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Korkmaz E, Aerts S, Coesoij R, Bhatt CR, Velghe M, Colussi L, Land D, Petroulakis N, Spirito M, Bolte J. A comprehensive review of 5G NR RF-EMF exposure assessment technologies: fundamentals, advancements, challenges, niches, and implications. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024:119524. [PMID: 38972338 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
This review offers a detailed examination of the current landscape of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) assessment tools, ranging from spectrum analyzers and broadband field meters to area monitors and custom-built devices. The discussion encompasses both standardized and non-standardized measurement protocols, shedding light on the various methods employed in this domain. Furthermore, the review highlights the prevalent use of mobile apps for characterizing 5G-NR radio network data. A growing need for low-cost measurement devices is observed, commonly referred to as "sensors" or "sensor nodes," that are capable of enduring diverse environmental conditions. These sensors play a crucial role in both microenvironmental surveys and individual exposures, enabling stationary, mobile, and personal exposure assessments based on body-worn sensors, across wider geographical areas. This review revealed a notable need for cost-effective and long-lasting sensors, whether for individual exposure assessments, mobile (vehicle-integrated) measurements, or incorporation into distributed sensor networks. However, there is a lack of comprehensive information on existing custom-developed RF-EMF measurement tools, especially in terms of measuring uncertainty. Additionally, there is a need for real-time, fast-sampling solutions to understand the highly irregular temporal variations EMF distribution in next-generation networks. Given the diversity of tools and methods, a comprehensive comparison is crucial to determine the necessary statistical tools for aggregating the available measurement data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erdal Korkmaz
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Research Group Smart Sensor Systems, 2627 AL, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Sam Aerts
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Research Group Smart Sensor Systems, 2627 AL, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Richard Coesoij
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Microelectronics, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Chhavi Raj Bhatt
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, VIC 3085, Yallambie, Australia
| | - Maarten Velghe
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Loek Colussi
- Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure, 9700 AL, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Derek Land
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Research Group Smart Sensor Systems, 2627 AL, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Nikolaos Petroulakis
- Institute of Computer Science, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 70013, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Marco Spirito
- Delft University of Technology, Department of Microelectronics, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - John Bolte
- The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Research Group Smart Sensor Systems, 2627 AL, Delft, The Netherlands; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Health, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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2
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Kljajic D, Djuric N, Skoric T, Djuric S. The exposure analysis of the long-term broadband EMF monitoring in the campus area of the University of Novi Sad. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2024; 200:848-861. [PMID: 38836604 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncae134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Due to wide prevalence of electromagnetic field (EMF) sources in human surrounding, EMF-level measurements and corresponding exposure assessment have imposed as an important topic. With an intention to present an approach to the long-term exposure assessment in EMF RATEL network, this paper conveys a high-level statistical analysis of the high-frequency exposure data, acquired during the 5-y time period, for the case study of monitoring sensor installed in the area of the Novi Sad University campus. Time series of exposure values were averaged on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, and their yearly comparison was performed. Results showed clear differences between the day and night hours, as well between working and weekend days. Regarding exposure values, averaged on the monthly basis, the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 can be noticed. Finally, the highest obtained exposure values (electric field squared) were 22 times below the maximal allowable level, according to the Serbian legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragan Kljajic
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg D. Obradovica 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Nikola Djuric
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg D. Obradovica 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Tamara Skoric
- Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg D. Obradovica 6, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Snezana Djuric
- Institute BioSense, University of Novi Sad, Zorana Djindjica 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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Bhatt CR, Henderson S, Sanagou M, Brzozek C, Thielens A, Benke G, Loughran S. Micro-environmental personal radio-frequency electromagnetic field exposures in Melbourne: A longitudinal trend analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118629. [PMID: 38490626 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A knowledge gap exists regarding longitudinal assessment of personal radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposures globally. It is unclear how the change in telecommunication technology over the years translates to change in RF-EMF exposure. This study aims to evaluate longitudinal trends of micro-environmental personal RF-EMF exposures in Australia. METHODS The study utilised baseline (2015-16) and follow-up (2022) data on personal RF-EMF exposure (88 MHz-6 GHz) measured across 18 micro-environments in Melbourne. Simultaneous quantile regression analysis was conducted to compare exposure data distribution percentiles, particularly median (P50), upper extreme value (P99) and overall exposure trends. RF-EMF exposures were compared across six exposure source types: mobile downlink, mobile uplink, broadcast, 5G-New Radio, Others and Total (of the aforementioned sources). Frequency-specific exposures measured at baseline and follow-up were compared. Total exposure across different groups of micro-environment types were also compared. RESULTS For all micro-environmental data, total (median and P99) exposure levels did not significantly change at follow-up. Overall exposure trend of total exposure increased at follow-up. Mobile downlink contributed the highest exposure among all sources showing an increase in median exposure and overall exposure trend. Of seven micro-environment types, five of them showed total exposure levels (median and P99) and overall exposure trend increased at follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chhavi Raj Bhatt
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085, Australia; Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
| | - Stuart Henderson
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085, Australia.
| | - Masoumeh Sanagou
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085, Australia.
| | - Chris Brzozek
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085, Australia.
| | - Arno Thielens
- Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science and Research Center, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY 10031, USA.
| | - Geza Benke
- Monash Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
| | - Sarah Loughran
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, 619 Lower Plenty Road, Yallambie VIC 3085, Australia.
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McKenzie RJ, Iskra S, Knipe P. Assessment of radio frequency fields in the 2.45 GHz band produced by smart home devices. Bioelectromagnetics 2024; 45:184-192. [PMID: 38014861 DOI: 10.1002/bem.22492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes the assessment of the electromagnetic fields produced by consumer "smart" devices used to control and monitor everyday equipment and appliances in a modern "smart" home. The assessment is based on the careful measurement of fields produced by a range of such devices in a laboratory environment configured to operate in a condition simulating high user activity. All devices included in this study operate in the 2.4 GHz band utilizing either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. Overall results indicate very low levels of electromagnetic fields for all IoT smart devices in terms of human exposure safety standards (typically much less than 1%) with very low duty cycles (also less than 1%) resulting in even lower time-averaged exposure levels. These low levels of exposure, along with rapid reduction of levels with distance from the devices, suggests that the cumulative effect of multiple devices in a "smart" home are not significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond J McKenzie
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steve Iskra
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- Global Networks and Technology, Telstra Corporation Ltd., Melbourne, Australia
| | - Phillip Knipe
- School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia
- Total Radiation Solutions, Perth, Australia
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Ramirez-Vazquez R, Escobar I, Vandenbosch GAE, Arribas E. Personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: A comparative analysis of international, national, and regional guidelines. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118124. [PMID: 38199478 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
A worldwide overview and analysis for the existing limits of human exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) is given in this paper. These reference levels have been established by different national and even regional governments, which can be based on the guidelines provided by the recommendations of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and even in the United States of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as well as, are based on the so-called precautionary principle. Explicit reference is made to the exposure limits adopted in countries or regions, such as Canada, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, China, Russia, France, and regions of Belgium (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia), where the limits are much lower than the international standards. The limits are compared to a selected set of in-situ measurements. This clearly shows that the measured values are typically very small compared to the international standards but could be somewhat higher compared to the reduced limits. Based on this observation and the reasonable assumption that the sensitivity of people to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) is the same everywhere (whole-body), we propose the idea to establish a worldwide reference limit for the general public, thus applicable in all countries, if the ICNIRP considers it appropriate. Research must continue to generate measurement data that demonstrate the levels of exposure to which we are really exposed, and with this, provide arguments to the organizations that established the guidelines, especially the ICNIRP, to evaluate whether the current limits are too much. High and can be modified when considered pertinent. To the best of our knowledge, at no time has the reference level for the general public been exceeded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Polytechnic School of Cuenca, University Campus s/n, 16071, Cuenca, Spain; MORFEO Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain; ESAT-WaveCoRE, Dep. of Electrical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, Box 2444, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Escobar
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Avda. de España s/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain; MORFEO Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain
| | - Guy A E Vandenbosch
- ESAT-WaveCoRE, Dep. of Electrical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, Box 2444, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Enrique Arribas
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Avda. de España s/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain; MORFEO Research Group, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain.
