Yield and Nutrient Depletion of Tomatoes by Radio-Frequency Radiation Exposure from Base Transceiver Stations in Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Abstract

Major concerns are increasingly being raised about the effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) on different compartments of the biosphere. A major source of RFR currently being widespread is the base transmission station (BTS) of mobile telephone network, involving transceiver antenna. Soils inclusive of farmlands are likely being affected by the continuous exposure to RFR. The extent of soil depletion brought by RFR from BTS was assessed in this study.

The effects of RFR were determined from evaluation of hybridized tomatoes planted on soil collected at different distances away from the BTS under the same agro-climatic conditions. The variation noticed in the tomato yield of the exposed group at the nearest distance and the contents of magnesium and potassium of the exposed groups at all the distances were significantly different when compared with the control group. It is imperative from this study to state that significant effect of RFR from BTS was noticed in plant, thus suggesting that regulations be put in place to check the proliferation of BTS close to residential buildings.

Keywords: radiofrequency radiation, base transceiver stations, tomato, exposed group, control group