Abstract
This paper describes, for the first time, the procedure for the full design, calibration, uncertainty analysis, and practical application of a personal, distributed exposimeter (PDE) for the detection of personal exposure in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) downlink (DL) band around 900 MHz (GSM 900 DL). The PDE is a sensor that consists of several body-worn antennas. The on-body location of these antennas is investigated using numerical simulations and calibration measurements in an anechoic chamber. The calibration measurements and the simulations result in a design (or on-body setup) of the PDE. This is used for validation measurements and indoor radio frequency (RF) exposure measurements in Ghent, Belgium. The main achievements of this paper are: first, the demonstration, using both measurements and simulations, that a PDE consisting of multiple on-body textile antennas will have a lower measurement uncertainty for personal RF exposure than existing on-body sensors; second, a validation of the PDE, which proves that the device correctly estimates the incident power densities; and third, a demonstration of the usability of the PDE for real exposure assessment measurements. To this aim, the validated PDE is used for indoor measurements in a residential building in Ghent, Belgium, which yield an average incident power density of 0.018 mW/m².
Highlights
Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) radiation is increasingly used in modern day society
Personal Exposimeters (PEMs) have some clear advantages over other EM measurement devices, such as broadband or frequency selective EMF probes [12] or a combination of an antenna and a spectrum analyzer [13]
The calibration procedure proposed in this study can be executed using either calibration measurements or numerical simulations
Summary
Radio Frequency (RF) electromagnetic (EM) radiation is increasingly used in modern day society. Besides the previously studied thermal effect of RF radiation [1], epidemiological studies are being executed to determine possible long-term health effects Both compliance and epidemiological studies require measurement techniques for assessment of exposure to RF radiation. PEMs have some clear advantages over other EM measurement devices, such as broadband or frequency selective (handheld) EMF probes [12] or a combination of an (isotropic) antenna and a spectrum analyzer [13]. They are worn on the body and will measure at the same location and time as the subject who is wearing the PEM. PEMs are frequently used in Sensors 2016, 16, 180; doi:10.3390/s16020180 www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors
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