The mobile phone has become a part of human life. Use of mobile phones continues to increase because development of the technology leads them to be used for new purposes. In Thailand, the effect of electromagnetic wave (EMW) emissions from mobile phone base stations on human health has not been discussed extensively. Even so it is reported that EMW can affect human health if people are exposed to the high field strengths or even low field strengths if they are persistent over extended periods of time. Especially, people who live close to the base station are being exposed to EMW irradiation continuously that cannot do anything to avoid. The radiation is different from an individual uses their mobile phone which can be controlled by personal choice. It is reported that people living less than 300 meters from a mobile phone base station have an increased risk of headache, nausea, memory fading and poor-quality sleep. However, the effect of EMW frequencies used by mobile phones on human health is still unclear but recent research reports can be taken as evidence of a significant risk. Therefore, more information on EMW, which may affect human health, is needed to reveal potential risks, which should be acted upon, based upon the precautionary principle.

Key words: human health, mobile phone base station, mobile phone radiation