Electromagnetic field exposure to human head model with various metal objects at sub-6 GHz frequencies

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2023 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 467

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2023

Study typeengineering

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electromagnetic field exposure to human head model with various metal objects at sub-6 GHz frequencies İl N, Ateş K, Özen Ş. Electromagnetic field exposure to human head model with various metal objects at sub-6 GHz frequencies. Electromagn Biol Med. 2023 Jun 4:1-9. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2023.2220736. Abstract In recent years, the interactions of metal objects in human body with electromagnetic fields caused by devices working at fifth-generation (5G) frequencies have been studied by various researchers. A motivation behind this research was to evaluate the human body absorption of electromagnetic energy operating at sub-6 GHz 5G applications. According to this, the specific absorption rate (SAR) caused by new generation mobile phones was investigated in human heads wearing metal-framed spectacles and having metallic implants or earrings to analyse electromagnetic field exposure. A realistic human head model, including some metal objects, was numerically calculated, and analysed in terms of non-ionizing dosimetry. Simulations were carried out with the finite integration technique (FIT) based commercial software in the frequencies of 0.9, 1.8, 2.1, 2.45, 3.5 and 5 GHz, respectively. The maximum SAR of 14 × 10-5 W/kg for 10 g average tissue was calculated at 2.45 GHz frequency in the head model with earrings. The highest electric field strength of 0.52 V/m was observed at a 1.8 GHz frequency in the head model with all metal objects equipped. Results show that metal objects such as spectacles, dental implants and earrings can cause an increase in the SAR values for external biological tissues, and metal objects can behave as a kind of shield for deeper tissues. However, the obtained values are below the limits of international organisations. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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 typeengineering

Effect directionmixed

PopulationHuman head model (realistic numerical model)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 0.00014 W/kg

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Numerical simulations (0.9, 1.8, 2.1, 2.45, 3.5, 5 GHz) of a realistic human head model with metal-framed spectacles, metallic implants, and/or earrings reported a maximum 10 g SAR of 14 × 10^-5 W/kg at 2.45 GHz in the model with earrings, and a highest electric field strength of 0.52 V/m at 1.8 GHz with all metal objects. The authors report that metal objects can increase SAR in external tissues and may act as shielding for deeper tissues, with values below international limits.

Outcomes measured

Specific absorption rate (SAR) (10 g average tissue)
Electric field strength (V/m)

Limitations

Numerical simulation/modeling study (no human measurements reported in abstract)
Exposure scenario details (e.g., phone position, power, distance) not provided in abstract
Only sub-6 GHz frequencies evaluated

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": 0.00014,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Human head model (realistic numerical model)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Specific absorption rate (SAR) (10 g average tissue)",
    "Electric field strength (V/m)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Numerical simulations (0.9, 1.8, 2.1, 2.45, 3.5, 5 GHz) of a realistic human head model with metal-framed spectacles, metallic implants, and/or earrings reported a maximum 10 g SAR of 14 × 10^-5 W/kg at 2.45 GHz in the model with earrings, and a highest electric field strength of 0.52 V/m at 1.8 GHz with all metal objects. The authors report that metal objects can increase SAR in external tissues and may act as shielding for deeper tissues, with values below international limits.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Numerical simulation/modeling study (no human measurements reported in abstract)",
    "Exposure scenario details (e.g., phone position, power, distance) not provided in abstract",
    "Only sub-6 GHz frequencies evaluated"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "sub-6 GHz",
    "5G",
    "SAR",
    "finite integration technique",
    "human head model",
    "spectacles",
    "dental implants",
    "earrings",
    "non-ionizing dosimetry"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Study explicitly frames exposure as relevant to 5G sub-6 GHz applications and evaluates SAR in that context."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1080/15368378.2023.2220736
PubMed: 37270798

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