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Assessment of RF exposures from emerging wireless communication technologies in different environments.

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Joseph W, Verloock L, Goeminne F, Vermeeren G, Martens L. · 2012

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RF exposures across 311 locations in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden were well below ICNIRP reference levels, with residential environments reaching a maximum of 3.9 V m(-1) mainly from GSM900 signals.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured radio frequency (RF) exposure at 311 locations across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden, covering six types of environments including rural, residential, urban, suburban, office, and industrial. Exposure ratios for total field values ranged from 3.1% in rural environments to 9.4% in residential environments, relative to ICNIRP reference levels. Median exposures were highest in urban environments at 0.74 V m(-1) and lowest in rural environments at 0.09 V m(-1). GSM contributed more than 60% of the total electric field on average, while the emerging technologies LTE and WiMAX each contributed on average less than 1%.

Why This Matters

The study used narrowband spectrum analyzer measurements to assess exposures at 68 indoor and 243 outdoor locations. Exposures were lognormally distributed and were the lowest in rural environments and the highest in urban environments. The dominant outdoor source of RF exposure was GSM900, with a 95th percentile value of 1.9 V m(-1), while indoors DECT dominated, with a 95th percentile of 1.5 V m(-1). Except in rural environments, average contributions of UMTS-HSPA were more than 3% of the total field.

Exposure Details

Electric Field
0.09, 0.40, 0.46, 0.49, 0.51, 0.74, 3.9 V/m
Source/Device
GSM900
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 900 MHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 900 MHzPower lines50/60 Hz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate Assessment of RF exposures from emerging wireless communication technologies in different environments.

In situ electromagnetic (EM) radio frequency (RF) exposure to base stations of emerging wireless tec...

The maximal total field value was measured in a residential environment and equal to 3.9 V m(-1), ma...

Contributions of the emerging technologies LTE and WiMAX are on average less than 1%. The dominating outdoor source is GSM900 (95 percentile of 1.9 V m(-1)), indoor DECT dominates (95 percentile of 1.5 V m(-1)).

Cite This Study
Joseph W, Verloock L, Goeminne F, Vermeeren G, Martens L. (2012). Assessment of RF exposures from emerging wireless communication technologies in different environments. Health Phys. 102(2):161-172, 2012.
Show BibTeX
@article{w_2012_assessment_of_rf_exposures_1083,
  author = {Joseph W and Verloock L and Goeminne F and Vermeeren G and Martens L.},
  title = {Assessment of RF exposures from emerging wireless communication technologies in different environments.},
  year = {2012},
  
  url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22217589/},
}
PubMed: 22217589

Cited By (106 papers)

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Quick Questions About This Study

Exposure ratios for maximal electric field values ranged from 0.5% for WiMAX to 9.3% for GSM900, relative to ICNIRP reference levels.
Urban environments had the highest median exposure at 0.74 V m(-1).
GSM contributed more than 60% of the total electric field on average across the measurement locations.
Contributions of LTE and WiMAX were on average less than 1% of the total electric field.
Measurements were taken at 311 locations, 68 indoor and 243 outdoor, spread over 35 areas in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden.