RF Safe

Personal exposure from free Wi-Fi hotspots in downtown Mexico City

Environmental science and pollution research international · 2023 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 421

Mean values at measured points in the Zócalo were 326 μW/m2 (2.4–2.5 GHz) and 2370 μW/m2 (5.15–5.85 GHz). Mean values on the street were 119 μW/m2 (2.4–2.5 GHz) and 31.8 μW/m2 (5.15–5.85 GHz), and at home 122 μW/m2 and 33.9 μW/m2, respectively. The abstract s…

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental science and pollution research international · 2023
Study typeexposure_assessment
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Personal exposure from free Wi-Fi hotspots in downtown Mexico City 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. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023 Jul 20. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023- 28839-5. 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. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 directionunclear
PopulationOne researcher (personal exposure measurements) in downtown Mexico City (Zócalo) across microenvironments (street, public transport/subway, Zócalo, home)
Sample size1
ExposureRF · Measurements taken while walking on a weekday morning and afternoon in multiple microenvironments; spot measurements in the Zócalo
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mean values at measured points in the Zócalo were 326 μW/m2 (2.4–2.5 GHz) and 2370 μW/m2 (5.15–5.85 GHz). Mean values on the street were 119 μW/m2 (2.4–2.5 GHz) and 31.8 μW/m2 (5.15–5.85 GHz), and at home 122 μW/m2 and 33.9 μW/m2, respectively. The abstract states all values were well below ICNIRP reference levels.

Outcomes measured

  • Personal RF-EMF exposure intensity (μW/m2) in Wi‑Fi bands (2.4–2.5 GHz; 5.15–5.85 GHz)
  • Spatial distribution maps of RF-EMF exposure using Kriging interpolation (GIS)
  • Comparison of exposure across microenvironments (box/violin plots)
  • Comparison to ICNIRP reference levels

Limitations

  • Personal exposure measurements were taken by one researcher (single participant).
  • Measurements limited to a specific location (Zócalo/downtown Mexico City) and a weekday morning/afternoon timeframe.
  • Abstract does not report detailed measurement protocol/instrumentation or uncertainty metrics.
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wi-fi hotspot",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Measurements taken while walking on a weekday morning and afternoon in multiple microenvironments; spot measurements in the Zócalo"
  },
  "population": "One researcher (personal exposure measurements) in downtown Mexico City (Zócalo) across microenvironments (street, public transport/subway, Zócalo, home)",
  "sample_size": 1,
  "outcomes": [
    "Personal RF-EMF exposure intensity (μW/m2) in Wi‑Fi bands (2.4–2.5 GHz; 5.15–5.85 GHz)",
    "Spatial distribution maps of RF-EMF exposure using Kriging interpolation (GIS)",
    "Comparison of exposure across microenvironments (box/violin plots)",
    "Comparison to ICNIRP reference levels"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mean values at measured points in the Zócalo were 326 μW/m2 (2.4–2.5 GHz) and 2370 μW/m2 (5.15–5.85 GHz). Mean values on the street were 119 μW/m2 (2.4–2.5 GHz) and 31.8 μW/m2 (5.15–5.85 GHz), and at home 122 μW/m2 and 33.9 μW/m2, respectively. The abstract states all values were well below ICNIRP reference levels.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Personal exposure measurements were taken by one researcher (single participant).",
    "Measurements limited to a specific location (Zócalo/downtown Mexico City) and a weekday morning/afternoon timeframe.",
    "Abstract does not report detailed measurement protocol/instrumentation or uncertainty metrics."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "personal exposure",
    "RF-EMF",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "hotspots",
    "Mexico City",
    "Zócalo",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "5 GHz",
    "Kriging",
    "GIS",
    "microenvironments",
    "ICNIRP"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Study measures exposure in Wi‑Fi bands (2.4 and 5 GHz), relevant to Wi‑Fi exposure discussions though not school-specific."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Abstract explicitly compares measured levels to ICNIRP reference levels."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1007/s11356-023
PubMed: 37474852

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