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Recuero Virto L, Czerwiński M, Froidevaux J. The determinants of legislation for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) with the onset of 5G: An empirical analysis with a worldwide cross-sectional dataset. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2024. [PMID: 38556257 DOI: 10.1111/risa.14298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The unprecedented exposure of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) to humans from mobile communications raises serious public concern about the possibility of unexpected adverse health effects and has stimulated authorities to adopt precautionary exposure limits. These limits are distinctly different across countries, and the causes of these differences are unclear from the literature. This article is the first empirical analysis on the determinants of RF-EMF exposure legislation, using a novel cross-sectional database of 164 countries worldwide. The analysis shows that decentralization and mobile competition in countries with low mobile network deployment tend to promote more stringent RF-EMF exposure limits across the dataset with 164 countries. In more decentralized countries, the regions had a greater influence on national legislation and could accommodate local demands with the advent of mobile technology in the 2000s. In contrast, decentralization and mobile competition in countries with high levels of mobile network deployment tend to relax RF-EMF exposure limits in the sample of 61 countries with fifth-generation (5G) technology. Indeed, restrictive RF-EMF exposure limits are constraining 5G deployment in a context of the widespread adoption of mobile-broadband technologies. These results should be useful for policymakers and mobile operators alike to anticipate the outcome of legislation in countries that have yet to introduce 5G technology. The results should also be useful when reviewing policies and strategies for the implementation of the upcoming 6G technology in frequency bands that will be increasingly higher (above 6 GHz up to THz for very local usage), and hence where the health effects on humans are less well studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Recuero Virto
- Léonard de Vinci Pôle Universitaire, Research Center, Paris La Défense, France
- Economics Departement, École polytechnique, Palaiseau, France
| | - Marek Czerwiński
- Department of Grassland and Natural Landscape Sciences, Poznań University of Life Sciences, ul. Dojazd, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jérémy Froidevaux
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
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7
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Rabiei M, Masoumi SJ, Mortazavi SMJ, Nematolahi S, Haghani M. Mobile Cellular Data and Wi-Fi Use Are Not Associated with Adverse Health Effects. J Biomed Phys Eng 2023; 13:497-502. [PMID: 38148957 PMCID: PMC10749419 DOI: 10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2206-1511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Background Smartphone users frequently connect to the Internet via mobile data or Wi-Fi. Over the past two decades, the worldwide percentage of people who connect to the Internet using their mobile phones has increased drastically. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the potential link between mobile cellular data/ and Wi-Fi use and adverse health effects. Material and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,796 employees (52% female and 48% male) of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Shiraz, Iran. The sociodemographic data (e.g., gender, age, nationality, and education level) were collected for all the participants. They were also requested to provide information about their smartphone use including the characteristics of the connection to the Internet using their smartphones (mobile data and Wi-Fi). In addition, the participants' history of diabetes, hypertension, cardiac ischemia, myocardial infarction, renal failure, fatty liver, hepatitis, chronic lung disease, thyroid disease, kidney stone, gall bladder stone, rheumatoid disease, epilepsy, and chronic headache was recorded through face-to-face interviews. Results 94% of people participating in this study reported using mobile/Wi-Fi internet. The mean (±SD) Internet usage per day was 117.85±122.70 minutes including 76±98 minutes of mobile data and 42±81 minutes of Wi-Fi use. Conclusion Our findings showed no link between mobile phone Internet usage and the risk of the above-mentioned health problems. As in 2021, the global average daily time spent on the Internet using mobile phones was 155 minutes, the participants' lower use time could explain the failure to show any detrimental effects. Considering the study limitations, further large-scale studies are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marziye Rabiei
- Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Jalil Masoumi
- Nutrition Research Center, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
- Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Center for Cohort Study of SUMS Employees' Health, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Javad Mortazavi
- Ionizing and Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Research Center (INIRPRC), School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Medical Physics and Engineering, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Samane Nematolahi
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran
| | - Masoud Haghani
- Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Loizeau N, Zahner M, Schindler J, Stephan C, Fröhlich J, Gugler M, Ziegler T, Röösli M. Comparison of ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels in outdoor areas and public transport in Switzerland in 2014 and 2021. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:116921. [PMID: 37598840 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Mobile communication technology has evolved rapidly over the last ten years with a drastic increase in wireless data traffic and the deployment of new telecommunication technologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels and temporal changes in various microenvironments in Switzerland in 2014 and 2021. We measured the ambient RF-EMF levels in V/m in the same 49 outdoor areas and in public transport in 2014 and 2021 using portable RF-EMF exposure meters carried in a backpack. The areas were selected to represent some typical types of microenvironments (e.g. urban city centres, suburban and rural areas). We calculated the summary statistics (mean, percentiles) in mW/m2 and converted back to V/m for each microenvironment. We evaluated the distribution and the variability of the ambient RF-EMF levels per microenvironment types in 2021. Finally, we compared the ambient RF-EMF mean levels in 2014 and 2021 using multilevel regression modelling. In outdoor areas, the average ambient RF-EMF mean levels per microenvironment in 2021 ranged from 0.19 V/m in rural areas to 0.43 V/m in industrial areas (overall mean: 0.27 V/m). In public transports, the mean levels were 0.27 V/m in buses, 0.33 V/m in trains and 0.36 V/m in trams. In 2021, mean levels across all outdoor areas were -0.022 V/m lower (95% confidence interval: -0.072, 0.030) than in 2014. Results from our comprehensive measurement study across Switzerland suggest that RF-EMF levels in public places have not significantly changed between 2014 and 2021 despite an 18-fold increase in mobile data transmission during that period. The absence of temporal changes may be owed to the shift to newer mobile communication technologies, which are more efficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Loizeau
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Johannes Schindler
- Grolimund + Partner AG Environmental Engineering, 3097, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christa Stephan
- Grolimund + Partner AG Environmental Engineering, 3097, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Toni Ziegler
- Grolimund + Partner AG Environmental Engineering, 3097, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4123, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001, Basel, Switzerland.
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9
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Suarez FL, Yepes SM, Escobar A. Assessment of the electromagnetic field exposure due to wireless communication technologies in two university campuses of medellin, Colombia. Heliyon 2023; 9:e20323. [PMID: 37809888 PMCID: PMC10560042 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) is considered an area of significant importance in the medical and scientific community. However, the availability of exposure data for indoor and outdoor locations in universities is limited and currently inconsiderate in Latin America. The aim of this work was to evaluate the electric field levels due to mobile telecommunication technologies and Wi-Fi to which students and faculty staff from two campuses of a higher education institution are exposed. Using a portable spectrum analyzer, we carried out 516 short-term measurements in the 800-3000 MHz frequency range at both indoor and outdoor locations. These locations were chosen to cover all areas of the assessed buildings. The electric field differences between floors and buildings are discussed. Finally, we compared the electric field levels with exposure limits. The highest electric field level measured was 13.97 V/m at the 850 MHz band. However, the average electric field values were below 2 V/m. The greatest contribution to the total electric field was due to sources using the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands (98%), while the contribution of the Wi-Fi network was low (1.0%). The results show that all the electric field levels measured were lower than the ICNIRP reference levels for radio-frequency exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio L. Suarez
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Faculty of Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico Metropolitano ITM, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Sara M. Yepes
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Faculty of Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico Metropolitano ITM, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Adolfo Escobar
- Advanced Materials and Energy Research Group, Faculty of Engineering, Instituto Tecnologico Metropolitano ITM, Medellin, Colombia
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Ramirez-Vazquez R, Escobar I, Moreno JJH, Martínez-Plaza A, Maffey S, Arribas E. Personal exposure from free Wi-Fi hotspots in downtown Mexico City. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:91216-91225. [PMID: 37474852 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-28839-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
In 2019, the Government of Mexico City implemented actions that allowed citizens to approach a free Wi-Fi hotspot, where more than 13000 points have been installed throughout the city. In this work, we present the results of the measurements of personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields carried out in Plaza de la Constitución, better known as Zócalo located in the center of Mexico City. The measurements were taken by one of the researchers while walking on a weekday morning and afternoon, in different microenvironments (on the street, on public transport: subway, at the Zócalo, and finally, at home). We also carry out spot measurements in the center of the Zócalo. Subsequently, we carried out a comparative analysis of the different microenvironments, through box plot and violin plot, and we elaborate georeferenced and interpolated maps with intensity levels through the Kriging method, using the Geographic Information System. The Kriging interpolation gives us a good visualization of the spatial distribution of RF-EMF exposure in the study area, showing the highest and lowest intensity levels. The mean values recorded at the measured points in the Zócalo were 326 μW/m2 in the 2.4- to 2.5-GHz Wi-Fi band and 2370 μW/m2 in the 5.15- to 5.85-GHz Wi-Fi band. In the case of the mean values recorded on the street, they were 119 μW/m2 in the 2.4- to 2.5-GHz frequency band and 31.8 μW/m2 in the 5.15- to 5.85-GHz frequency band, like the values recorded at home, 122 μW/m2 and 33.9 μW/m2, respectively. All values are well below the reference levels established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez
- Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Applied Physics Department, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de España s/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain
- ESAT-WaveCoRE, Department of Electrical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, Box 2444, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Isabel Escobar
- Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Applied Physics Department, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de España s/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | - Juan José Hurtado Moreno
- Sección de Estudiantes de Posgrado e Investigación, UPIICSA-Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antonio Martínez-Plaza
- Mathematics Department, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de España s/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | | | - Enrique Arribas
- Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Applied Physics Department, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de España s/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain.
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11
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Atanasova GL, Atanasov BN, Atanasov NT. Assessment of Electromagnetic Field Exposure on European Roads: A Comprehensive In Situ Measurement Campaign. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:6050. [PMID: 37447899 PMCID: PMC10346964 DOI: 10.3390/s23136050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
The rapid evolution of wireless communication technologies (such as fifth-generation (5G) cellular networks) in the last years has allowed connecting different objects (from wearable electronics to vehicles) and people through communication networks, and at the same time, has led to widespread deployment of base stations. Along with this growth, questions about the potential adverse effects on human health due to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from base station antennas have also been raised. In this paper, we focus on the assessment of EMFs in automobiles during short (between cities) and long (between countries) trips on several European roads. Comprehensive measurement campaigns were carried out in several European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia, and the Republic of Serbia. The results show that the median total electric field is 0.23-0.24 V/m in Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, and the Republic of Serbia. In Austria and Slovenia, the median is 0.28-0.31 V/m. Austria demonstrated the highest value for the total electric field, at 17.4 V/m.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Lachezarova Atanasova
- Department of Communication and Computer Engineering, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria;
| | | | - Nikolay Todorov Atanasov
- Department of Communication and Computer Engineering, South-West University “Neofit Rilski”, 2700 Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria;
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Ramirez-Vazquez R, Escobar I, Vandenbosch GAE, Vargas F, Caceres-Monllor DA, Arribas E. Measurement studies of personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 218:114979. [PMID: 36460078 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The last 25 years have seen an increase in the number of radiofrequency sources with the global adoption of smartphones as primary connectivity devices. The objective of this work was to review and evaluate the measured studies of personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-RMF) and meet the basic quality criteria eligible for inclusion in this Review, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, following the eligibility criteria of the PECO (Population, Exposure, Comparator, and Outcome) methodology, and the instrument for critical reading Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Español (CASPe). We systematically reviewed the works published between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2021, yielding 56 publications. Of the different types of studies in which personal exposure to RF-EMF has been measured with two measurement methodologies can be highlighted: Personal measurements with volunteers and Personal measurements with a trained researcher (touring a specific area, one or several microenvironments, an entire city, walking or in some means of transport). Personal exposimeters were used in 83% of the studies. The lowest mean was measured in Egypt with a value of 0.00100 μW/m2 (1.00 nW/m2) in 2007 and the highest mean was measured in Belgium with a value of 285000 μW/m2 (0.285 W/m2) in 2019. The results of our study confirm that RF-EMF exposure levels are well below the maximum levels established by the ICNIRP guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Avda. de España S/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | - Isabel Escobar
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Avda. de España S/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | - Guy A E Vandenbosch
- ESAT-WaveCoRE, Dep. of Electrical Engineering, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 10, Box 2444, 3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Enrique Arribas
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Avda. de España S/n, University Campus, 02071, Albacete, Spain.
