S. M. Idris, I.O. Obaroh, D. D. Attah, Sagir R, I. Ibrahim and A. Abubakar
Telecommunication masts, also known as cell towers or base stations, are structures that emit electromagnetic radiation to facilitate wireless communication. These masts play a crucial role in modern telecommunications infrastructure, enabling the transmission and reception of signals for mobile phones, internet connectivity and other wireless devices. This study is to evaluate the effects of electromagnetic radiation on behavior, growth and heamatological indices of Clarias gariepinus. A total of 90 juvenile Clarias gariepinus of approximately equal body weight of (6.66 g-6.96 g) were purchased from a private hatchery in Birnin Kebbi and were transported in a gerry can to the research location, Gwadangwaji village of Birnin Kebbi. A plastic tank of 50 liters were used. The fishes were divided into two groups of 15 with three replicate fishes each, of which group one was made to be the control group and placed 800 meters away from the direct source of EMR (telecommunication mast). Group two was exposed to 18000 MHz EMR at about 50 m away from telecommunication mast. The reactions of the fishes were observed daily for 90 days, after which the fishes were sacrificed. The data for this study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for windows. The student’s t-test was used to compare the differences between the test and control groups in which P<0.05 was considered as significant difference. The activeness of the experimental fish was recorded to be very active on controlled group and active on exposed group. More so on growth parameters, the highest final weight (291.49 ± 0.50 g) while the least (279.44 ± 0.50 g) were observed in group A and B respectively. The highest mean weight (284.83+19.26 g), highest average daily growth (3.16 +0.211 g) and highest survival rate (86.10+2.92%) were obtained in control (group). On the other hand, the least growth parameters were obtained in exposed (group). The result on the highest PCV (27.10 ± 0.50%), haemoglobin (8.70 ± 0.50) and red blood cell (2.01 ± 0.29) was observed in control group while the least PCV (25.77 ± 0.29) haemoglobin (8.37 ± 0.29), red blood cell (1.77 ± 0.29) was in the exposed group. The high white blood cell (4.59 ± 0.29) was observed in exposed group while least (2.84 ± 0.29) was in the control group. The highest granulocyte count (2.7%) was observed exposed (group B) while the least granulocyte (0.9%) was in the control (group A). Conclusively, this study have shown that exposure to telecommunication mast (EMR) can induce toxicity in biological systems and it is therefore, recommended that the mass media, in their report of environmental and health matters, should also give adequate attention to issues of health and environmental risks associated with situating telecommunication masts close to people’s residents.
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