RF Safe

Exposure to EMF from smart utility meters in Great Britain; part I) laboratory measurements

2017 · No effect · Moderate evidence

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No effectModerate evidencePaper 1334

Laboratory measurements around 39 smart meter devices operating at 2.4 GHz found a maximum equivalent power density during transmission of 15 mW/m^2 at 0.5 m and beyond, with an estimated maximum duty factor of 1%. One outlier device had a maximum power densi…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2017
Study typeexposure_assessment
Reported directionNo effect
Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Exposure to EMF from smart utility meters in Great Britain; part I) laboratory measurements Peyman A, Addison D, Mee T, Goiceanu C, Maslanyj M, Mann S. Exposure to electromagnetic fields from smart utility meters in GB; part I) laboratory measurements. Bioelectromagnetics. 2017 Mar 21. doi: 10.1002/bem.22044. Abstract Laboratory measurements of electric fields have been carried out around examples of smart meter devices used in Great Britain. The aim was to quantify exposure of people to radiofrequency signals emitted from smart meter devices operating at 2.4 GHz, and then to compare this with international (ICNIRP) health-related guidelines and with exposures from other telecommunication sources such as mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices. The angular distribution of the electric fields from a sample of 39 smart meter devices was measured in a controlled laboratory environment. The angular direction where the power density was greatest was identified and the equivalent isotropically radiated power was determined in the same direction. Finally, measurements were carried out as a function of distance at the angles where maximum field strengths were recorded around each device. The maximum equivalent power density measured during transmission around smart meter devices at 0.5 m and beyond was 15 mWm-2 , with an estimation of maximum duty factor of only 1%. One outlier device had a maximum power density of 91 mWm-2 . All power density measurements reported in this study were well below the 10 W m-2 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 size39
ExposureRF · 2400 MHz
Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Laboratory measurements around 39 smart meter devices operating at 2.4 GHz found a maximum equivalent power density during transmission of 15 mW/m^2 at 0.5 m and beyond, with an estimated maximum duty factor of 1%. One outlier device had a maximum power density of 91 mW/m^2. All reported power density measurements were well below the ICNIRP guideline level of 10 W/m^2.

Outcomes measured

  • Electric field strength (angular distribution)
  • Power density (equivalent) during transmission
  • Equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP)
  • Distance-dependent field/power density
  • Estimated duty factor
  • Comparison to ICNIRP guideline level (10 W/m^2)
  • Comparison context to other sources (mobile phones, Wi‑Fi)

Limitations

  • Controlled laboratory environment (may not reflect real-world installation conditions)
  • Only electric fields/power density reported; no direct health outcomes assessed
  • Outlier device noted; representativeness of sampled devices beyond the 39 measured is not stated
  • Duty factor reported as an estimation
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "smart meter",
    "frequency_mhz": 2400,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 39,
  "outcomes": [
    "Electric field strength (angular distribution)",
    "Power density (equivalent) during transmission",
    "Equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP)",
    "Distance-dependent field/power density",
    "Estimated duty factor",
    "Comparison to ICNIRP guideline level (10 W/m^2)",
    "Comparison context to other sources (mobile phones, Wi‑Fi)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Laboratory measurements around 39 smart meter devices operating at 2.4 GHz found a maximum equivalent power density during transmission of 15 mW/m^2 at 0.5 m and beyond, with an estimated maximum duty factor of 1%. One outlier device had a maximum power density of 91 mW/m^2. All reported power density measurements were well below the ICNIRP guideline level of 10 W/m^2.",
  "effect_direction": "no_effect",
  "limitations": [
    "Controlled laboratory environment (may not reflect real-world installation conditions)",
    "Only electric fields/power density reported; no direct health outcomes assessed",
    "Outlier device noted; representativeness of sampled devices beyond the 39 measured is not stated",
    "Duty factor reported as an estimation"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "smart utility meters",
    "smart meters",
    "Great Britain",
    "laboratory measurements",
    "radiofrequency",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "electric field",
    "power density",
    "EIRP",
    "duty factor",
    "ICNIRP guidelines",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "mobile phones"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "smart-meters",
      "weight": 0.95,
      "reason": "Study measures RF emissions/exposure from smart utility meters."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.7,
      "reason": "Explicit comparison to ICNIRP health-related 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.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1002/bem.22044
PubMed: Not supplied

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