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Eeftens M, Shen C, Sönksen J, Schmutz C, van Wel L, Liorni I, Vermeulen R, Cardis E, Wiart J, Toledano M, Röösli M. Modelling of daily radiofrequency electromagnetic field dose for a prospective adolescent cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107737. [PMID: 36709672 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields originate from a variety of wireless communication sources operating near and far from the body, making it challenging to quantify daily absorbed dose. In the framework of the prospective cohort SCAMP (Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones), we aimed to characterize RF-EMF dose over a 2-year period. METHODS The SCAMP cohort included 6605 children from greater London, UK at baseline (age 12.1 years; 2014-2016) and 5194 at follow-up (age 14.2; 2016-2018). We estimated the daily dose of RF-EMF to eight tissues including the whole body and whole brain, using dosimetric algorithms for the specific absorption rate transfer into the body. We considered RF-EMF dose from 12 common usage scenarios such as mobile phone calls or data transmission. We evaluated the association between sociodemographic factors (gender, ethnicity, phone ownership and socio-economic status), and the dose change between baseline and follow-up. RESULTS Whole body dose was estimated at an average of 170 mJ/kg/day at baseline and 178 mJ/kg/day at follow-up. Among the eight tissues considered, the right temporal lobe received the highest daily dose (baseline 1150 mJ/kg/day, follow-up 1520 mJ/kg/day). Estimated daily dose [mJ/kg/day] increased between baseline and follow-up for head and brain related tissues, but remained stable for the whole body and heart. Doses estimated at baseline and follow-up showed low correlation among the 3384 children who completed both assessments. Asian ethnicity (compared to white) and owning a bar phone or no phone (as opposed to a smartphone) were associated with lower estimated whole-body and whole-brain RF-EMF dose, while black ethnicity, a moderate/low socio-economic status (compared to high), and increasing age (at baseline) were associated with higher estimated RF-EMF dose. CONCLUSION This study describes the first longitudinal exposure assessment for children in a critical period of development. Dose estimations will be used in further epidemiological analyses for the SCAMP study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes Eeftens
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Chen Shen
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Jana Sönksen
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Schmutz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Luuk van Wel
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ilaria Liorni
- Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT'IS Foundation), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joe Wiart
- Chair C2M, LTCI Télecom ParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, 46 rue Barrault, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Mireille Toledano
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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14
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Hinrikus H, Koppel T, Lass J, Roosipuu P, Bachmann M. Limiting exposure to radiofrequency radiation: the principles and possible criteria for health protection. Int J Radiat Biol 2023; 99:1167-1177. [PMID: 36525560 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2023.2159567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The current paper is aimed to discuss the principles and criteria for health protection to radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) considering both thermal and non-thermal mechanisms to evaluate the reasonable level for the limits relevant to control the level of RF EMF for the general public in the living environment. The study combines the conclusions of analyses published in recent reviews on RF EMF effects and the data from RF EMF measurements in different countries to select the possible criteria and to derive proposals for the health protection limits on the level of RF EMF following the ALARA principle - as low as reasonably achievable. CONCLUSIONS Consideration of not only energetic but also coherent qualities of RF EMF leads to two different models for determining the impact of non-ionizing radiation on human health. The thermal model, based on absorption of electromagnetic energy, has a threshold limiting the heating of tissues. The non-thermal model, based on the ability of coherent electric fields to introduce biological effects at constant temperature, has no threshold. Therefore, the impact of RF EMF on human health cannot be excluded but can be minimized by limiting the level of the radiation. The limits can be selected based on indirect criteria. The minimal level of RF EMF that has caused a biological effect is about 2 V/m. The level of long-term broadcast radiation is 6 V/m and the people can be assumed to be adapted to that level without observable health problems. The level of RF EMF measured during last years does not exceed 5 V/m and the level is decreasing with newer generations of telecommunication technology. Limiting the level of RF EMF to the peak value of 6 V/m hopefully reduces the health risk to a minimal level people are adapted to and does not restrict the further development of telecommunication technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiie Hinrikus
- Department of Health Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Tarmo Koppel
- School of Business and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Jaanus Lass
- Department of Health Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Priit Roosipuu
- School of Information Technologies, Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Maie Bachmann
- Department of Health Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia
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15
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Status of the Neuroendocrine System in Animals Chronically Exposed to Electromagnetic Fields of 5G Mobile Network Base Stations. Bull Exp Biol Med 2022; 174:277-279. [PMID: 36598666 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-023-05689-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
We studied the biological effect of chronic exposure to multifrequency electromagnetic fields simulating the effects of 5G NR/IMT-2020 mobile communication systems. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 24-h radiation (250 μW/cm2) for 4 months. The exploratory activity of the animals and blood concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone were evaluated at the end of each month of exposure and 1 month after exposure. The results suggest that exposure to multifrequency electromagnetic field simulating the effects of 5G systems affected functional activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and was stressful in nature.
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16
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Iakovidis S, Apostolidis C, Manassas A, Samaras T. Electromagnetic Fields Exposure Assessment in Europe Utilizing Publicly Available Data. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:8481. [PMID: 36366179 PMCID: PMC9654131 DOI: 10.3390/s22218481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The ever-increasing use of wireless communication systems during the last few decades has raised concerns about the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on humans. Safety limits and exposure assessment methods were developed and are regularly updated to mitigate health risks. Continuous radiofrequency EMF monitoring networks and in situ measurement campaigns provide useful information about environmental EMF levels and their variations over time and in different microenvironments. In this study, published data from the five largest monitoring networks and from two extensive in situ measurement campaigns in different European countries were gathered and processed. Median electric field values for monitoring networks across different countries lay in the interval of 0.67-1.51 V/m. The median electric field value across different microenvironments, as evaluated from in situ measurements, varied from 0.10 V/m to 1.42 V/m. The differences between networks were identified and mainly attributed to variations in population density. No significant trends in the temporal evolution of EMF levels were observed. The influences of parameters such as population density, type of microenvironment, and height of measurement on EMF levels were investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serafeim Iakovidis
- CIRI—Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thermi, Greece
| | - Christos Apostolidis
- CIRI—Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thermi, Greece
| | - Athanasios Manassas
- CIRI—Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thermi, Greece
| | - Theodoros Samaras
- Radiocommunications Lab, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
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17
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Schmutz C, Bürgler A, Ashta N, Soenksen J, Bou Karim Y, Shen C, Smith RB, Jenkins RH, Mireku MO, Mutz J, Maes MJA, Hirst R, Chang I, Fleming C, Mussa A, Kesary D, Addison D, Maslanyj M, Toledano MB, Röösli M, Eeftens M. Personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure of adolescents in the Greater London area in the SCAMP cohort and the association with restrictions on permitted use of mobile communication technologies at school and at home. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113252. [PMID: 35421393 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Personal measurements of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) have been used in several studies to characterise personal exposure in daily life, but such data are limitedly available for adolescents, and not yet for the United Kingdom (UK). In this study, we aimed to characterise personal exposure to RF-EMF in adolescents and to study the association between exposure and rules applied at school and at home to restrict wireless communication use, likely implemented to reduce other effects of mobile technology (e.g. distraction). We measured exposure to RF-EMF for 16 common frequency bands (87.5 MHz-3.5 GHz), using portable measurement devices (ExpoM-RF), in a subsample of adolescents participating in the cohort Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (SCAMP) from Greater London (UK) (n = 188). School and home rules were assessed by questionnaire and concerned the school's availability of WiFi and mobile phone policy, and parental restrictions on permitted mobile phone use. Adolescents recorded their activities in real time using a diary app on a study smartphone, while characterizing their personal RF-EMF exposure in daily life, during different activities and times of the day. Data analysis was done for 148 adolescents from 29 schools who recorded RF-EMF data for a median duration of 47 h. The majority (74%) of adolescents spent part of their time at school during the measurement period. Median total RF-EMF exposure was 40 μW/m2 at home, 94 μW/m2 at school, and 100 μW/m2 overall. In general, restrictions at school or at home made little difference for adolescents' measured exposure to RF-EMF, except for uplink exposure from mobile phones while at school, which was found to be significantly lower for adolescents attending schools not permitting phone use at all, compared to adolescents attending schools allowing mobile phone use during breaks. This difference was not statistically significant for total personal exposure. Total exposure to RF-EMF in adolescents living in Greater London tended to be higher compared to exposure levels reported in other European countries. This study suggests that school policies and parental restrictions are not associated with a lower RF-EMF exposure in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Schmutz
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Bürgler
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Narain Ashta
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jana Soenksen
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Yasmin Bou Karim
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Chen Shen
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel B Smith
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Rosemary H Jenkins
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Public Health Policy Evaluation Unit, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Campus, The Reynolds Building, St Dunstan's Road, London, W6 8RP, United Kingdom
| | - Michael O Mireku
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; University of Lincoln, School of Psychology, Lincoln, United Kingdom
| | - Julian Mutz
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Mikaël J A Maes
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Department of Geography, University College London, Pearson Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Rosi Hirst
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Irene Chang
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte Fleming
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Aamirah Mussa
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Daphna Kesary
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Darren Addison
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Centre for Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Myron Maslanyj
- UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Centre for Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Oxon, OX11 0RQ, United Kingdom
| | - Mireille B Toledano
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units in Environmental Exposures and Health & Chemical and Radiation Threats and Hazards, in partnership with UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom; Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, W2 1PG, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marloes Eeftens
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
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18
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Najera A, Ramis R, Las-Heras Andes F, Garcia-Pardo C, Alonso JI, Gonzalez-Rubio J, Hernando A, Martinez JL, Marcos FV. Comments on "What is the radiation before 5G? A correlation study between measurements in situ and in real time and epidemiological indicators in Vallecas, Madrid". ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113314. [PMID: 35500852 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Najera
- Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine of Albacete, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain.
| | - Rebeca Ramis
- Chronic Diseases Department, National Epidemiology Centre, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fernando Las-Heras Andes
- Signal Theory and Communications (TSC-UNIOVI), Dept. of Electrical Engineering, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.
| | | | - Jose I Alonso
- Dpto. Señales, Sistemas y Radiocomunicaciones, ETSI Telecomunicación, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jesus Gonzalez-Rubio
- Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine of Albacete, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain; Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain.
| | - Antonio Hernando
- Instituto de Magnetismo Aplicado, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; IMDEA, Nanociencia, Universidad Antonio de Nebrija, Madrid and Donosti International Physics Center, San Sebastián, Spain.
| | | | - Francisco Vargas Marcos
- Department: General Sub-Directorate of Environmental Health and Occupational Health, General Directorate of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain.
