Comparison of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure levels in different everyday microenvironments in an international context.

Author: Sagar S1, Adem SM2, Struchen B2, Loughran SP3, Brunjes ME4, Arangua L4, Dalvie MA5, Croft RJ3, Jerrett M6, Moskowitz JM7, Kuo T8, Röösli M9
Affiliation:
1Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Cape Town, Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa; University of Wollongong, School of Psychology, Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy, Illawarra Health & Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia; University of California, Fielding School of Public Health, Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA 90095-177220, USA.
2Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland.
3University of Wollongong, School of Psychology, Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy, Illawarra Health & Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia.
4Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 3530 Wilshire Blvd #700, Los Angeles, CA 90010, USA.
5University of Cape Town, Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Observatory, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa.
6University of California, Fielding School of Public Health, Center for Occupational & Environmental Health, 650 Charles E. Young Dr S, Los Angeles, CA 90095-177220, USA.
7University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, 50 University Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720-7360, USA.
8University of California Los Angeles, Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 650 Charles E Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095-177220, USA; Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, USA.
9Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Socinstrasse 57, 4051 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4051 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: martin.roosli@swisstph.ch.
Conference/Journal: Environ Int.
Date published: 2018 Mar 9
Other: Volume ID: 114 , Pages: 297-306 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.02.036. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 287

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to quantify RF-EMF exposure applying a tested protocol of RF-EMF exposure measurements using portable devices with a high sampling rate in different microenvironments of Switzerland, Ethiopia, Nepal, South Africa, Australia and the United States of America.

METHOD: We used portable measurement devices for assessing RF-EMF exposure in 94 outdoor microenvironments and 18 public transport vehicles. The measurements were taken either by walking with a backpack with the devices at the height of the head and a distance of 20-30 cm from the body, or driving a car with the devices mounted on its roof, which was 170-180 cm above the ground. The measurements were taken for about 30 min while walking and about 15-20 min while driving in each microenvironment, with a sampling rate of once every 4 s (ExpoM-RF) and 5 s (EME Spy 201).

RESULTS: Mean total RF-EMF exposure in various outdoor microenvironments varied between 0.23 V/m (non-central residential area in Switzerland) and 1.85 V/m (university area in Australia), and across modes of public transport between 0.32 V/m (bus in rural area in Switzerland) and 0.86 V/m (Auto rickshaw in urban area in Nepal). For most outdoor areas the major exposure contribution was from mobile phone base stations. Otherwise broadcasting was dominant. Uplink from mobile phone handsets was generally very small, except in Swiss trains and some Swiss buses.

CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates high RF-EMF variability between the 94 selected microenvironments from all over the world. Exposure levels tended to increase with increasing urbanity. In most microenvironments downlink from mobile phone base stations is the most relevant contributor.

Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS: Downlink; Exposure assessment; Microenvironment; Mobile phone base station; Mobile phone handset; Radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF); Uplink

PMID: 29529581 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.02.036

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