RF Safe

Estimating transmitted power density from mobile phone: an epidemiological pilot study with a software modified phone.

Australasian physical & engineering sciences in medicine · 2018 · Unclear · Very low evidence

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UnclearVery low evidencePaper 5513

In 10 participants, total transmitted power density from mobile phone use (calls, cellular data, and Wi-Fi surfing) was reported to be many orders of magnitude higher than total received power density. Cellular data use contributed the largest portion of tota…

Study snapshot

PublicationAustralasian physical & engineering sciences in medicine · 2018
Study typeexposure_assessment
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

The aims of this study were to evaluate the weekly and annual cumulative radiofrequency-electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure attributed to mobile phone (MP) use, and assess whether a novel app (Quanta Monitor™) could be employed in a small human sample to characterise the RF-EMF exposures associated with the use of MPs. Ten participants provided their two months' daily objective data on their MP exposures (i.e. transmitted and received power densities) attributed to different modes of MP usage such as cellular calls, cellular data and Wi-Fi. The results demonstrated that total transmitted power density (cellular phone calls, data and Wi-Fi surfing) could be many orders of magnitude higher than that from the total received power density. Of the total transmitted power density, cellular data use contributed the largest portion. Our study showed that Quanta Monitor™ could be employed in prospective assessment of exposures to MPs in epidemiological studies.

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
Population10 human participants
Sample size10
ExposureRF · Two months of daily objective data; weekly and annual cumulative exposure estimated
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 10 participants, total transmitted power density from mobile phone use (calls, cellular data, and Wi-Fi surfing) was reported to be many orders of magnitude higher than total received power density. Cellular data use contributed the largest portion of total transmitted power density. The authors report that the Quanta Monitor™ app could be used for prospective exposure assessment in epidemiological studies.

Outcomes measured

  • Weekly cumulative RF-EMF exposure attributed to mobile phone use
  • Annual cumulative RF-EMF exposure attributed to mobile phone use
  • Transmitted power density (by mode: cellular calls, cellular data, Wi-Fi)
  • Received power density (by mode: cellular calls, cellular data, Wi-Fi)
  • Feasibility of using Quanta Monitor™ app to characterise mobile phone RF-EMF exposure

Limitations

  • Pilot study with a very small sample size (n=10)
  • Exposure metrics limited to power densities recorded by a software-modified phone/app; no other measurement methods described
  • Only two months of monitoring reported
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Two months of daily objective data; weekly and annual cumulative exposure estimated"
  },
  "population": "10 human participants",
  "sample_size": 10,
  "outcomes": [
    "Weekly cumulative RF-EMF exposure attributed to mobile phone use",
    "Annual cumulative RF-EMF exposure attributed to mobile phone use",
    "Transmitted power density (by mode: cellular calls, cellular data, Wi-Fi)",
    "Received power density (by mode: cellular calls, cellular data, Wi-Fi)",
    "Feasibility of using Quanta Monitor™ app to characterise mobile phone RF-EMF exposure"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 10 participants, total transmitted power density from mobile phone use (calls, cellular data, and Wi-Fi surfing) was reported to be many orders of magnitude higher than total received power density. Cellular data use contributed the largest portion of total transmitted power density. The authors report that the Quanta Monitor™ app could be used for prospective exposure assessment in epidemiological studies.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Pilot study with a very small sample size (n=10)",
    "Exposure metrics limited to power densities recorded by a software-modified phone/app; no other measurement methods described",
    "Only two months of monitoring reported"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "RF-EMF",
    "radiofrequency",
    "mobile phone",
    "exposure assessment",
    "power density",
    "transmitted power density",
    "received power density",
    "cellular calls",
    "cellular data",
    "Wi-Fi",
    "Quanta Monitor"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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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: 10.1007/s13246-018-0699-7
PubMed: 30338493

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