and 2015 respectively. The results will be useful for satellite communication system design and will be submitted to ITU-R Study group 3 Databank

Lightning a Fundamental of Atmospheric Electricity

This paper discussed briefly the basic connection between lightning phenomena and atmospheric electricity. Characteristics pertaining to lightning discharges were reviewed in order to elucidate some elementary mystics that are still associated with lightning events in some parts of the world and that lightning strike when and where it will. Various lightning protection principles were discussed. The essence of lightning protection device is to prevent lightning strikes from taking place over or around an installation or structure

SOMATIC AND GENETIC EFFECTS OF LOW SAR 2.45 GHz MICROWAVE RADIATION ON WISTAR RATS

The somatic and genetic effects of 2.45 GHz Microwave radiation (MWR) on male and female Sprague Dawley rats were studied. Two hundred rats were used for this study. They were grouped into control and exposed according to the parameters under consideration. The animals were exposed to various levels of specific absorption rate (SARs) using the microwave generator, model ER660E, Serial No MX704CCR from Toshiba UK Ltd. All animals were kept in healthy, and radiation free environment with water and feed provided ad libitum. The study is divided into three parts; firstly, the effects of MWR on the anxiolytic and exploratory behaviour of the animals. MWR produced dose-dependent significant decrease in the cumulative time spent in the open arms of maze in the first twelve days after exposure and gradually increased towards the control value before the end of two weeks. It also affects the exploratory behavoiur of the animals, for the first two weeks after exposure but by the third week there was no significant difference between the control and the exposed animals. The modifications in the behaviour were not sex dependent as there were no significant differences between male and female rats. Secondly, the effects of MWR on the vital organs of male and female most especially, male reproductive functions were studied. The sperm count, gross motility and sperm morphology were determined using standard methods. The results showed that 2.45 GHz MWR reduced the sperm concentration, gross motility while increasing the percentage abnormal sperm cells. There was a decrease in reproductive organ weights and increased dead sperm cells as large numbers of the sperm cells membranes took up the eosin-nigrosin vital stain in the exposed group. Lastly, the genotoxic effects of MWR were studied using Chromosomal aberrations, single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) and direct amplification of length polymorphisms (DALP). There was a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations between control and xvi xvii exposed groups. The exposure of vital mammalian cells to 2.45 GHz radiation altered the band patterns of the exposed animals, especially in the range 40 – 120 bp. Starting with appearance of additional peaks compared with the control which was not seen in their tail DNA before exposure to MW and these were confirmed through the densitometric gel analysis. There was a statistically significant difference in the Olive moment and % DNA in tail of the exposed animals compared with control (p < 0.05). Thus, these findings support the hypothesis that exposure to 2.45 GHz MWR at studied SARs may have potential somatic and genetic effects

Comparative study of N719 dye on two different photo-anodes

Nano-composites of TiO2 and ZnO were successfully prepared using the doctor blade application and high temperature sintering on indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate. They were used as efficient photo anode in high performance dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) assembled with N719 dye. The high-density frameworks of TiO2 and ZnO were synthesized on separate ITO conducting glass using a facile and cost-effective two-step approach to compare the output efficiency. We report on the interfacial boundary relationships, charge – collection conversion efficiency and I-V characteristics of the DSSCs with different electrolytes. The TiO2 photo anode demonstrated an enhanced solar-to-electrical energy conversion of approximately 5.41 % with KCl electrolyte which was far less than that of a ZnO photo anode with KCl electrolyte which had about 21 % increase under conditions of 1.5 AM. Because of the enhanced solar energy conversion of the ZnO photo anode, l.arboreus with KI sensitizer records 9.78 % is a promising candidate for large manufacture of high performance DSSCs modules