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19
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Markussen AC, Sjoemoen TM, Unander EH, Klaeboe L. Regular measurements of EMF in a representative Norwegian city-constant exposure over time despite introduction of new technologies. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:694. [PMID: 35986226 PMCID: PMC9391237 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10231-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The rapid growth of the wireless communication industry has resulted in the installation of numerous of base stations, everywhere in our surroundings. The population is exposed to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields of varying frequency and strength. This, and introduction of new systems have risen public concerns regarding potential health effects from this RF-EMF exposure. The purpose of this project is to get an overview of any changes in exposure when new technologies are introduced. From June 2013 to October 2019, measurements were made at 16 measurement points in Kristiansand and surrounding areas in the same order, on the same day of the week and at the same time of day. The measurements are performed on the frequency bands 390, 450, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2400, and 2600 MHz. When we summed up the exposure for all the frequency bands relative to the limit values in a measuring point, the total values per measuring point showed that the exposure outdoors in most cases is less than 1‰ of the limit value. In 2017, a temporary increase was registered for most measurement points, but during 2018 the levels returned to the levels registered before 2017. During the increase, the levels were still low, around 3‰ of the limit values. The increase may be due to the fact that two mobile operators during this period made a comprehensive reconfiguration of their networks. The measurements presented in this report show that the exposure of the population is low, thousandths of the limit values, and relatively constant over time even though new technologies are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lars Klaeboe
- The Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Oslo, Norway.
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20
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Instruments to measure environmental and personal radiofrequency-electromagnetic field exposures: an update. Phys Eng Sci Med 2022; 45:687-704. [PMID: 35737222 PMCID: PMC9448713 DOI: 10.1007/s13246-022-01146-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Modern human populations are exposed to anthropogenic sources of radiofrequency-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs), primarily to telecommunication and broadcasting technologies. As a result, ongoing concerns from some members of the public have arisen regarding potential health effects following RF-EMF exposures. In order to monitor human RF-EMF exposures and investigate potential health effects, an objective assessment of RF-EMF exposures is necessary. Accurate dosimetry is essential for any investigation of potential associations between RF-EMF exposure and health effects in human populations. This review updates state-of-the-art knowledge of currently available RF-EMF exposure assessment tools applicable in human epidemiological studies. These tools cater for assessing RF-EMF exposures in human environments; through mobile phone-based tools or other standalone tools. RF-EMF exposure assessment has been significantly improved through the application of some of these tools in recent years.
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21
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Koppel T, Ahonen M, Carlberg M, Hardell L. Very high radiofrequency radiation at Skeppsbron in Stockholm, Sweden from mobile phone base station antennas positioned close to pedestrians' heads. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 208:112627. [PMID: 34995546 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In urban environment there is a constant increase of public exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from mobile phone base stations. With the placement of mobile phone base station antennas radiofrequency hotspots emerge. This study investigates an area at Skeppsbron street in Stockholm, Sweden with an aggregation of base station antennas placed at low level close to pedestrians' heads. Detailed spatial distribution measurements were performed with 1) a radiofrequency broadband analyzer and 2) a portable exposimeter. The results display a greatly uneven distribution of the radiofrequency field with hotspots. The highest spatial average across all quadrat cells was 12.1 V m⁻1 (388 mW m⁻2), whereas the maximum recorded reading from the entire area was 31.6 V m⁻1 (2648 mW m⁻2). Exposimeter measurements show that the majority of exposure is due to mobile phone downlink bands. Most dominant are 2600 and 2100 MHz bands used by 4G and 3G mobile phone services, respectively. The average radiofrequency radiation values from the earlier studies show that the level of ambient RF radiation exposure in Stockholm is increasing. This study concluded that mobile phone base station antennas at Skeppsbron, Stockholm are examples of poor radiofrequency infrastructure design which brings upon highly elevated exposure levels to popular seaside promenade and a busy traffic street.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarmo Koppel
- Tallinn University of Technology, SOC353 Ehitajate tee 5, 19086, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Mikko Ahonen
- Päivölä Institute, Päivöläntie 52, Tarttila, 37770, Finland
| | - Michael Carlberg
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Studievägen 35, SE 702 17, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Lennart Hardell
- The Environment and Cancer Research Foundation, Studievägen 35, SE 702 17, Örebro, Sweden.
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22
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Assessment of Radiofrequency Exposure in the Vicinity of School Environments in Crete Island, South Greece. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12094701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to estimate the radiofrequency exposure levels in the vicinity of nursery and primary schools at the northwest part of Crete island in Greece. Moreover, the compliance with the exposure limits, according to Greek legislation, was investigated. A total of 396 in situ frequency-selective and broadband measurements were conducted around 69 schools, classified in urban and suburban environments, in the range of 27–3000 MHz (subdivided in seven frequency bands). The measured value of the electric field strength (V/m) was recorded and, subsequently, the exposure ratio was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed in order to analyze and evaluate the data. In addition, a worst-case scenario was examined by considering the highest measured exposure level around each school. The statistical tests indicated that the mean and median values of the exposure ratio, even in the worst-case scenario, were found well below 1 for all frequency bands. The calculated distributions of the electric field measurements demonstrated that almost 90% of the latter were below 1 V/m, with the majority of values lying in the range of 0.5–1 V/m. The main contributors to the total exposure were the mobile communication frequencies and broadcasting, while the exposure was greater in urban than in suburban environments.
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Ramirez-Vazquez R, Escobar I, Vargas F, Arribas E. Comment on: What is the radiation before 5G? A correlation study between measurements in situ and in real time and epidemiological indicators in Vallecas, Madrid, by I. López, N. Félix, M. Rivera, A. Alonso, and C. Maestú. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 207:112138. [PMID: 34653414 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We have read the article recently published by Lopez et al., 2020 (Lopez et al., 2021). This study aimed to find a possible relationship, if any, between exposure to RF-EMF with some health indicators such as sleep, headache, and fatigue collected through surveys, using maximum electromagnetic radiation peak-to-peak measurements. And after a detailed analysis of the study, we want to make some comments on said publication to clarify some aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ramirez-Vazquez
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Albacete, Spain.
| | - I Escobar
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Albacete, Spain
| | - F Vargas
- Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - E Arribas
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Albacete, Spain
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Ramirez-Vazquez R, Escobar I, Franco T, Arribas E. Physical units to report intensity of electromagnetic wave. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112341. [PMID: 34740620 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work is to propose a consensus to scientific community that handles personal exposimeters, which measure intensity of an electromagnetic wave (W/m2). To express the intensity of an electromagnetic wave there is a duality in the way of expressing it. Some scientists prefer to use W/m2 while others use V/m, which is a unit of the electric field. There is also a duality in the name, sometimes it is called it power flux density and some other times, wave intensity. We believe that this second name is more appropriate from the point of view of physics. We suggest expressing intensity of an electromagnetic wave in W/m2 instead of giving the value of their electric field which is measured in V/m. There is a quadratic relation between electric field and intensity of the wave, and it is necessary to do a mathematical operation, so in our opinion, it is preferable to use W/m2 which directly gives us the value of the measured intensity. Furthermore, if the intensity is very low, it may be expressed in μW/m2 and with only three significant figures, due to sensitivity of the current exposimeters used.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Ramirez-Vazquez
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Albacete, Spain.
| | - I Escobar
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Albacete, Spain
| | - T Franco
- School of Higher Education in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (ESIME-Zacatenco), Instituto Politecnico Nacional (IPN), Mexico city, Mexico
| | - E Arribas
- University of Castilla-La Mancha, Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science Engineering, Albacete, Spain
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Foster KR, Ziskin MC, Balzano Q. Three Quarters of a Century of Research on RF Exposure Assessment and Dosimetry-What Have We Learned? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042067. [PMID: 35206253 PMCID: PMC8871822 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
This commentary, by three authors with an aggregate experience of more than a century in technology and health and safety studies concerning radiofrequency (RF) energy, asks what has been learned over the past 75 years of research on radiofrequency and health, focusing on technologies for exposure assessment and dosimetry. Research programs on health and safety of RF exposure began in the 1950s, initially motivated by occupational health concerns for military personnel, and later to address public concerns about exposures to RF energy from environmental sources and near-field exposures from RF transmitting devices such as mobile phones that are used near the body. While this research largely focused on the biological effects of RF energy, it also led to important improvements in exposure assessment and dosimetry. This work in the aggregate has made RF energy one of the best studied potential technological hazards and represents a productive response by large numbers of scientists and engineers, working in many countries and supported by diverse funding agencies, to the ever rapidly evolving uses of the electromagnetic spectrum. This review comments on present needs of the field, which include raising the quality of dosimetry in many RF bioeffects studies and developing improved exposure/dosimetric techniques for the higher microwave frequencies to be used by forthcoming communications technologies. At present, however, the major uncertainties in dosimetric modeling/exposure assessment are likely to be related to the inherent variability in real-world exposures, rather than imprecision in measurement technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth R. Foster
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Marvin C. Ziskin
- Department of Radiology, Temple University Medical School, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA;
| | - Quirino Balzano
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA;
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Henschenmacher B, Bitsch A, de Las Heras Gala T, Forman HJ, Fragoulis A, Ghezzi P, Kellner R, Koch W, Kuhne J, Sachno D, Schmid G, Tsaioun K, Verbeek J, Wright R. The effect of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) on biomarkers of oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro: A protocol for a systematic review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106932. [PMID: 34662800 PMCID: PMC8668870 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxidative stress is conjectured to be related to many diseases. Furthermore, it is hypothesized that radiofrequency fields may induce oxidative stress in various cell types and thereby compromise human and animal health. This systematic review (SR) aims to summarize and evaluate the literature related to this hypothesis. OBJECTIVES The main objective of this SR is to evaluate the associations between the exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and oxidative stress in experimental models (in vivo and in vitro). METHODS The SR framework has been developed following the guidelines established in the WHO Handbook for Guideline Development and the Handbook for Conducting a Literature-Based Health Assessment). We will include controlled in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies that assess the effects of an exposure to RF-EMF on valid markers for oxidative stress compared to no or sham exposure. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO. We will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and the EMF-Portal. The reference lists of included studies and retrieved review articles will also be manually searched. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHOD Data will be extracted according to a pre-defined set of forms developed in the DistillerSR online software and synthesized in a meta-analysis when studies are judged sufficiently similar to be combined. If a meta-analysis is not possible, we will describe the effects of the exposure in a narrative way. RISK OF BIAS The risk of bias will be assessed with the NTP/OHAT risk of bias rating tool for human and animal studies. We will use GRADE to assess the certainty of the conclusions (high, moderate, low, or inadequate) regarding the association between radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and oxidative stress. FUNDING This work was funded by the World Health Organization (WHO). REGISTRATION The protocol was registered on the PROSPERO webpage on July 8, 2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Henschenmacher
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Annette Bitsch
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Nikolai-Fuchs-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Tonia de Las Heras Gala
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Henry Jay Forman
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, 3715 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; University of California Merced, 5200 Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Athanassios Fragoulis
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Uniklinik RWTH Aachen, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| | - Pietro Ghezzi
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Trafford Centre, Falmer BN1 9RY, United Kingdom; Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy
| | - Rupert Kellner
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Nikolai-Fuchs-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Koch
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Nikolai-Fuchs-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Jens Kuhne
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Dmitrij Sachno
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Chemical Safety and Toxicology, Nikolai-Fuchs-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Gernot Schmid
- Seibersdorf Laboratories, Campus Seibersdorf, 2444 Seibersdorf, Austria.
