Use of portable exposimeters to monitor radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure in the everyday environment.

Environmental research · 2016 · Unclear · Moderate evidence

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UnclearModerate evidencePaper 4851

Study snapshot

PublicationEnvironmental research · 2016

Study typeexposure_assessment

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spatial and temporal distribution of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels in the environment is highly heterogeneous. It is thus not entirely clear how to monitor spatial variability and temporal trends of RF-EMF exposure levels in the environment in a representative and efficient manner. The aim of this study was to test a monitoring protocol for RF-EMF measurements in public areas using portable devices. METHODS: Using the ExpoM-RF devices mounted on a backpack, we have conducted RF-EMF measurements by walking through 51 different outdoor microenvironments from 20 different municipalities in Switzerland: 5 different city centers, 5 central residential areas, 5 non-central residential areas, 15 rural residential areas, 15 rural centers and 6 industrial areas. Measurements in public transport (buses, trains, trams) were collected when traveling between the areas. Measurements were conducted between 25th March and 11th July 2014. In order to evaluate spatial representativity within one microenvironment, we measured two crossing paths of about 1km in length in each microenvironment. To evaluate repeatability, measurements in each microenvironment were repeated after two to four months on the same paths. RESULTS: Mean RF-EMF exposure (sum of 15 main frequency bands between 87.5 and 5,875MHz) was 0.53V/m in industrial zones, 0.47V/m in city centers, 0.32V/m in central residential areas, 0.25V/m non-central residential areas, 0.23V/m in rural centers and rural residential areas, 0.69V/m in trams, 0.46V/m in trains and 0.39V/m in buses. Major exposure contribution at outdoor locations was from mobile phone base stations (>80% for all outdoor areas with respect to the power density scale). Temporal correlation between first and second measurement of each area was high: 0.89 for total RF-EMF, 0.90 for all five mobile phone downlink bands combined, 0.51 for all five uplink bands combined and 0.79 for broadcasting. Spearman correlation between arithmetic mean values of the first path compared to arithmetic mean of the second path within the same microenvironment was 0.75 for total RF-EMF, 0.76 for all five mobile phone downlink bands combined, 0.55 for all five uplink bands combined and 0.85 for broadcasting (FM and DVB-T). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that microenvironmental surveys using a portable device yields highly repeatable measurements, which allows monitoring time trends of RF-EMF exposure over an extended time period of several years and to compare exposure levels between different types of microenvironments.

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AI evidence extraction

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Study typeexposure_assessment

Effect directionunclear

PopulationNot supplied

Sample size51

ExposureRF · Measurements conducted between 25 March and 11 July 2014; repeat measurements after 2–4 months

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Mean RF-EMF exposure (sum of 15 frequency bands between 87.5 and 5875 MHz) varied by setting, e.g., 0.53 V/m in industrial zones, 0.47 V/m in city centers, 0.23 V/m in rural centers/residential areas, and 0.69 V/m in trams. Outdoor exposure was dominated by mobile phone base stations (>80% of power density scale). Repeat measurements showed high temporal correlation for total RF-EMF (0.89) and downlink bands combined (0.90), with lower correlation for uplink bands combined (0.51).

Outcomes measured

RF-EMF exposure levels (V/m) across outdoor microenvironments and public transport
Contribution of sources/frequency bands (e.g., mobile phone downlink/uplink, broadcasting)
Repeatability/temporal correlation of measurements
Spatial representativity within microenvironments (path-to-path correlation)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "portable exposimeter monitoring in public areas; major contribution from mobile phone base stations; public transport (buses, trains, trams)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Measurements conducted between 25 March and 11 July 2014; repeat measurements after 2–4 months"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": 51,
  "outcomes": [
    "RF-EMF exposure levels (V/m) across outdoor microenvironments and public transport",
    "Contribution of sources/frequency bands (e.g., mobile phone downlink/uplink, broadcasting)",
    "Repeatability/temporal correlation of measurements",
    "Spatial representativity within microenvironments (path-to-path correlation)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Mean RF-EMF exposure (sum of 15 frequency bands between 87.5 and 5875 MHz) varied by setting, e.g., 0.53 V/m in industrial zones, 0.47 V/m in city centers, 0.23 V/m in rural centers/residential areas, and 0.69 V/m in trams. Outdoor exposure was dominated by mobile phone base stations (>80% of power density scale). Repeat measurements showed high temporal correlation for total RF-EMF (0.89) and downlink bands combined (0.90), with lower correlation for uplink bands combined (0.51).",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "RF-EMF",
    "portable exposimeter",
    "ExpoM-RF",
    "microenvironments",
    "public transport",
    "Switzerland",
    "base stations",
    "downlink",
    "uplink",
    "broadcasting",
    "exposure monitoring",
    "repeatability"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Includes measurements in industrial areas and public environments, but not explicitly occupational cohorts."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.06.020
PubMed: 27336233

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