The Relationship Between Proximity to Television Transmission Towers and the Health Conditions of Secondary School Students in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area
Keywords:
Television Transmission Tower, Electromagnetic Waves, Well-Being, Secondary School StudentsAbstract
Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) emitted from television transmission towers has raised public health concerns, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents. This study examined the relationship between residential proximity to television transmission towers and various dimensions of well-being physical health, emotional health, sleep quality, and chronic illnesses and assessed the role of personal factors. The sample comprised 260 upper secondary school students in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multiple logistic regression. The findings revealed that living near a television transmission tower (≤ 500 meters) was significantly associated with emotional symptoms. Students residing closer to the towers were more likely to exhibit emotional disturbances than those living farther away (aOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.05–4.72, p = 0.037). A cumulative grade point average (GPA) above 3.00 was linked to a higher risk of sleep problems (aOR = 4.72, 95% CI: 1.42–15.66, p = 0.011), whereas a history of allergies appeared protective against chronic illnesses (aOR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.31–0.91, p = 0.021). No other variables showed statistically significant associations. In conclusion, residing close to television transmission towers may be related to emotional disturbances among students, while academic performance and allergic history influence sleep and chronic health conditions. These findings highlight the need for health monitoring in educational settings and further research to confirm the observed associations.
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