| | - Katya Tsaioun
- Evidence-based Toxicology Collaboration (EBTC), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Jos Verbeek
- University Medical Center Amsterdam, Cochrane Work, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Robert Wright
- William H. Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 2024 E. Monument Street, Suite 1-200, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Bosch-Capblanch X, Esu E, Dongus S, Oringanje CM, Jalilian H, Eyers J, Oftedal G, Meremikwu M, Röösli M. The effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields exposure on human self-reported symptoms: A protocol for a systematic review of human experimental studies. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106953. [PMID: 34735955 PMCID: PMC8668868 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The technological applications of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) have been steadily increasing since the 1950s across multiple sectors exposing large proportions of the population. This fact has raised concerns related to the potential consequences to people's health. The World Health Organization (WHO) is assessing the potential health effects of exposure to RF-EMF and has carried out an international survey amongst experts, who have identified six priority topics to be further addressed through systematic reviews, whereof the effects on symptoms is one of them. We report here the systematic review protocol of experimental studies in humans assessing the effects of RF-EMF on symptoms. OBJECTIVE Our objectives are to assess the effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields (compared to no or lower exposure levels) on symptoms in human subjects. We will also assess the accuracy of perception of presence of exposure in volunteers with and without idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF). ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA We will search relevant literature sources (e.g. the Web of Science, Medline, Embase, Epistemonikos) for randomized trials (comparing at least two arms) and randomised crossover trials of RF-EMF exposure that have assessed the effects on symptoms. We will also include studies that have measured the accuracy of the perception of the presence or absence of exposure. We will include studies in any language. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS Studies will be assessed against inclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Data on study characteristics, participants, exposure, comparators and effects will be extracted using a specific template for this review, by two independent reviewers. Discrepancies will be solved by consensus. Risk of bias (ROB) will be assessed using the ROB Rating Tool for Human and Animal Studies and the level of confidence in the evidence of the exposure-outcome relations will be assessed using the GRADE approach. For the perception studies, we will use adapted versions of the ROB tool and GRADE assessment. Where appropriate, data will be combined using meta-analytical techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Bosch-Capblanch
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Ekpereonne Esu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
| | - Stefan Dongus
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Chioma Moses Oringanje
- Department of Biology, College of Art & Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH 45247, United States
| | - Hamed Jalilian
- Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Faculty of Health, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
| | - John Eyers
- Independent Consultant & Senior Research Fellow, 3ie, c/o LIDC, 20 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2NS, UK
| | - Gunnhild Oftedal
- Department of Electronic Systems, Norwegian University of Science and Technology - NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Martin Meremikwu
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, CH-4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland.
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Röösli M, Hahad O, Dongus S, Loizeau N, Daiber A, Münzel T, Eeftens M. Gesundheitsrisiko Mobilfunkstrahlung? Was ändert sich mit 5G? AKTUELLE KARDIOLOGIE 2021. [DOI: 10.1055/a-1545-0875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
ZusammenfassungDie Exposition der Bevölkerung durch hochfrequente elektromagnetische Felder (HF-EMF) wird durch die körpernahe Nutzung von drahtlosen Kommunikationsgeräten dominiert. Die Exposition durch körperferne Sendeanlagen liegt im Durchschnitt mehrere Größenordnungen unterhalb der internationalen Richtwerte. Mit der zunehmenden mobilen Datennutzung und der damit verbundenen Nutzung von höheren Frequenzen für 5G ist mit einer Verdichtung des Mobilfunknetzes zu rechnen. Damit steigt aber nicht notgedrungen die HF-EMF-Gesamtexposition der Bevölkerung, da Mobiltelefone bei besserer Signalqualität weniger stark emittieren. 5G ist eine technologische Weiterentwicklung der bisherigen Mobilfunktechnologie mit gleichen biophysikalischen Eigenschaften. Bisher konnten keine gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen unterhalb der Richtwerte konsistent nachgewiesen werden. Beobachtete biologische Effekte wie beispielsweise auf die elektrische Aktivität des Gehirns oder auf das oxidative
Gleichgewicht bei hoher lokaler Exposition im Bereich der Expositionsrichtwerte stellen nach heutigem Kenntnisstand kein Gesundheitsrisiko dar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Röösli
- Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Basel, Schweiz
- Universität Basel, Basel, Schweiz
| | - Omar Hahad
- Zentrum für Kardiologie, Kardiologie I, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Deutschland
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK), Standort Rhein-Main, Mainz, Deutschland
| | - Stefan Dongus
- Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Basel, Schweiz
- Universität Basel, Basel, Schweiz
| | - Nicolas Loizeau
- Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Basel, Schweiz
- Universität Basel, Basel, Schweiz
| | - Andreas Daiber
- Zentrum für Kardiologie, Kardiologie I, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Deutschland
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK), Standort Rhein-Main, Mainz, Deutschland
| | - Thomas Münzel
- Zentrum für Kardiologie, Kardiologie I, Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Deutschland
- Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung (DZHK), Standort Rhein-Main, Mainz, Deutschland
| | - Marloes Eeftens
- Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Basel, Schweiz
- Universität Basel, Basel, Schweiz
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Pophof B, Burns J, Danker-Hopfe H, Dorn H, Egblomassé-Roidl C, Eggert T, Fuks K, Henschenmacher B, Kuhne J, Sauter C, Schmid G. The effect of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cognitive performance in human experimental studies: A protocol for a systematic review. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 157:106783. [PMID: 34333292 PMCID: PMC8485020 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently assessing the potential health effects of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) in the general and working population. Related to one such health effect, there is a concern that RF-EMFs may affect cognitive performance in humans. The systematic review (SR) aims to identify, summarize and synthesize the evidence base related to this question. Here, we present the protocol for the planned SR. OBJECTIVES The main objective is to present a protocol for a SR which will evaluate the associations between short-term exposure to RF-EMFs and cognitive performance in human experimental studies. DATA SOURCES We will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and the EMF-Portal. The reference lists of included studies and retrieved review articles will be manually searched. STUDY ELIGIBILITY AND CRITERIA We will include randomized human experimental studies that assess the effects of RF-EMFs on cognitive performance compared to no exposure or lower exposure. We will include peer-reviewed articles of any publication date in any language that report primary data. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS Data will be extracted according to a pre-defined set of forms developed and piloted by the review author team. To assess the risk of bias, we will apply the Rating Tool for Human and Animal Studies developed by NTP/OHAT, supplemented with additional questions relevant for cross-over studies. Where sufficiently similar studies are identified (e.g. the heterogeneity concerning population, exposure and outcome is low and the studies can be combined), we will conduct random-effects meta-analysis; otherwise, we will conduct a narrative synthesis. ASSESSMENT OF CERTAINTY OF EVIDENCE The certainty of evidence for each identified outcome will be assessed according to Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Performing the review according to this protocol will allow the identification of possible effects of RF-EMFs on cognitive performance in humans. The protocol has been registered in PROSPERO, an open-source protocol registration system, to foster transparency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Pophof
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Competence Centre EMF, Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Jacob Burns
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), LMU Munich, Germany.
| | - Heidi Danker-Hopfe
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Hans Dorn
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
| | | | - Torsten Eggert
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Kateryna Fuks
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Bernd Henschenmacher
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Competence Centre EMF, Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Jens Kuhne
- Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Competence Centre EMF, Oberschleißheim, Germany.
| | - Cornelia Sauter
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Competence Centre of Sleep Medicine, 12203 Berlin, Germany.
