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Personal Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields among Australian Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Berihun M. Zeleke

    (Centre for Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Christopher Brzozek

    (Centre for Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Chhavi Raj Bhatt

    (Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    Monash University Endocrine Surgery Unit, Alfred Hospital, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    Monash Emergency Service, Monash Health, Dandenong Hospital, 135 David Street, Melbourne, VIC 3175, Australia)

  • Michael J. Abramson

    (Centre for Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

  • Rodney J. Croft

    (Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Frederik Freudenstein

    (Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Peter Wiedemann

    (Australian Centre for Electromagnetic Bioeffects Research, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia)

  • Geza Benke

    (Centre for Population Health Research on Electromagnetic Energy (PRESEE), School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia
    Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia)

Abstract

The measurement of personal exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) is important for epidemiological studies. RF-EMF exposure can be measured using personal exposimeters that register RF-EMFs over a wide range of frequency bands. This study aimed to measure and describe personal RF-EMF exposure levels from a wide range of frequency bands. Measurements were recorded from 63 participants over an average of 27.4 (±4.5) hours. RF-EMF exposure levels were computed for each frequency band, as well as from downlink (RF from mobile phone base station), uplink (RF from mobile phone handsets), broadcast, and Wi-Fi. Participants had a mean (±SD) age of 36.9 ± 12.5 years; 66.7% were women; and almost all (98.2%) from urban areas. A Wi-Fi router at home was reported by 61 participants (96.8%), with 38 (61.2%) having a Wi-Fi enabled smart TV. Overall, 26 (41.3%) participants had noticed the existence of a mobile phone base station in their neighborhood. On average, participants estimated the distance between the base station and their usual residence to be about 500 m. The median personal RF-EMF exposure was 208 mV/m. Downlink contributed 40.4% of the total RF-EMF exposure, followed by broadcast (22.4%), uplink (17.3%), and Wi-Fi (15.9%). RF-EMF exposure levels on weekdays were higher than weekends ( p < 0.05). Downlink and broadcast are the main contributors to total RF-EMF personal exposure. Personal RF-EMF exposure levels vary according to day of the week and time of day.

Suggested Citation

  • Berihun M. Zeleke & Christopher Brzozek & Chhavi Raj Bhatt & Michael J. Abramson & Rodney J. Croft & Frederik Freudenstein & Peter Wiedemann & Geza Benke, 2018. "Personal Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields among Australian Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-10, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:10:p:2234-:d:175121
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raimondas Buckus & Birute Strukčinskienė & Juozas Raistenskis & Rimantas Stukas & Aurelija Šidlauskienė & Rimantė Čerkauskienė & Dorina Nicolina Isopescu & Jan Stabryla & Igor Cretescu, 2017. "A Technical Approach to the Evaluation of Radiofrequency Radiation Emissions from Mobile Telephony Base Stations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Gregor Dürrenberger & Jürg Fröhlich & Martin Röösli & Mats-Olof Mattsson, 2014. "EMF Monitoring—Concepts, Activities, Gaps and Options," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez & Sameer Arabasi & Hussein Al-Taani & Suhad Sbeih & Jesus Gonzalez-Rubio & Isabel Escobar & Enrique Arribas, 2020. "Georeferencing of Personal Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields from Wi-Fi in a University Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Raquel Ramirez-Vazquez & Jesus Gonzalez-Rubio & Isabel Escobar & Carmen del Pilar Suarez Rodriguez & Enrique Arribas, 2021. "Personal Exposure Assessment to Wi-Fi Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Mexican Microenvironments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Maria Rosaria Scarfì & Mats-Olof Mattsson & Myrtill Simkó & Olga Zeni, 2019. "Special Issue: “Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields in Biology and Medicine: From Mechanisms to Biomedical Applications”," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-3, November.

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