Personal Exposure Assessment to Wi-Fi Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Mexican Microenvironments

International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021 · No effect · Low evidence

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No effectLow evidencePaper 1193

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of environmental research and public health · 2021

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Personal Exposure Assessment to Wi-Fi Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Mexican Microenvironments Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez, Jesus Gonzalez-Rubio, Isabel Escobar, Carmen Del Pilar Suarez Rodriguez, Enrique Arribas. Personal Exposure Assessment to Wi-Fi Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Mexican Microenvironments. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Feb 14;18(4):1857. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18041857 Abstract In recent years, personal exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) has substantially increased, and most studies about RF-EMF with volunteers have been developed in Europe. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study carried out in Mexico with personal exposimeters. The main objective was to measure personal exposure to RF-EMF from Wireless Fidelity or wireless Internet connection (Wi-Fi) frequency bands in Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, to compare results with maximum levels permitted by international recommendations and to find if there are differences in the microenvironments subject to measurements. The study was conducted with 63 volunteers in different microenvironments: home, workplace, outside, schools, travel, and shopping. The mean minimum values registered were 146.5 μW/m2 in travel from the Wi-Fi 2G band and 116.8 μW/m2 at home from the Wi-Fi 5G band, and the maximum values registered were 499.7 μW/m2 and 264.9 μW/m2 at the workplace for the Wi-Fi 2G band and the Wi-Fi 5G band, respectively. In addition, by time period and type of day, minimum values were registered at nighttime, these values being 129.4 μW/m2 and 93.9 μW/m2, and maximum values were registered in the daytime, these values being 303.1 μW/m2 and 168.3 μW/m2 for the Wi-Fi 2G and Wi-Fi 5G bands, respectively. In no case, values exceeded limits established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Of the study participants (n = 63), a subgroup (n = 35) answered a survey on risk perception. According to these results, the Tamazunchale (Mexico) population is worried about this situation in comparison with several European cities; however, the risk perception changes when they are informed about the results for the study. Open access paper: 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

PopulationVolunteers in Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, Mexico

Sample size63

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Personal RF-EMF exposure from Wi-Fi 2G and Wi-Fi 5G bands was measured in 63 volunteers across microenvironments (home, workplace, outside, schools, travel, shopping). Reported maxima were 499.7 μW/m² (Wi-Fi 2G) and 264.9 μW/m² (Wi-Fi 5G), both at the workplace; exposures were lower at nighttime and higher in daytime. No measured values exceeded ICNIRP limits; in a survey subgroup (n=35), participants reported worry that changed after being informed of study results.

Outcomes measured

Personal RF-EMF exposure levels from Wi-Fi 2G and Wi-Fi 5G bands (μW/m²) across microenvironments
Comparison of measured exposure levels to ICNIRP limits
Risk perception regarding RF-EMF/Wi-Fi (survey subgroup)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wi-fi",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Volunteers in Tamazunchale, San Luis Potosi, Mexico",
  "sample_size": 63,
  "outcomes": [
    "Personal RF-EMF exposure levels from Wi-Fi 2G and Wi-Fi 5G bands (μW/m²) across microenvironments",
    "Comparison of measured exposure levels to ICNIRP limits",
    "Risk perception regarding RF-EMF/Wi-Fi (survey subgroup)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Personal RF-EMF exposure from Wi-Fi 2G and Wi-Fi 5G bands was measured in 63 volunteers across microenvironments (home, workplace, outside, schools, travel, shopping). Reported maxima were 499.7 μW/m² (Wi-Fi 2G) and 264.9 μW/m² (Wi-Fi 5G), both at the workplace; exposures were lower at nighttime and higher in daytime. No measured values exceeded ICNIRP limits; in a survey subgroup (n=35), participants reported worry that changed after being informed of study results.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "personal exposimeter",
    "exposure assessment",
    "microenvironments",
    "Mexico",
    "ICNIRP",
    "risk perception",
    "2G band",
    "5G band"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Includes measurements in schools as a microenvironment and focuses on Wi-Fi exposure."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.7,
      "reason": "Explicitly compares measured exposure levels to ICNIRP limits."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3390/ijerph18041857
PubMed: 33673014

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