RF Safe

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

The Science of the total environment · 2022 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 647

Personal exposure to Wi‑Fi RF‑EMF (2.4 GHz and 5.85 GHz) was measured at a Spanish university across 2017–2019 and in 2022 (classroom and professor’s office). Reported average values ranged from 0.0900 µW/m² (2.4 GHz, 2019) to 211 µW/m² (5.85 GHz, 2017, aroun…

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Science of the total environment · 2022
Study typeexposure_assessment
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Comparison of personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a Spanish university over three years Ramirez-Vazquez R, Escobar I, Martinez-Plaza A, Arribas E. Comparison of personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a Spanish university over three years [published online ahead of print, 2022 Nov 8]. Sci Total Environ. 2022;160008. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160008. Abstract 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. 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 directionno_effect
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF · Measurements reported for years 2017, 2018, 2019; additional measurements in 2022
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Personal exposure to Wi‑Fi RF‑EMF (2.4 GHz and 5.85 GHz) was measured at a Spanish university across 2017–2019 and in 2022 (classroom and professor’s office). Reported average values ranged from 0.0900 µW/m² (2.4 GHz, 2019) to 211 µW/m² (5.85 GHz, 2017, around the building); classroom measurements ranged from 37.9 µW/m² (without students, 5.85 GHz) to 278 µW/m² (with students, 5.85 GHz). The authors report that none of the measured values exceeded the ICNIRP general public limit of 10 W/m².

Outcomes measured

  • Personal exposure levels to RF-EMF from Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz and 5.85 GHz) expressed as power density (µW/m²)
  • Compliance with ICNIRP general public reference level (10 W/m²)
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wi-fi",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Measurements reported for years 2017, 2018, 2019; additional measurements in 2022"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Personal exposure levels to RF-EMF from Wi‑Fi (2.4 GHz and 5.85 GHz) expressed as power density (µW/m²)",
    "Compliance with ICNIRP general public reference level (10 W/m²)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Personal exposure to Wi‑Fi RF‑EMF (2.4 GHz and 5.85 GHz) was measured at a Spanish university across 2017–2019 and in 2022 (classroom and professor’s office). Reported average values ranged from 0.0900 µW/m² (2.4 GHz, 2019) to 211 µW/m² (5.85 GHz, 2017, around the building); classroom measurements ranged from 37.9 µW/m² (without students, 5.85 GHz) to 278 µW/m² (with students, 5.85 GHz). The authors report that none of the measured values exceeded the ICNIRP general public limit of 10 W/m².",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "5.85 GHz",
    "personal exposure",
    "power density",
    "university",
    "classroom",
    "ICNIRP compliance"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Measures Wi‑Fi RF‑EMF exposure in classroom/university settings."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.7,
      "reason": "Assesses compliance with 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: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160008
PubMed: 36368387

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