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Personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurements in the Netherlands: Exposure level and variability for everyday activities, times of day and types of area.

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Bolte JF, Eikelboom T. · 2012

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Daily EMF exposure averages 0.180 mW/m² from sources you can't control, with evening and crowded locations bringing double the exposure.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Dutch researchers tracked radiofrequency radiation exposure in 98 people during daily activities. Average exposure was 0.180 mW/m², with highest levels during evenings and in crowded places. Other people's phone calls, cordless phones, and WiFi routers significantly contribute to your EMF exposure even when you're not using devices.

Why This Matters

This comprehensive exposure study reveals a critical reality about modern EMF exposure: you're being exposed to radiofrequency radiation constantly, even when your own devices are off. The finding that 37.5% of environmental exposure comes from other people's phone calls highlights how our wireless society creates unavoidable background radiation. What's particularly concerning is that DECT cordless phones and their base stations contributed 31.7% of total exposure, transmitting continuously even when not in use. The dramatic variation in exposure levels between different activities and locations makes personal exposure prediction challenging, but it also means you have more control than you might think. By understanding that crowded urban areas and evening hours bring higher exposures, you can make informed choices about when and where to spend your time.

Exposure Details

Power Density
0.0066, 0.0265, 0.180 µW/m²
Exposure Duration
over 24 hours

Exposure Context

This study used 0.0066, 0.0265, 0.180 µW/m² for radio frequency:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 0.0066, 0.0265, 0.180 µW/m²Extreme Concern - 1,000 uW/m2FCC Limit - 10M uW/m2Effects observed in the No Concern rangeFCC limit is 1,515,151,515x higher than this level

Study Details

The main goal of this study is to determine the exposure level and spatial and temporal variances during 39 everyday activities in 12 frequency bands used in mobile telecommunication and broadcasting.

Therefore, 24 h measurements were gathered from 98 volunteers living in or near Amsterdam and Purmer...

The mean exposure over 24 h, excluding own mobile phone use, was 0.180 mW/m(2). During daytime expos...

Cite This Study
Bolte JF, Eikelboom T. (2012). Personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurements in the Netherlands: Exposure level and variability for everyday activities, times of day and types of area. Environ Int. 48C:133-142, 2012.
Show BibTeX
@article{jf_2012_personal_radiofrequency_electromagnetic_field_868,
  author = {Bolte JF and Eikelboom T.},
  title = {Personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurements in the Netherlands: Exposure level and variability for everyday activities, times of day and types of area.},
  year = {2012},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22906414/},
}
PubMed: 22906414

Cited By (163 papers)

View all 163 citing papers on Semantic Scholar

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, WiFi routers continuously transmit radiation even when not actively in use. Dutch research tracking 98 people found wireless internet routers contribute significantly to your daily EMF exposure, along with cordless phones and neighbors' device usage.
Cordless DECT phones and their base stations contributed 31.7% of environmental EMF exposure in a Dutch study. These devices transmit continuously even in standby mode, creating constant radiation exposure in your home.
Yes, other people's mobile phone calls were the largest source of environmental EMF exposure at 37.5% in Dutch research. Your radiation exposure increases significantly in crowded places like public transport and shopping malls.
EMF exposure varies significantly by time of day. Dutch researchers found evening exposure was twice as high as daytime levels, while nighttime exposure dropped to about half of daytime measurements.
Cell phone base stations contributed 12.7% of total environmental EMF exposure in Dutch research. Exposure from towers increases in urban areas with higher population density, but represents a smaller portion than personal devices.