Design of an Integrated Platform for Mapping Residential Exposure to Rf-Emf Sources

The determinants of legislation for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) with the onset of 5G: An empirical analysis with a worldwide cross-sectional dataset

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.

Comparison of personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a Spanish university over three years

In this work we present the personal exposure levels to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) from Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) 2.4 GHz and 5.85 GHz bands in a Spanish university, specifically, at the Faculty of Computer Science Engineering at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Albacete, Spain). We present results from three years, 2017, 2018 and 2019 in the same study place and points; and measurements carried out in 2022 inside a classroom and inside a professor's office, with the aim to compare the measurements and verify compliance with reference levels established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The minimum average was 0.0900 μW/m² in the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, in 2019, and the maximum average was 211 μW/m² in the 5.85 GHz Wi-Fi in 2017, around the building. Comparing the measurements carried out inside the classroom with students and without students, we identified that the maximum value was 278 μW/m² (classroom with students, in the 5.85 GHz Wi-Fi band) and the minimum value was 37.9 μW/m² (classroom without students, in the 5.85 GHz Wi-Fi band). Finally, comparing the results of all the measurements (average values) inside the classroom and inside a professor's office, the maximum value was 205 μW/m² (in the 5.85 GHz Wi-Fi band) inside the classroom with students, and the minimum value was 0.217 μW/m² inside a professor's office (in the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band). These values in no case exceed the limits established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, 10 W/m² for general public exposure.

Impressions of the chronic 900-MHz electromagnetic field in the prenatal period on Purkinje cells in male rat pup cerebella: is it worth mentioning?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the changes on the Purkinje cells in the cerebella of male rat pups born to pregnant dams that were exposed to an electromagnetic field in the prenatal period.

METHODS

The first stage of the study involved 12 Sprague-Dawley rats, 6 male and 6 female, weighing between 180 and 250 g. The female rats in the experimental group were exposed to a 900-MHz electromagnetic field for 1 h at the same time every day, and no procedure was performed on the control group. Following pregnancy, six male pups from each group were divided into experimental and control groups without any procedure on the pups. After 2 months, they were sacrificed and their cerebella were removed. Histopathologically, following routine processing and fixation procedures, the cerebella were embedded in the tissue blocks. The sections taken from these blocks were stained with cresyl violet. The Purkinje cells in the cerebella were then counted on sections using the optical dissector method on an image analysis system.

RESULTS

The estimation of number of the Purkinje cells in the groups revealed more cells in rats in the control group than in the experimental group. Histopathologically, Purkinje cells exhibited a normal morphological structure in the control group, while the cells in the experimental group showed damage.

CONCLUSIONS

It might be asserted that the exposure of mothers to an electromagnetic field in the prenatal period may affect the development of Purkinje cells in the pup cerebella.

Personal Exposure Assessment to Wi-Fi Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Mexican Microenvironments

In recent years, personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) has substantially increased, and most studies about RF-EMF with volunteers have been developed in Europe. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study carried out in Mexico with personal exposimeters. The main objective was to measure personal exposure to RF-EMF from Wireless Fidelity or wireless Internet connection (Wi-Fi) frequency bands in Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to compare results with maximum levels permitted by international recommendations and to find if there are differences in the microenvironments subject to measurements. The study was conducted with 63 volunteers in different microenvironments: home, workplace, outside, schools, travel, and shopping. The mean minimum values registered were 146.5 μW/m² in travel from the Wi-Fi 2G band and 116.8 μW/m² at home from the Wi-Fi 5G band, and the maximum values registered were 499.7 μW/m² and 264.9 μW/m² at the workplace for the Wi-Fi 2G band and the Wi-Fi 5G band, respectively. In addition, by time period and type of day, minimum values were registered at nighttime, these values being 129.4 μW/m² and 93.9 μW/m², and maximum values were registered in the daytime, these values being 303.1 μW/m² and 168.3 μW/m² for the Wi-Fi 2G and Wi-Fi 5G bands, respectively. In no case, values exceeded limits established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Of the study participants (n = 63), a subgroup (n = 35) answered a survey on risk perception. According to these results, the Tamazunchale (Mexico) population is worried about this situation in comparison with several European cities; however, the risk perception changes when they are informed about the results for the study.