The role of the location of personal exposimeters on the human body in their use for assessing exposure to the electromagnetic field in the radiofrequency range 98-2450 MHz and compliance analysis: evaluation by virtual measurements

Biomed Res Int · 2015 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 2722

Study snapshot

PublicationBiomed Res Int · 2015

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The use of radiofrequency (98-2450 MHz range) personal exposimeters to measure the electric field (E-field) in far-field exposure conditions was modelled numerically using human body model Gustav and finite integration technique software. Calculations with 256 models of exposure scenarios show that the human body has a significant influence on the results of measurements using a single body-worn exposimeter in various locations near the body ((from -96 to +133)%, measurement errors with respect to the unperturbed E-field value). When an exposure assessment involves the exposure limitations provided for the strength of an unperturbed E-field. To improve the application of exposimeters in compliance tests, such discrepancies in the results of measurements by a body-worn exposimeter may be compensated by using of a correction factor applied to the measurement results or alternatively to the exposure limit values. The location of a single exposimeter on the waist to the back side of the human body or on the front of the chest reduces the range of exposure assessments uncertainty (covering various exposure conditions). However, still the uncertainty of exposure assessments using a single exposimeter remains significantly higher than the assessment of the unperturbed E-field using spot measurements.

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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 directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Numerical modelling (256 exposure scenarios) indicated that the human body can substantially perturb far-field E-field measurements made with a single body-worn personal exposimeter, with errors relative to the unperturbed E-field ranging from -96% to +133% depending on device location near the body. Placement on the waist (back side) or on the front of the chest reduced the range of uncertainty across exposure conditions, but uncertainty remained higher than unperturbed E-field assessment using spot measurements. The authors suggest compensating discrepancies in compliance tests using correction factors applied to measurement results or to exposure limit values.

Outcomes measured

Measurement error of body-worn personal exposimeters vs unperturbed E-field
Uncertainty in exposure assessment for compliance testing
Effect of exposimeter placement on measurement discrepancy

Limitations

Virtual/numerical modelling study (no real-world measurements described in abstract)
Results pertain to far-field exposure conditions and a specific human body model (Gustav) and modelling approach (finite integration technique)
Abstract does not specify distribution of frequencies within 98–2450 MHz or specific RF sources

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "personal exposimeter (body-worn)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Measurement error of body-worn personal exposimeters vs unperturbed E-field",
    "Uncertainty in exposure assessment for compliance testing",
    "Effect of exposimeter placement on measurement discrepancy"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Numerical modelling (256 exposure scenarios) indicated that the human body can substantially perturb far-field E-field measurements made with a single body-worn personal exposimeter, with errors relative to the unperturbed E-field ranging from -96% to +133% depending on device location near the body. Placement on the waist (back side) or on the front of the chest reduced the range of uncertainty across exposure conditions, but uncertainty remained higher than unperturbed E-field assessment using spot measurements. The authors suggest compensating discrepancies in compliance tests using correction factors applied to measurement results or to exposure limit values.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Virtual/numerical modelling study (no real-world measurements described in abstract)",
    "Results pertain to far-field exposure conditions and a specific human body model (Gustav) and modelling approach (finite integration technique)",
    "Abstract does not specify distribution of frequencies within 98–2450 MHz or specific RF sources"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency",
    "personal exposimeter",
    "electric field",
    "far-field exposure",
    "human body perturbation",
    "measurement error",
    "compliance testing",
    "correction factor",
    "numerical modelling",
    "finite integration technique",
    "Gustav human model",
    "98-2450 MHz"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Discusses compliance testing and exposure assessment methodology, potentially relevant to workplace RF compliance contexts, though not explicitly occupational in abstract."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1155/2015/272460
PubMed: 25879021

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