Research has shown that buildings located near cell antennas experience increased exposure to RF radiation.
In a study conducted by Baltrėnas et al in 2012, RF power density levels were measured from cell phone antennas positioned 35 meters away from a 10-story apartment building. The transmitting antennas were approximately at the same height as the 6th floor of the building. The researchers discovered that the highest levels of RF radiation were found on floors 5–7. Specifically, the RF radiation on the 6th-floor balcony was three times higher than on the 3rd-floor balcony, and the RF power density on the 6th floor was approximately 15 times higher than on the first floor.
Another study published in Oncology Letters by Koppel et al in 2019 compared RF radiation from mobile phone base stations in two apartments—one with high exposure and one with low exposure. The apartment with high RF exposure had outdoor areas located as close as 6 meters (about 19.6 feet) from the cell antenna array, while the low-exposure apartment had cell antennas at a distance of 40 meters (about 131 feet). Interestingly, both apartments had good mobile phone reception, indicating that the installation of base stations in risky locations cannot be justified solely based on the need for better reception.
In a 2017 case report, RF levels were measured in an apartment near two groups of rooftop cellular antennas using an explosimeter. The study measured RF radiation from various sources such as TV, FM, TETRA emergency services, 2G GSM, 3G UMTS, 4G LTE, DECT cordless phones, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and WiMAX. The closest transmitting antennas were located 6 meters away from the apartment’s balcony. The researchers found that 97.9% of the average RF radiation originated from downlink frequencies emitted by the 2G, 3G, and 4G base stations. Excluding the RF emissions from the base stations reduced RF radiation in the children’s bedrooms by approximately 99%. The researchers concluded that the apartment, due to its high RF radiation levels, is not suitable for long-term living, particularly for children who may be more susceptible to its effects compared to adults.