In situ occupational and general public exposure to VHF/UHF transmission for air traffic communication.
Joseph W, Goeminne F, Verloock L, Vermeeren G, Martens L. · 2012
View Original AbstractAir traffic controllers face daily RF exposure averaging 5.2 V/m, highlighting the need for better occupational EMF monitoring.
Plain English Summary
Researchers measured radiofrequency radiation at air traffic control centers, finding workers exposed to average levels of 5.2 volts per meter and nearby residents 0.7 volts per meter. All exposures stayed within safety guidelines, providing important baseline data for aviation communication facility safety standards.
Why This Matters
This research fills an important gap in our understanding of occupational RF exposure, particularly for air traffic controllers who work near powerful VHF/UHF transmission systems daily. While the measured levels remained within current ICNIRP guidelines, the study reveals that workers face continuous exposure averaging 5.2 V/m during their shifts, with peaks reaching over 21 V/m during busy periods. What makes this significant is the chronic nature of the exposure and the fact that these are the first real-world measurements of this specific occupational setting. The science demonstrates that regulatory compliance doesn't necessarily mean biological safety, and occupational exposures often receive less scrutiny than consumer devices despite potentially higher exposure levels. For air traffic control workers, this data underscores the importance of understanding your workplace EMF environment and advocating for regular monitoring and protective measures where feasible.
Exposure Details
- Electric Field
- 0.2 to 21.1, 0.007 to 8.0 V/m
- Exposure Duration
- 6 days
Study Details
Occupational and general public exposure due to very high frequency (VHF)/ultra high frequency (UHF) transmission centres for verbal communication for air traffic control is investigated in situ for the first time.
These systems are used for communication with aircraft, resulting in different human exposure from t...
By investigating the temporal behaviour of the VHF signals for 6 d, a realistic worst-case duty cycl...
Show BibTeX
@article{w_2012_in_situ_occupational_and_1080,
author = {Joseph W and Goeminne F and Verloock L and Vermeeren G and Martens L.},
title = {In situ occupational and general public exposure to VHF/UHF transmission for air traffic communication.},
year = {2012},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22492820/},
}