Levels of electromagnetic radiation from telecommunication towers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: implications for public exposure and regulatory compliance.

The rapid expansion of telecommunication infrastructure has intensified public concerns regarding exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). This study evaluates electromagnetic field (EMF) levels and power densities emitted by telecommunication towers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and benchmarks them against international exposure standards. A cross-sectional design was employed involving 40 base transceiver stations. Electric field strength measurements were conducted using a calibrated Narda SRM-3006 frequency-selective radiation meter, while power density was computed using standardized propagation models. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (v23), including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and independent t-tests. The mean EMF and power density were 1.654 ± 0.457 V/m and 0.0073 W/m2, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between field-measured EMF values and regulatory data (r = 0.031, p = 0.788), suggesting methodological and temporal discrepancies. All measured values were substantially below the ICNIRP exposure limits. However, comparison with more stringent national thresholds indicates potential long-term precautionary concerns. These findings advance the understanding of RF-EMF exposure and underscore the need for future research to prioritize emerging communication technologies, network densification, and evolving urban environments, where meaningful variations in exposure are more likely to occur, rather than routinely replicating measurements under comparable conditions.