Comparison of ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels in outdoor areas and public transport in Switzerland in 2014 and 2021

Environ Res. · 2023 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 398

Study snapshot

PublicationEnviron Res. · 2023

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Comparison of ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels in outdoor areas and public transport in Switzerland in 2014 and 2021 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. Environ Res. 2023 Aug 19;237(Pt 1):116921. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116921. 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. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeexposure_assessment

Effect directionno_effect

Populationgeneral public in Switzerland

Sample size49

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 70% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Ambient RF-EMF levels measured in 49 outdoor areas and public transport in Switzerland showed no significant change between 2014 and 2021 despite an 18-fold increase in mobile data transmission. Mean levels ranged from 0.19 V/m in rural areas to 0.43 V/m in industrial areas outdoors, and 0.27-0.36 V/m in public transport. The slight decrease in mean levels was not statistically significant.

Outcomes measured

ambient RF-EMF levels in outdoor areas and public transport

Limitations

Study limited to Switzerland and specific microenvironments
Only ambient RF-EMF levels measured, no health outcomes assessed
Frequency bands and specific technologies not detailed

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile communication technology",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "general public in Switzerland",
  "sample_size": 49,
  "outcomes": [
    "ambient RF-EMF levels in outdoor areas and public transport"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Ambient RF-EMF levels measured in 49 outdoor areas and public transport in Switzerland showed no significant change between 2014 and 2021 despite an 18-fold increase in mobile data transmission. Mean levels ranged from 0.19 V/m in rural areas to 0.43 V/m in industrial areas outdoors, and 0.27-0.36 V/m in public transport. The slight decrease in mean levels was not statistically significant.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Study limited to Switzerland and specific microenvironments",
    "Only ambient RF-EMF levels measured, no health outcomes assessed",
    "Frequency bands and specific technologies not detailed"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.7,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "ambient exposure",
    "public transport",
    "outdoor areas",
    "temporal comparison",
    "Switzerland"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "exposure-assessment",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study measures ambient RF-EMF exposure levels in various microenvironments."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116921
PubMed: Not supplied

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