RF Safe

RF Exposure Due to Mobile Devices Operated Close to the Human Body

2019 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 1627

Using FDTD simulations with realistic child, adolescent, and adult models, the authors report that when some devices are operated very close to the head or body, simulated 1 g/10 g SAR can exceed recommended exposure limits. Exceedances were noted particularl…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2019
Study typeexposure_assessment
Reported directionHarm
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

RF Exposure Due to Mobile Devices Operated Close to the Human Body Fernández-Rodríguez C, Bulla G, de Salles AA. RF Exposure Due to Mobile Devices Operated Close to the Human Body. Proceedings of the 49th European Microwave Conference. Paris, France. 1-3 October 2019. pp. 264-267. Abstract The SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) simulations due to mobile devices operated in close range to the human head and body are described in this paper. The FDTD (Finite- Difference Time-Domain) numerical method together with realistic children, adolescents and adults' models are employed to estimate the 1 g and the 10 g SAR in different biological tissues. Typical mobile phones, laptops, tablets and virtual reality glasses were considered and the alternatives to reduce the SAR are discussed. The need of new dosimetric parameters and skin and nervous system models for 5G and millimetric waves exposure are also addressed. VII. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The SAR for some typical mobile phones, laptops, tablets and virtual reality glasses were simulated and results were compared to the available recommended exposure guidelines. It was observed that when some of these devices are operated very close to the head or body the simulated results can be above the exposure limits. This is particularly the case for the children models and for particular tissues (e.g. hippocampus and cerebellum). Then the methods to determine regulatory compliance for wireless devices should be re-examined. Antennas now used in portable devices are monopole, helix, PIFA or other planar structures (generally without ground plane) and they radiate the EMF almost to all directions. Since these devices can be operated close to the head or body, directional antennas radiating the EMF to the direction opposite to the head and body should be developed in order to reduce the SAR in these tissues. This can also contribute to reduce antenna input impedance mismatching when the device is operated close to the body. New antenna techniques including a back plane, electromagnetic band gap (EBG) and artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) could be adequate alternatives aiming to reduce the SAR in the user's head and body. There is also an urgent need for research to evaluate the risks to the eye from use of cell phones in virtual reality applications. Also, in the near future the use of mm-waves (e.g. 26 GHz and above) will be widespread to carry new services on the 5 G network. Then, the need for new quantities of interest, metrics and exposure limits adequate for these frequencies, as well as modelling new structures, such as the skin and the nervous system, are suggested. It is very important to remark that the recommendations and the standards usually adopted in different countries only consider the health effects of short time exposure. However, the mobile phones, notebooks, tablets and virtual reality glasses may be used for long time very close to the user's body. Then the long-time health effects must be taken into consideration in order to evaluate the health risks. Meanwhile the Precautionary Principle should be adopted in order to reduce health risks. ieeexplore.ieee.org

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 directionharm
PopulationRealistic children, adolescents, and adults models (numerical human models)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: unknown

Main findings

Using FDTD simulations with realistic child, adolescent, and adult models, the authors report that when some devices are operated very close to the head or body, simulated 1 g/10 g SAR can exceed recommended exposure limits. Exceedances were noted particularly for children models and for specific tissues such as the hippocampus and cerebellum.

Outcomes measured

  • 1 g SAR in biological tissues
  • 10 g SAR in biological tissues
  • Comparison of simulated SAR to recommended exposure guidelines/limits

Limitations

  • Simulation study (FDTD) rather than measurements in humans
  • No specific frequencies, device models, or numerical SAR values reported in the provided abstract
  • Health outcomes are not measured; focus is on dosimetry/compliance comparison
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile devices (mobile phones, laptops, tablets, virtual reality glasses) used close to head/body",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Realistic children, adolescents, and adults models (numerical human models)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "1 g SAR in biological tissues",
    "10 g SAR in biological tissues",
    "Comparison of simulated SAR to recommended exposure guidelines/limits"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Using FDTD simulations with realistic child, adolescent, and adult models, the authors report that when some devices are operated very close to the head or body, simulated 1 g/10 g SAR can exceed recommended exposure limits. Exceedances were noted particularly for children models and for specific tissues such as the hippocampus and cerebellum.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Simulation study (FDTD) rather than measurements in humans",
    "No specific frequencies, device models, or numerical SAR values reported in the provided abstract",
    "Health outcomes are not measured; focus is on dosimetry/compliance comparison"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "unknown",
  "keywords": [
    "SAR",
    "specific absorption rate",
    "FDTD",
    "mobile phone",
    "laptop",
    "tablet",
    "virtual reality",
    "children",
    "adolescents",
    "dosimetry",
    "exposure limits",
    "millimetre waves",
    "5G",
    "26 GHz",
    "hippocampus",
    "cerebellum"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Discusses need for new metrics/exposure limits for 5G mmWave (e.g., 26 GHz and above) and mentions precautionary principle/standards."
    }
  ]
}
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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: Not supplied
PubMed: Not supplied

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