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Huss A, Dongus S, Aminzadeh R, Thielens A, van den Bossche M, Van Torre P, de Seze R, Cardis E, Eeftens M, Joseph W, Vermeulen R, Röösli M. Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: Comparison of exposimeters with a novel body-worn distributed meter. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 156:106711. [PMID: 34153890 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) is often measured with personal exposimeters, but the accuracy of measurements can be hampered as carrying the devices on-body may result in body shielding. Further, the compact design may compromise the frequency selectivity of the sensor. The aim of this study was to compare measurements obtained using a multi-band body-worn distributed-exposimeter (BWDM) with two commercially available personal exposimeters (ExpoM-RF and EmeSpy 200) under real-life conditions. METHODS The BWDM measured power density in 10 frequency bands (800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz, DECT 1900 MHz, WiFi 2.4 GHz; with separate uplink/downlink bands for 900, 1800 and 2100 MHz); using 20 separate antennas integrated in a vest and placed on diametrically opposite locations on the body, to minimize body-shielding. RF-EMF exposure data were collected from several microenvironments (e.g. shopping areas, train stations, outdoor rural/ urban residential environments, etc.) by walking around pre-defined areas/routes in Belgium, Spain, France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Measurements were taken every 1-4 s with the BWDM in parallel with an ExpoM-RF and an EmeSpy 200 exposimeter. We calculated medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) and compared difference, ratios and correlations of geometric mean RF-EMF exposure levels per microenvironment as measured with the exposimeters and the BWDM. RESULTS Across 267 microenvironments, medians and IQR of total BWDM measured RF-EMF exposure was 0.13 (0.05-0.33) mW/m2. Difference: IQR of exposimeters minus BWDM exposure levels was -0.011 (-0.049 to 0.0095) mW/m2 for the ExpoM-RF and -0.056 (-0.14 to -0.017) for the EmeSpy 200; ratios (exposimeter/BWDM) of total exposure had an IQR of 0.79 (0.55-1.1) for the ExpoM-RF and 0.29 (0.22-0.38) for the EmeSpy 200. Spearman correlations were 0.93 for the ExpoM-RF vs the BWDM and 0.96 for the EmeSpy 200 vs the BWDM. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that exposimeters worn on-body provide somewhat lower total RF-EMF exposure as compared to measurements conducted with the BWDM, in line with effects from body shielding. Ranking of exposure levels of microenvironments showed high correspondence between the different device types. Our results are informative for the interpretation of existing epidemiological research results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anke Huss
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
| | - Stefan Dongus
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Reza Aminzadeh
- Department of Information Technology, WAVES, Ghent University / IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Arno Thielens
- Department of Information Technology, WAVES, Ghent University / IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Patrick Van Torre
- Department of Information Technology, IDLab, Ghent University / IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | - René de Seze
- TEAM/PERITOX UMR I-01, National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks, Verneuil-en-Halatte, France
| | - Elisabeth Cardis
- Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain; University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marloes Eeftens
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wout Joseph
- Department of Information Technology, WAVES, Ghent University / IMEC, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Martin Röösli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Tracking Devices for Pets: Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092721. [PMID: 34573686 PMCID: PMC8465301 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary To increase the probability of reunions occurring between owners and lost pets, tracking devices are applied to pets. The pet’s position is determined by satellites (e.g., GPS) and transmitted by radio frequencies (RFs) to a mobile phone. In this study, the health risks from exposure to radio frequencies emitted by radios, TVs, mobile networks, indoor devices (e.g., WLAN, Bluetooth), mobile phones, and in the use of such tracking devices were investigated. The radiation exposure was found to be well below international limit values, which means that adverse health effects are unlikely to occur. The risk of high exposure of pets is mainly caused by indoor RF-emitting devices, such as WLAN devices. This exposure can be limited through a reduction in the exposure time and an increase in the distance between the animal and the RF-emitting device. Even though the exposure of pets to total radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels was found to be below the limit values—and, therefore, not a health risk—recommendations are given for the use of tracking devices and to limit the exposure to indoor devices. Abstract Every year, approximately 3% of cats and dogs are lost. In addition to passive methods for identifying pets, radiofrequency tracking devices (TDs) are available. These TDs can track a pet’s geographic position, which is transmitted by radio frequencies. The health risk to the animals from continuous exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) was reviewed. Fourteen out of twenty-one commercially available TDs use 2G, 3G, or 4G mobile networks, and the others work with public frequencies, WLAN, Bluetooth, etc. The exposure of pets to RF-EMFs was assessed, including ambient exposure (radios, TVs, and base stations of mobile networks), exposure from indoor devices (DECT, WLAN, Bluetooth, etc.), and the exposure from TDs. The exposure levels of the three areas were found to be distinctly below the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) reference levels, which assure far-reaching protection from adverse health effects. The highest uncertainty regarding the exposure of pets was related to that caused by indoor RF-emitting devices using WLAN and DECT. This exposure can be limited considerably through a reduction in the exposure time and an increase in the distance between the animal and the RF-emitting device. Even though the total RF-EMF exposure level experienced by pets was found to be below the reference limits, recommendations were derived to reduce potential risks from exposure to TDs and indoor devices.
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Yu G, Bai Z, Song C, Cheng Q, Wang G, Tang Z, Yang S. Current progress on the effect of mobile phone radiation on sperm quality: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of human and animal studies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 282:116952. [PMID: 33862271 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Potential suppression of fertility due to mobile phone radiation remains a focus of researchers. We conducted meta-analyses on the effects of mobile phone radiation on sperm quality using recent evidence and propose some perspectives on this issue. Using the MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, WOS, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases, we retrieved and screened studies published before December 2020 on the effects of mobile phone use/mobile phone RF-EMR on sperm quality. Thirty-nine studies were included. Data quality and general information of the studies were evaluated and recorded. Sperm quality data (density, motility, viability, morphology, and DFI) were compiled for further analyses, and we conducted subgroup, sensitivity, and publication bias analyses. The pooled results of human cross-sectional studies did not support an association of mobile phone use and a decline in sperm quality. Different study areas contributed to the heterogeneity of the studies. In East Europe and West Asia, mobile phone use was correlated with a decline in sperm density and motility. Mobile phone RF-EMR exposure could decrease the motility and viability of mature human sperm in vitro. The pooled results of animal studies showed that mobile phone RF-EMR exposure could suppress sperm motility and viability. Furthermore, it reduced sperm density in mice, in rats older than 10 weeks, and in rats restrained during exposure. Differences regarding age, modeling method, exposure device, and exposure time contributed to the heterogeneity of animal studies. Previous studies have extensively investigated and demonstrated the adverse effects of mobile phone radiation on sperm. In the future, new standardized criteria should be applied to evaluate potential effects of mobile phone RF-EMR dosages. Further sperm-related parameters at the functional and molecular levels as well as changes in biological characteristics of germ cells should be evaluated. Moreover, the impact of mobile phone RF-EMR on individual organs should also be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Yu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiming Bai
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Haikou, China; Haikou Center for Medical Synchrotron Radiation Research, Haikou People's Hospital, Haikou, China
| | - Chao Song
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing Cheng
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Haikou, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Haikou Hospital of Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, Haikou, China
| | - Zeping Tang
- Guangdong Environmental Radiation Monitoring Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sixing Yang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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Drobakhin OO, Magro VI, Kosharnyi VV, Rutgaizer VH, Abdul-Ohly LV. The influence of microwave electromagnetic radiation on rat heart morphogenesis during thyroidectomy. REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN BIOSYSTEMS 2021. [DOI: 10.15421/022121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
It is known that electromagnetic radiation affects the functional systems of living beings, in particular, the endocrine and cardiovascular systems and directly the heart cells and their functioning. In this case, the influence of electromagnetic radiation significantly affects the properties of the cardiovascular system and changes physiological processes in it. Moreover, sensitivity to signals is higher for biosystems with a higher level of organization. The method of simulating hypothyroidism for rats makes it possible to develop an experimental model for analyzing morphogenetic changes in the rat heart. Under conditions of hypothyroidism modeling, destructive changes in muscle fibers are observed in the myocardium after thyroidectomy, but after microwave irradiation with an exposure of 45 minutes, a regenerative-compensatory reconstruction of the structural components of the myocardium of the heart wall occurs. After thyroidectomy and microwave irradiation with an exposure of 120 minutes, an increase in degenerative and destructive processes in the heart myocardium was observed. For the first time, a comparative ultramicroscopic study using electron microscopy was carried out. It showed that after electromagnetic irradiation with an exposure of 45 minutes, the general structure of the mitochondrial apparatus does not change. Irradiation with an exposure of 120 minutes causes the destruction of subsarcolemal and paranuclear organelles, edema and degradation of intermyofibrillar mitochondria. After exposure to electromagnetic radiation with the exposure of 45 minutes in a hypothyroid state, a compensatory restructuring of the energy apparatus of the contractile cardiomyocytes of the left ventricle occurs due to the formation of mitochondria and an increase in their contact interaction. After exposure to radiation for 120 minutes, the development of destructive-degenerative processes in the mitochondrial apparatus of left ventricular cardiomyocytes, deepening of damage to intermitochondrial contacts was observed. The most significant increase in the relative volume of the endothelium in the areas of the rat heart myocardium was observed for the case of microwave irradiation only (without experimental hypothyroidism) with exposure duration of 45 minutes. Immunohistochemical study both for the case of microwave irradiation only and for the case of microwave irradiation under conditions of experimental hypothyroidism allows us to conclude that morphogenetic transformations are highly active in the myocardium of the heart when the duration of exposure is 45 minutes. This study will make it possible to develop recommendations for persons with thyroid diseases on the duration of daily exposure of staying in electromagnetic field emitted by devices with characteristics similar to the case under study.
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Keshmiri S, Gholampour N, Mohtashami V. ASSESSING THE COMPLIANCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS RADIATED BY BASE STATIONS AND WIFI ACCESS POINTS WITH INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS. RADIATION PROTECTION DOSIMETRY 2020; 192:1-13. [PMID: 33230555 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncaa183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents a series of electromagnetic field measurements performed on the campus of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in order to assess the compliance of radiation levels of cellular base stations and WiFi access points with international guidelines. A calibrated, broadband and isotropic probe is used and recommendations of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are followed up throughout measurements. More than 300 outdoor and indoor locations have been systematically chosen for measurements. The recorded data are post-processed and compared with the guideline of International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Measured power densities of WiFi access points are low and do not exceed 1% of the level allowed by ICNIRP. For cellular base stations, measured power density is usually low outdoors, but reaches up to 16% of the allowed radiation level in publicly accessible indoor locations. Comprehensive exposure assessment, as recommended by ITU, has been performed to estimate the maximum possible radiation of one indoor base station. It is concluded that precautionary actions have to be taken by university authorities to limit the presence of students in close proximity to specific indoor antennas. Moreover, comprehensive exposure assessment is more likely necessary for indoor base stations whereas such assessment is not usually required outdoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajedeh Keshmiri
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, 9177948944 Mashhad, Iran
| | - Neda Gholampour
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, 9177948944 Mashhad, Iran
| | - Vahid Mohtashami
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan Province, 9177948944 Mashhad, Iran
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Zradziński P, Karpowicz J, Gryz K, Morzyński L, Młyński R, Swidziński A, Godziszewski K, Ramos V. Modelling the Influence of Electromagnetic Field on the User of a Wearable IoT Device Used in a WSN for Monitoring and Reducing Hazards in the Work Environment. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 20:E7131. [PMID: 33322725 PMCID: PMC7763899 DOI: 10.3390/s20247131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption in a user's head of an electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by the Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth module of a wearable small Internet of Things (IoT) electronic device (emitting EMF of up to 100 mW), in order to test the hypothesis that EMF has an insignificant influence on humans, and to compare the levels of such EMF absorption in various scenarios when using this device. The modelled EMF source was a meandered inverted-F antenna (MIFA)-type antenna of the ESP32-WROOM-32 radio module used in wearable devices developed within the reported study. To quantify the EMF absorption, the specific energy absorption rate (SAR) values were calculated in a multi-layer ellipsoidal model of the human head (involving skin, fat, skull bones and brain layers). The obtained results show up to 10 times higher values of SAR from the MIFA located in the headband, in comparison to its location on the helmet. Only wearable IoT devices (similar in construction and way of use to the investigated device) emitting at below 3 mW equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) from Wi-Fi/Bluetooth communications modules may be considered environmentally insignificant EMF sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patryk Zradziński
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection—National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa, Poland; (J.K.); (K.G.)
