Numerical Evaluation of Human Body Near Field Exposure to a Vehicular Antenna for Military Applications

2022 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 920

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Numerical Evaluation of Human Body Near Field Exposure to a Vehicular Antenna for Military Applications Colella Micol, Biscarini Marianna, de Meis Marco, Patrizi Roberto, Ciallella Tino, Ferrante Daniele, De Gaetano Alessandro, Capuano Marco, Pellegrino Giovanni, Martini Emanuele, Cavagnaro Marta, Apollonio Francesca, Liberti Micaela. Numerical Evaluation of Human Body Near Field Exposure to a Vehicular Antenna for Military Applications. Frontiers in Public Health.Vol. 9. 2022. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.794564. Abstract Background The use of electromagnetic (EM) technologies for military applications is gaining increasing interest to satisfy different operational needs, such as improving battlefield communications or jamming counterpart's signals. This is achieved by the use of high-power EM waves in several frequency bands (e.g., HF, VHF, and UHF). When considering military vehicles, several antennas are present in close proximity to the crew personnel, which are thus potentially exposed to high EM fields. Methods A typical exposure scenario was reproduced numerically to evaluate the EM exposure of the human body in the presence of an HF vehicular antenna (2–30 MHz). The antenna was modeled as a monopole connected to a 3D polygonal structure representing the vehicle. Both the EM field levels in the absence and in the presence of the human body and also the specific absorption rate (SAR) values were calculated. The presence of the operator, partially standing outside the vehicle, was simulated with the virtual human body model Duke (Virtual Population, V.3). Several exposure scenarios were considered. The presence of a protective helmet was modeled as well. Results In the area usually occupied by the personnel, E-field intensity radiated by the antenna can reach values above the limits settled by international safety guidelines. Nevertheless, local SAR values induced inside the human body reached a maximum value of 14 mW/kg, leading to whole-body averaged and 10-g averaged SAR values well below the corresponding limits. Conclusion A complex and realistic near-field exposure scenario of the crew of a military vehicle was simulated. The obtained E-field values radiated in the free space by a HF vehicular antenna may reach values above the safety guidelines reference levels. Such values are not necessarily meaningful for the exposed subject. Indeed, SAR and E-field values induced inside the body remain well below safety limits. Open access paper: frontiersin.org

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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 directionmixed

PopulationMilitary vehicle crew/operator (virtual human model)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureHF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Numerical simulations of a near-field HF (2–30 MHz) vehicular monopole antenna scenario found that E-field intensity in areas occupied by personnel could exceed international guideline reference levels. However, induced SAR in the virtual human model remained below corresponding limits, with a reported maximum local SAR of 14 mW/kg and whole-body and 10-g averaged SAR values well below limits.

Outcomes measured

E-field intensity near vehicle/antenna (free-space)
Local SAR (maximum)
Whole-body averaged SAR
10-g averaged SAR
Effect of protective helmet (modeled)

Limitations

Numerical simulation study (no direct measurements in humans reported)
Exposure scenario based on a specific modeled vehicle/antenna configuration and virtual human model (Duke, Virtual Population v3)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "HF",
    "source": "vehicular antenna (military vehicle)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Military vehicle crew/operator (virtual human model)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "E-field intensity near vehicle/antenna (free-space)",
    "Local SAR (maximum)",
    "Whole-body averaged SAR",
    "10-g averaged SAR",
    "Effect of protective helmet (modeled)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Numerical simulations of a near-field HF (2–30 MHz) vehicular monopole antenna scenario found that E-field intensity in areas occupied by personnel could exceed international guideline reference levels. However, induced SAR in the virtual human model remained below corresponding limits, with a reported maximum local SAR of 14 mW/kg and whole-body and 10-g averaged SAR values well below limits.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Numerical simulation study (no direct measurements in humans reported)",
    "Exposure scenario based on a specific modeled vehicle/antenna configuration and virtual human model (Duke, Virtual Population v3)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "near-field exposure",
    "military vehicle",
    "vehicular antenna",
    "HF",
    "2–30 MHz",
    "E-field",
    "SAR",
    "numerical simulation",
    "Virtual Population",
    "Duke model",
    "protective helmet"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.7,
      "reason": "Exposure scenario concerns crew personnel operating near a military vehicular antenna."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.794564
PubMed: Not supplied

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