Assessment of radio frequency exposures in schools, homes, and public places in Belgium.

Health physics · 2014 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

← Research stream

UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 4652

Study snapshot

PublicationHealth physics · 2014

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Characterization of exposure from emerging radio frequency (RF) technologies in areas where children are present is important. Exposure to RF electromagnetic fields (EMF) was assessed in three "sensitive" microenvironments; namely, schools, homes, and public places located in urban environments and compared to exposure in offices. In situ assessment was conducted by performing spatial broadband and accurate narrowband measurements, providing 6-min averaged electric-field strengths. A distinction between internal (transmitters that are located indoors) and external (outdoor sources from broadcasting and telecommunication) sources was made. Ninety-four percent of the broadband measurements were below 1 V m(-1). The average and maximal total electric-field values in schools, homes, and public places were 0.2 and 3.2 V m(-1) (WiFi), 0.1 and 1.1 V m(-1) (telecommunication), and 0.6 and 2.4 V m(-1) (telecommunication), respectively, while for offices, average and maximal exposure were 0.9 and 3.3 V m(-1) (telecommunication), satisfying the ICNIRP reference levels. In the schools considered, the highest maximal and average field values were due to internal signals (WiFi). In the homes, public places, and offices considered, the highest maximal and average field values originated from telecommunication signals. Lowest exposures were obtained in homes. Internal sources contributed on average more indoors (31.2%) than outdoors (2.3%), while the average contributions of external sources (broadcast and telecommunication sources) were higher outdoors (97.7%) than at indoor positions (68.8%). FM, GSM, and UMTS dominate the total downlink exposure in the outdoor measurements. In indoor measurements, FM, GSM, and WiFi dominate the total exposure. The average contribution of the emerging technology LTE was only 0.6%.

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 directionunclear

PopulationChildren-present microenvironments (schools, homes, public places) in urban environments in Belgium; compared with offices

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 6-min averaged electric-field strengths

Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In situ spatial broadband and narrowband measurements found 94% of broadband measurements were below 1 V/m. Average and maximal total electric-field values were reported for schools (0.2 and 3.2 V/m; WiFi), homes (0.1 and 1.1 V/m; telecommunication), public places (0.6 and 2.4 V/m; telecommunication), and offices (0.9 and 3.3 V/m; telecommunication), and exposures satisfied ICNIRP reference levels. Internal sources contributed more indoors on average (31.2%) than outdoors (2.3%), while external sources contributed more outdoors (97.7%) than indoors (68.8%); LTE contributed 0.6% on average.

Outcomes measured

Broadband electric-field strength (V/m)
Narrowband electric-field strength by source/technology (V/m)
Internal vs external source contribution (%)
Compliance with ICNIRP reference levels

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "schools, homes, public places, offices (WiFi; broadcasting and telecommunication incl. GSM/UMTS/LTE)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "6-min averaged electric-field strengths"
  },
  "population": "Children-present microenvironments (schools, homes, public places) in urban environments in Belgium; compared with offices",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Broadband electric-field strength (V/m)",
    "Narrowband electric-field strength by source/technology (V/m)",
    "Internal vs external source contribution (%)",
    "Compliance with ICNIRP reference levels"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In situ spatial broadband and narrowband measurements found 94% of broadband measurements were below 1 V/m. Average and maximal total electric-field values were reported for schools (0.2 and 3.2 V/m; WiFi), homes (0.1 and 1.1 V/m; telecommunication), public places (0.6 and 2.4 V/m; telecommunication), and offices (0.9 and 3.3 V/m; telecommunication), and exposures satisfied ICNIRP reference levels. Internal sources contributed more indoors on average (31.2%) than outdoors (2.3%), while external sources contributed more outdoors (97.7%) than indoors (68.8%); LTE contributed 0.6% on average.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radio frequency",
    "RF",
    "EMF",
    "exposure assessment",
    "schools",
    "homes",
    "public places",
    "offices",
    "Belgium",
    "broadband measurements",
    "narrowband measurements",
    "electric-field strength",
    "WiFi",
    "GSM",
    "UMTS",
    "LTE",
    "FM",
    "ICNIRP",
    "internal sources",
    "external sources"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "school-wi-fi",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Assessed RF exposure in schools and identified WiFi as the highest internal contributor in schools."
    },
    {
      "slug": "who-icnirp",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Reports measured field strengths satisfying ICNIRP reference levels."
    }
  ]
}

AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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: 10.1097/hp.0000000000000149
PubMed: 25353235

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library