| | - Jolanta Karpowicz
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection—National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa, Poland; (J.K.); (K.G.)
| | - Krzysztof Gryz
- Laboratory of Electromagnetic Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection—National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa, Poland; (J.K.); (K.G.)
| | - Leszek Morzyński
- Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection—National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa, Poland; (L.M.); (R.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Rafał Młyński
- Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection—National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa, Poland; (L.M.); (R.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Adam Swidziński
- Department of Vibroacoustic Hazards, Central Institute for Labour Protection—National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa, Poland; (L.M.); (R.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Konrad Godziszewski
- Institute of Radioelectronics and Multimedia Technology, Warsaw University of Technology, Nowowiejska 15/19, 00-665 Warszawa, Poland;
| | - Victoria Ramos
- Telemedicine and e-Health Research Unit, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Avda. Monforte de Lemos, 5, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
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Kiouvrekis Y, Manios G, Tsitsia V, Gourzoulidis G, Kappas C. A statistical analysis for RF-EMF exposure levels in sensitive land use: A novel study in Greek primary and secondary education schools. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 191:109940. [PMID: 33181972 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The increasing popularity of mobile phones and the expansion of network infrastructure in Greece have given rise to public concerns about potential adverse health effects on sensitive groups, such as children, from long-term radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) exposure. According to Greek law the RF limit values for sensitive land use (schools, hospitals, etc) have been set to 60% of those recommended by EU standard and 70% for the general population. AIMS The objective of this study is to estimate mean RF-EMF exposure levels of Greek primary and secondary edu-cation schools located in urban environments. METHODS In selecting the minimum sample size we observed that the variance of the random variable was unknown, as there has been no similar previous study in Greece with schools as the target population. For this reason, a pilot study was conducted in 65 schools in order to estimate the standard deviation of the population and use that value to calculate the minimum sample size. Using a random machine num-ber generator contracted in R based on pseudo-random number algorithms, we obtained a sample of 492 schools in order to estimate the mean value for RF-EMF radiation sources in the 27 MHz-3GHz range in schools within urban environments in Greece. RESULTS We have performed the appropriate hypothesis test to get that there is sufficient evidence at the α = 0.05 level to conclude that the mean value for RF-EMF radiation sources in the 27 MHz-3GHz range, in schools within urban environments in Greece, is equal to 0.42 V/m, also a 95% confidence interval for the mean value is (0.4024, 0.4395)] with central value equal to the sample mean 0.4209. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the exposure level in the locations tested are both below 60% of the highest limit set by ICNIRP (International Commision on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) regarding sensitive land use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiannis Kiouvrekis
- Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece; University of West Attica, Department of BioMedical Sciences, Athens, Greece; University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Georgios Manios
- Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
| | | | - Georgios Gourzoulidis
- Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece; Research and Measurements Center of OHS Hazardous Agents, OHS Directorate, Hellenic Ministry of Labor, Athens, Greece.
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Shih YW, O'Brien AP, Hung CS, Chen KH, Hou WH, Tsai HT. Exposure to radiofrequency radiation increases the risk of breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Exp Ther Med 2020; 21:23. [PMID: 33262809 PMCID: PMC7690245 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The present systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the association between exposure to radiofrequency radiation and the risk of breast cancer. The published studies that were available in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, Airiti Library, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations and ProQuest until May 2020 were investigated. A total of eight studies (four case-control and four cohort studies) were eligible for quantitative analysis. A significant association between radiofrequency radiation exposure and breast cancer risk was detected [pooled relative risk (RR)=1.189; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.056-1.339]. Subgroup analyses indicated that radiofrequency radiation exposure significantly increased the risk of breast cancer susceptibility among subjects aged ≥50 years (RR=2.179; 95% CI, 1.260-3.770). Pooled estimates revealed that the use of electrical appliances, which emit radiofrequency radiation, such as mobile phones and computers, significantly increased breast cancer development (RR=2.057; 95% CI, 1.272-3.327), while occupational radiofrequency exposure and transmitters did not increase breast cancer development (RR=1.274; 95% CI, 0.956-1.697; RR=1.133; 95% CI, 0.987-1.300, respectively). It was concluded that radiofrequency radiation exposure significantly increased the risk of breast cancer, especially in women aged ≥50 years and in individuals who used electric appliances, such as mobile phones and computers. In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis, an evaluation protocol was prepared and registered with the PROSPERO database (registration no. CRD42018087283).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Wen Shih
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Anthony Paul O'Brien
- Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, Australia
| | - Chin-Sheng Hung
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Kee-Hsin Chen
- Post-Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Center for Nursing and Healthcare Research in Clinical Practice Application, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Evidence-based Knowledge Translation Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Wen-Hsuan Hou
- Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation/Center of Evidence-Based Medicine in Department of Education, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Master Program in Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C
| | - Hsiu-Ting Tsai
- School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C.,Post-Baccalaureate Program in Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan R.O.C
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Kacprzyk A, Kocoń S, Składzień J, Rokita E, Pawlak R, Kwiecień J, Tatoń G. Does the short-term exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic field originating from mobile phone affect auditory functions as measured by Acoustic Admittance and Evoked Otoacoustic Emission tests? Electromagn Biol Med 2020; 39:411-418. [PMID: 32993394 DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2020.1826960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile phones constitute an important source of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) for humans. Taking into account high sensitivity of sensory hair cells of the inner ear to endogenous and exogenous agents, the potential impact of mobile phone usage on auditory organs is of particular interest. AIM The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of short-term exposure to RF-EMF generated by a mobile phone during 15-minute simulated phone call on human hearing as measured by Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emission (TEOAE) and Acoustic Admittance Testing (AAT). MATERIAL AND METHODS Within-subject study was performed on 23 healthy volunteers. All of the participants underwent TEOAE and AAT before and immediately after 15-minute simulated phone call with the use of a standard, modern smartphone. Analyzed parameters included: static compliance of tympanic membrane, middle ear pressure, ipsi- and contralateral acoustic reflex thresholds and percentage of signal reproducibility in TEOAE for exposed and non-exposed ear. Additionally, the results were compared in subgroups distinguished basing on self-reported sensitivity to RF-EMF originating from mobile phones. RESULTS No statistically significant differences were identified between results of TEOAE and AAT before and after exposure, both in exposed and non-exposed ear. The results of EMF sensitive and non-sensitive subjects were comparable in all performed tests. CONCLUSIONS Short-term exposure to mobile phone electromagnetic field did not influence auditory functions as measured by Evoked Otoacoustic Emission test and Acoustic Admittance Testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Kacprzyk
- Department of Biophysics, Chair of Physiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College , Cracow, Poland.,Doctoral School in Medical and Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College , Cracow, Poland
| | - Sebastian Kocoń
- Department of Otolaryngology, Jagiellonian University Medical College , Cracow, Poland
| | - Jacek Składzień
- Department of Otolaryngology, Jagiellonian University Medical College , Cracow, Poland
| | - Eugeniusz Rokita
- Department of Biophysics, Chair of Physiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College , Cracow, Poland
| | - Rafał Pawlak
- National Institute of Telecommunications, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Kwiecień
- National Institute of Telecommunications, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Tatoń
- Department of Biophysics, Chair of Physiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College , Cracow, Poland
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Tyrakis C, Gourzoulidis GA, Kiouvrekis Y, Alexias A, Alkhorayef M, Sulieman A, Kappas C. Radiofrequency Exposure in Schools' Environment Reveals Spectrum Characteristics: The Role of Public Information. Bioelectromagnetics 2020; 41:558-564. [DOI: 10.1002/bem.22286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charilaos Tyrakis
- Department of Medical Physics Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
| | - Georgios A. Gourzoulidis
- Department of Medical Physics Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
- Research and Measurements Center of OHS Hazardous Agents OHS Directorate, Hellenic Ministry of Labor Athens Greece
| | - Yiannis Kiouvrekis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences University of West Attica Athens Greece
- University of Nicosia Nicosia Cyprus
| | - Aris Alexias
- Department of Medical Physics Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
| | - Mohammed Alkhorayef
- Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences King Saud University Riyadh Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdelmoneim Sulieman
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, College of Applied Medical Sciences Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University Al‐Kharj Saudi Arabia
| | - Constantin Kappas
- Department of Medical Physics Faculty of Medicine University of Thessaly Larissa Greece
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Bushberg JT, Chou CK, Foster KR, Kavet R, Maxson DP, Tell RA, Ziskin MC. IEEE Committee on Man and Radiation-COMAR Technical Information Statement: Health and Safety Issues Concerning Exposure of the General Public to Electromagnetic Energy from 5G Wireless Communications Networks. HEALTH PHYSICS 2020; 119:236-246. [PMID: 32576739 PMCID: PMC7337122 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000001301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This COMAR Technical Information Statement (TIS) addresses health and safety issues concerning exposure of the general public to radiofrequency (RF) fields from 5G wireless communications networks, the expansion of which started on a large scale in 2018 to 2019. 5G technology can transmit much greater amounts of data at much higher speeds for a vastly expanded array of applications compared with preceding 2-4G systems; this is due, in part, to using the greater bandwidth available at much higher frequencies than those used by most existing networks. Although the 5G engineering standard may be deployed for operating networks currently using frequencies extending from 100s to 1,000s of MHz, it can also operate in the 10s of GHz where the wavelengths are 10 mm or less, the so-called millimeter wave (MMW) band. Until now, such fields were found in a limited number of applications (e.g., airport scanners, automotive collision avoidance systems, perimeter surveillance radar), but the rapid expansion of 5G will produce a more ubiquitous presence of MMW in the environment. While some 5G signals will originate from small antennas placed on existing base stations, most will be deployed with some key differences relative to typical transmissions from 2-4G base stations. Because MMW do not penetrate foliage and building materials as well as signals at lower frequencies, the networks will require "densification," the installation of many lower power transmitters (often called "small cells" located mainly on buildings and utility poles) to provide for effective indoor coverage. Also, "beamforming" antennas on some 5G systems will transmit one or more signals directed to individual users as they move about, thus limiting exposures to non-users. In this paper, COMAR notes the following perspectives to address concerns expressed about possible health effects of RF field exposure from 5G technology. First, unlike lower frequency fields, MMW do not penetrate beyond the outer skin layers and thus do not expose inner tissues to MMW. Second, current research indicates that overall levels of exposure to RF are unlikely to be significantly altered by 5G, and exposure will continue to originate mostly from the "uplink" signals from one's own device (as they do now). Third, exposure levels in publicly accessible spaces will remain well below exposure limits established by international guideline and standard setting organizations, including ICNIRP and IEEE. Finally, so long as exposures remain below established guidelines, the research results to date do not support a determination that adverse health effects are associated with RF exposures, including those from 5G systems. While it is acknowledged that the scientific literature on MMW biological effect research is more limited than that for lower frequencies, we also note that it is of mixed quality and stress that future research should use appropriate precautions to enhance validity. The authorship of this paper includes a physician/biologist, epidemiologist, engineers, and physical scientists working voluntarily and collaboratively on a consensus basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J T Bushberg
- Committee on Man and Radiation (COMAR), IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society
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Kurnaz C, Mutlu M. Comprehensive radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurements and assessments: a city center example. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:334. [PMID: 32382839 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08312-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) measurements were carried out between 2016 and 2018 in one the largest provinces of Turkey; measurement results are compared with the limit values determined by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA). In the first stage of a three-phase evaluation, short-term RF-EMF measurements were conducted in 500 locations over a 2-year period. In the second stage, short-term RF-EMF measurement results were analyzed to determine selected locations for long-term RF-EMF measurements to be carried out, including variation of RF-EMF during the day. In the last stage, band selective measurements were taken and the main sources of RF-EMF in the environment were determined. Overall, RF-EMF values do not exceed the limits determined by ICNIRP and ICTA, and they are below levels that threaten public health. In the short-term RF-EMF measurements, RF-EMF levels doubled after fourth generation (4G) systems were introduced. In the long-term RF-EMF measurements, RF-EMF values in the day are 35.4% more than at night. The total measured RF-EMF within the city center is 99.3% base station sourced. Among the six main RF-EMF sources, the devices operating in UMTS2100 band have the most contribution to total RF-EMF of medium with 31.2%. Additionally, we found short-term average electric field strength data are best described by the "exponential distribution," while long-term RF-EMF measurement data is best described by the "Burr distribution."
