EFFECTS OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION FROM GSM MASKS ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF WEST AFRICAN DWARF BUCKS.

Abstract

Environmental electromagnetic fields arise from different sources, such as cell phones, household current and appliances, wireless technology, cordless phones and base stations, and have contributed to heightened public awareness over their potential metabolic syndrome. This study investigated the impact of the base station mask (≈1800MHz; 66.6W) on animal health using the West African Dwarf (WAD) bucks. Twenty bucks aged 3-6 years were randomly selected based on the proximity to the masks station for this study. The animals were randomly selected into five (5) groups, Group I (0- 100m), Group II (150 -200m), Group III (250-300m), Group IV (350-400m) and Group V >2000m with four (4) bucks per group. Each buck was examined for behavioural manifestation, physiological and sperm analysis using standard procedure. The results revealed that animals in the I, II and III had more effect (p<0.05) on behavioral, physiological and reproductive parameters while group IV and V produced lesser effect (p>0.05). In conclusion the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from base station may posed adverse effect on West African Dwarf (WAD) Bucks welfare. The findings of this study support the suggestion that a residential building be kept away from the base station masks.