RF Safe

Exposure of farm workers to electromagnetic radiation from cellular network radio base stations situated on rural agricultural land.

International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE · 2015 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 4723

Electric field levels from mobile telephone radio base stations on rural agricultural land were estimated using a numerical forecast model and then measured in situ. Calculations assumed constant full-power operation, but measured E-field values were much low…

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE · 2015
Study typeexposure_assessment
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

The electromagnetic field (EMF) levels generated by mobile telephone radio base stations (RBS) situated on rural-agricultural lands were assessed in order to evaluate the exposure of farm workers in the surrounding area. The expected EMF at various distances from a mobile telephone RBS was calculated using an ad hoc numerical forecast model. Subsequently, the electric fields around some RBS on agricultural lands were measured, in order to obtain a good approximation of the effective conditions at the investigated sites. The viability of this study was tested according to the Italian Regulations concerning general and occupational public exposure to time-varying EMFs. The calculated E-field values were obtained with the RBS working constantly at full power, but during the in situ measurements the actual power emitted by RBS antennas was lower than the maximum level, and the E-field values actually registered were much lower than the calculated values.

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
PopulationFarm workers near mobile telephone radio base stations on rural agricultural land (Italy)
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureRF
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Electric field levels from mobile telephone radio base stations on rural agricultural land were estimated using a numerical forecast model and then measured in situ. Calculations assumed constant full-power operation, but measured E-field values were much lower because actual emitted power during measurements was below maximum.

Outcomes measured

  • Calculated electric field (E-field) levels at various distances from radio base stations
  • Measured electric field (E-field) levels around radio base stations
  • Comparison of calculated vs measured E-field levels
  • Compliance/viability relative to Italian regulations for general and occupational public exposure to time-varying EMFs

Limitations

  • Frequency band(s) and specific operating frequencies not reported in the abstract
  • Number of base stations/sites and measurement protocol details not provided in the abstract
  • No quantitative E-field results reported in the abstract
  • Calculated scenario assumes full-power operation, which differed from real-world operating conditions during measurements
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "base station",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Farm workers near mobile telephone radio base stations on rural agricultural land (Italy)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Calculated electric field (E-field) levels at various distances from radio base stations",
    "Measured electric field (E-field) levels around radio base stations",
    "Comparison of calculated vs measured E-field levels",
    "Compliance/viability relative to Italian regulations for general and occupational public exposure to time-varying EMFs"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Electric field levels from mobile telephone radio base stations on rural agricultural land were estimated using a numerical forecast model and then measured in situ. Calculations assumed constant full-power operation, but measured E-field values were much lower because actual emitted power during measurements was below maximum.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Frequency band(s) and specific operating frequencies not reported in the abstract",
    "Number of base stations/sites and measurement protocol details not provided in the abstract",
    "No quantitative E-field results reported in the abstract",
    "Calculated scenario assumes full-power operation, which differed from real-world operating conditions during measurements"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic field",
    "EMF",
    "radio base station",
    "cellular network",
    "mobile telephone",
    "rural",
    "agricultural land",
    "farm workers",
    "occupational exposure",
    "electric field",
    "Italy",
    "regulations"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.86,
      "reason": "Assesses EMF exposure of farm workers near cellular radio base stations on agricultural land."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1080/10803548.2015.1081774
PubMed: 26647953

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