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Affiliation(s)
- Cetin Kurnaz
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
| | - Mustafa Mutlu
- Vocational School of Technical Sciences, Ordu University, Ordu, Turkey
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Paniagua JM, Rufo M, Jiménez A, Antolín A. Dimensionless coefficients for assessing human exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic fields indoors and outdoors in urban areas. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 183:109188. [PMID: 32032813 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 01/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The main objective of this work was to evaluate human exposure to electromagnetic fields in a city of about one hundred thousand inhabitants, both inside and outside dwellings, using exposure quotients. To this end, a personal exposure meter was used, collecting data in different frequency bands, including radio and television broadcasting, mobile telephony, cordless telephones, and wireless communication networks. The indoor measurements were made with the exposure meter in a static position. Those outdoor were made by walking around the building with the exposure meter held by the operator. The median electric field was 0.200 V/m outdoors and 0.102 V/m indoors. The median of the ICNIRP exposure quotients for multiple-frequency sources was 25 10-6 outside and 16 10-6 inside. The proximity of the operator's body caused the readings of the electric field in the FM band to be overestimated by a factor of 1.35, and in the mobile telephony bands by factors from 0.76 to 1.02. The standard deviation of the measurements repeated inside a dwelling over five days was of the order of the exposure meter's standard uncertainty of calibration, but the spatial dispersion at the scale of a dwelling and of the city was much greater. The two main contributors to the exposure were FM radio followed by the "downlink" mobile telephony bands. Inside the dwellings, the DECT and WIFI bands contributed less. Exposure quotients are dimensionless parameters that characterize exposure, and reflect the relative weight of each service to that exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús M Paniagua
- Department of Applied Physics, School of Technology, University of Extremadura, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 10003, Caceres, Spain.
| | - Montaña Rufo
- Department of Applied Physics, School of Technology, University of Extremadura, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 10003, Caceres, Spain
| | - Antonio Jiménez
- Department of Applied Physics, School of Technology, University of Extremadura, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 10003, Caceres, Spain
| | - Alicia Antolín
- Department of Applied Physics, School of Technology, University of Extremadura, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 10003, Caceres, Spain
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Ramirez-Vazquez R, Arabasi S, Al-Taani H, Sbeih S, Gonzalez-Rubio J, Escobar I, Arribas E. Georeferencing of Personal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a University Area. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17061898. [PMID: 32183369 PMCID: PMC7142519 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 03/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In the last two decades, due to the development of the information society, the massive increase in the use of information technologies, including the connection and communication of multiple electronic devices, highlighting Wi-Fi networks, as well as the emerging technological advances of 4G and 5G (new-generation mobile phones that will use 5G), have caused a significant increase in the personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF), and as a consequence, increasing discussions about the possible adverse health effects. The main objective of this study was to measure the personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from the Wi-Fi in the university area of German Jordanian University (GJU) and prepare georeferenced maps of the registered intensity levels and to compare them with the basic international restrictions. Spot measurements were made outside the university area at German Jordanian University. Measurements were made in the whole university area and around two buildings. Two Satimo EME SPY 140 (Brest, France) personal exposimeters were used, and the measurements were performed in the morning and afternoon, and on weekends and weekdays. The total average personal exposure to RF-EMF from the Wi-Fi band registered in the three study areas and in the four days measured was 28.82 μW/m2. The average total exposure from the Wi-Fi band registered in the ten measured points of the university area of GJU was 22.97 μW/m2, the one registered in the eight measured points of building H was 34.48 μW/m2, and the one registered in the eight points of building C was 29.00 μW/m2. The maximum average values registered in the campus of GJU are below the guidelines allowed by International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The measurement protocol used in this work has been applied in measurements already carried out in Spain and Mexico, and it is applicable in university areas of other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez
- Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de España s/n, Campus Universitario, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (R.R.-V.); (I.E.)
| | - Sameer Arabasi
- School of Basic Sciences and Humanities, German Jordanian University, Amman Madaba Street, P.O. Box 35247, Amman 11180, Jordan; (S.A.); (H.A.-T.); (S.S.)
| | - Hussein Al-Taani
- School of Basic Sciences and Humanities, German Jordanian University, Amman Madaba Street, P.O. Box 35247, Amman 11180, Jordan; (S.A.); (H.A.-T.); (S.S.)
| | - Suhad Sbeih
- School of Basic Sciences and Humanities, German Jordanian University, Amman Madaba Street, P.O. Box 35247, Amman 11180, Jordan; (S.A.); (H.A.-T.); (S.S.)
| | - Jesus Gonzalez-Rubio
- Medical Science Department, School of Medicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha, C/ Almansa 14, 02071 Albacete, Spain;
| | - Isabel Escobar
- Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de España s/n, Campus Universitario, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (R.R.-V.); (I.E.)
| | - Enrique Arribas
- Applied Physics Department, Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avda. de España s/n, Campus Universitario, 02071 Albacete, Spain; (R.R.-V.); (I.E.)
- Correspondence:
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Eeftens M, Dongus S, Bürgler A, Röösli M. A real-world quality assessment study in six ExpoM-RF measurement devices. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109049. [PMID: 31918311 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Exposimeters measuring radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) are commonly used to assess personal exposure to RF-EMF in real-life environments. They are usually calibrated in an anechoic chamber using single, well-defined signals such as the center frequency of each band, and standardized orientations, but it is not clear how different devices compare in the real environment where complex mixtures of signals from all directions are present. We thus tested the comparability of six ExpoM-RF exposimeters before and after calibration in an anechoic chamber by varying their position and orientation while repeatedly measuring 15 microenvironments (9 walking routes, 4 tram routes and 2 bus routes) on 6 different days. We modelled the geometric mean levels of RF-EMF as a function of orientation, position, device ID, whether the device was recently calibrated, correcting for the microenvironment in which each measurement took place. We found that systematic differences introduced by device ID, calibration, day of the week, orientation and position are relatively small compared to exposure differences between microenvironments. Any corrections (if desired) should include both device ID and calibration session, but would have a small impact considering the negligible differences between devices. This supports the validity of previous exposure measurement studies relying on ExpoM-RF devices, which did not correct for device ID. We further found that summarizing the exposure per microenvironment as geometric means results in better models than arithmetic means and medians, and recommend that further exposure assessment studies report observed levels as geometric means.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marloes Eeftens
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stefan Dongus
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Bürgler
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Röösli
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Najera A, Ramirez-Vazquez R, Arribas E, Gonzalez-Rubio J. Comparison of statistic methods for censored personal exposure to RF-EMF data. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:77. [PMID: 31897614 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-8021-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have characterized personal exposure to RF-EMF, which allows possible effects on health to be studied. All equipment has a detection limit, below which we obtain nondetects or censored data. This problem is a challenge for researchers as it makes the analysis of such data complex. We suggest reconsidering the statistical protocols of the nondetects analysis by comparing four different methods. Three of them substitute censored data using different approaches: regression on order of statistics (ROS) to simulate data below the detection limit (Method 1), substituting nondetect values by the detection limit divided by 2 (Method 2), a naïve calculation (Method 3) using the detection limit as a valid measurement. The fourth method consists of considering censored data to be missing values (Method 4). This article examines how these methods affect the quantification of personal exposure. We considered data from 14 frequency bands from FM to WiMax measured in Albacete (Spain) for 76 days every 10 s by a personal exposimeter (PEM) Satimo EME Spy 140.Methods 3 and 2 gave similar mean and median values to Method 1, but both underestimated the mean values when high nondetects records occurred, which conditioned the physical description of the real situation. The mean values calculated by Method 4 differed from those obtained by Method 1 but were similar when the percentage of nondetects was below 20%.Our comparison suggests that nondetects can be neglected when the percentage of censored data is low to provide a more realistic physical situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Najera
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | | | - Enrique Arribas
- Department of Applied Physics, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
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