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Redmayne M, Maisch DR. ICNIRP Guidelines' Exposure Assessment Method for 5G Millimetre Wave Radiation May Trigger Adverse Effects. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5267. [PMID: 37047882 PMCID: PMC10094038 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The current global roll-out of 5G infrastructure is designed to utilise millimetre wave frequencies (30-300 GHz range) at data transmission rates in the order of gigabits per second (Gbps). This frequency band will be transmitted using beamforming, a new introduction in near-field exposures. The International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has recently updated their guidelines. We briefly examine whether the new approach of the ICNIRP is satisfactory to prevent heat damage and other adverse bio-effects once millimetre wave 5G is included, and we challenge the use of surface-only exposure assessment for local exposures greater than 6 GHz in part due to possible Brillouin precursor pulse formation. However, this is relevant whether or not Brillouin precursors occur from absorption of either 5G or future G transmissions. Many significant sources conclude there is insufficient research to assure safety even from the heat perspective. To date, there has been no published in vivo, in vitro or epidemiological research using exposures to 5G New Radio beam-formed signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Redmayne
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Kelburn Parade, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Donald R. Maisch
- Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association Inc. (ORSAA), Brisbane, QLD 4020, Australia
- The Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM), Melbourne, VIC 3205, Australia
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Bonato M, Tognola G, Benini M, Gallucci S, Chiaramello E, Fiocchi S, Parazzini M. Assessment of SAR in Road-Users from 5G-V2X Vehicular Connectivity Based on Computational Simulations. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:s22176564. [PMID: 36081025 PMCID: PMC9460500 DOI: 10.3390/s22176564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS) will soon operate using 5G New-Radio (NR) wireless communication, overcoming the limitations of the current V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) wireless communication technologies and increasing road-safety and driving efficiency. These innovations will also change the RF exposure levels of pedestrians and road-users in general. These people, in fact, will be exposed to additional RF sources coming from nearby cars and from the infrastructure. Therefore, an exposure assessment of people in the proximity of a connected car is necessary and urgent. (2) Methods: Two array antennas for 5G-V2X communication at 3.5 GHz were modelled and mounted on a realistic 3D car model for evaluating the exposure levels of a human model representing people on the road near the car. Computational simulations were conducted using the FDTD solver implemented in the Sim4Life platform; different positions and orientations between the car and the human model were assessed. The analyzed quantities were the Specific Absorption Rate on the whole body (SARwb), averaged over 10 g (SAR10g) in specific tissues, as indicated in the ICNIRP guidelines. (3) Results: the data showed that the highest exposure levels were obtained mostly in the head area of the human model, with the highest peak obtained in the configuration where the main beam of the 5G-V2X antennas was more direct towards the human model. Moreover, in all configurations, the dose absorbed by a pedestrian was well below the ICNIRP guidelines to avoid harmful effects. (4) Conclusions: This work is the first study on human exposure assessment in a 5G-V2X scenario, and it expands the knowledge about the exposure levels for the forthcoming use of 5G in connected vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bonato
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Gabriella Tognola
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Martina Benini
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Gallucci
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Emma Chiaramello
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Serena Fiocchi
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Marta Parazzini
- Institute of Electronics, Computer and Telecommunication Engineering (IEIIT), CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy
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Bonato M, Dossi L, Chiaramello E, Benini M, Gallucci S, Fiocchi S, Tognola G, Parazzini M. Application of Stochastic Dosimetry for assessing the Human RFEMF Exposure in a 5G indoor Scenario. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2021; 2021:595-599. [PMID: 34891364 DOI: 10.1109/embc46164.2021.9630528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In recent years the introduction of 5G networks is causing a drastically change of human exposure levels in the radio frequency range. The aim of this paper is on expanding the knowledge on this issue, assessing the exposure levels for a particular case of indoor 5G scenario, where the presence of an Access Point (AP) was simulated. Coupling the traditional deterministic computational method with an innovative stochastic approach, called Polynomial Chaos Kriging, allowed to evaluate the exposure variability of an user considering the 3D beamforming capability of the antenna. The exposure levels, expressed in terms of specific absorption rate (SAR) in specific tissues, showed low values compared to ICNIRP guidelines.
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