Empirical and Modeling Approach for Environmental Indoor RF-EMF Assessment in Complex High-Node Density Scenarios: Public Shopping Malls Case Study

2021 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 1297

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionNo effect

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Empirical and Modeling Approach for Environmental Indoor RF-EMF Assessment in Complex High-Node Density Scenarios: Public Shopping Malls Case Study Mikel Celaya-Echarri, Leyre Azpilicueta, Victoria Ramos, Peio Lopez-Iturri, Francisco Falcone. Empirical and Modeling Approach for Environmental Indoor RF-EMF Assessment in Complex High-Node Density Scenarios: Public Shopping Malls Case Study. IEEE Access. 22 March 2021. Abstract This work provides an intensive and comprehensive in-depth study from an empirical and modeling approach of the environmental radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) radiation exposure in public shopping malls, as an example of an indoor high-node user density context aware environment, where multiple wireless communication systems coexist. For that purpose, current personal mobile communications (2G-5G FR 1) as well as Wi-Fi services (IEEE 802.11n/ac) have been precisely analyzed in order to provide clear RF-EMF assessment insight and to verify compliance with established regulation limits. In this sense, a complete measurements campaign has been performed in different countries, with frequency-selective exposimeters (PEMs), providing real empirical datasets for statistical analysis and allowing discussion and comparison regarding current health effects and safety issues between some of the most common RF-EMF exposure safety standards: ICNIRP 2020 (Spain), IEEE 2019 (Mexico) and a more restrictive regulation (Poland). In addition, environmental RF-EMF exposure assessment simulation results, in terms of spatial E-field characterization and Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) probabilities, have been provided for challenging incremental high-node user dense scenarios in worst case conditions, by means of a deterministic in-house 3D Ray-Launching (3D-RL) RF-EMF safety simulation technique, showing good agreement with the experimental measurements. Finally, discussion highlighting the contribution and effects of the coexistence of multiple heterogenous networks and services for the environmental RF-EMF radiation exposure assessment has been included, showing that for all measured results and simulated cases, the obtained E-Field levels are well below the exposure limits established in the internationally accepted standards and guidelines. In consequence, the obtained results and the presented methodology could become a starting point to establish the RF-EMF assessment basis of future complex heterogeneous 5G FR 2 developments on the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency range, where massive high- node user density networks are expected. Excerpt It must be clearly remarked that, in the current state of knowledge, the results of scientific and epidemiological research have shown that in case of exposures at E-field levels below of far below the ICNIRP limits, there is no evidence of a relationship between exposure to radiofrequency fields produced by wireless technologies and potential adverse health effects. However, since the trend of 5G technology in towards the use of higher frequency ranges, it would be of great importance to carry out studies aimed at characterizing the effects of mmWave exposures, for which the information from scientific literature is not so complete and exhaustive as for the sub 6 GHz frequencies. This is a sort of knowledge gap that must be filled up to permit a specific and targeted surveillance held by the authorized health agencies and possibly an update of the guidelines/standards currently in use. The proposed simulation methodology can be a useful and suitable technique to satisfactorily assess and verify in advance environmental RF-EMF exposure recommendations and limits to implement safe, efficient and reliable current and future wireless deployments for complex high-node density heterogeneous environments. Open access paper: ieeexplore.ieee.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 directionno_effect

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Frequency-selective exposimeter measurements in shopping malls (multiple countries) and deterministic in-house 3D ray-launching simulations showed good agreement. For all measured results and simulated worst-case high-node-density scenarios, obtained E-field levels were reported to be well below exposure limits in internationally accepted standards/guidelines (including ICNIRP 2020 and IEEE 2019) and a more restrictive Polish regulation.

Outcomes measured

Environmental RF-EMF exposure levels (E-field) in indoor shopping malls
Compliance with exposure limits/standards (ICNIRP 2020, IEEE 2019, Poland more restrictive regulation)
Spatial E-field characterization and CDF probabilities from simulations
Agreement between measurements and 3D ray-launching simulations

Limitations

Specific frequencies/bands and quantitative exposure values are not provided in the abstract
Number of malls/measurement locations and other sample size details are not stated
Health outcomes were not measured; discussion of health effects is contextual rather than study endpoints
Simulation described as in-house deterministic 3D ray-launching; external validation details not provided in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "indoor wireless communications (2G-5G FR1) and Wi‑Fi (IEEE 802.11n/ac) in public shopping malls",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Environmental RF-EMF exposure levels (E-field) in indoor shopping malls",
    "Compliance with exposure limits/standards (ICNIRP 2020, IEEE 2019, Poland more restrictive regulation)",
    "Spatial E-field characterization and CDF probabilities from simulations",
    "Agreement between measurements and 3D ray-launching simulations"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Frequency-selective exposimeter measurements in shopping malls (multiple countries) and deterministic in-house 3D ray-launching simulations showed good agreement. For all measured results and simulated worst-case high-node-density scenarios, obtained E-field levels were reported to be well below exposure limits in internationally accepted standards/guidelines (including ICNIRP 2020 and IEEE 2019) and a more restrictive Polish regulation.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Specific frequencies/bands and quantitative exposure values are not provided in the abstract",
    "Number of malls/measurement locations and other sample size details are not stated",
    "Health outcomes were not measured; discussion of health effects is contextual rather than study endpoints",
    "Simulation described as in-house deterministic 3D ray-launching; external validation details not provided in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "indoor exposure assessment",
    "shopping malls",
    "high-node density",
    "2G",
    "3G",
    "4G",
    "5G FR1",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "IEEE 802.11n",
    "IEEE 802.11ac",
    "frequency-selective exposimeters",
    "ICNIRP 2020",
    "IEEE 2019",
    "Poland regulation",
    "3D ray-launching",
    "E-field",
    "CDF",
    "compliance"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Compares measurements/simulations to ICNIRP 2020 exposure limits and discusses standards/guidelines."
    }
  ]
}

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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.

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PubMed: Not supplied

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