Abstract
Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) is a cause of concern for many people. The topic will likely remain for the foreseeable future on the scientific and political agenda, since emissions continue to change in characteristics and levels due to new infrastructure deployments, smart environments and novel wireless devices. Until now, systematic and coordinated efforts to monitor EMF exposure are rare. Furthermore, virtually nothing is known about personal exposure levels. This lack of knowledge is detrimental for any evidence-based risk, exposure and health policy, management and communication. The main objective of the paper is to review the current state of EMF exposure monitoring activities in Europe, to comment on the scientific challenges and deficiencies, and to describe appropriate strategies and tools for EMF exposure assessment and monitoring to be used to support epidemiological health research and to help policy makers, administrators, industry and consumer representatives to base their decisions and communication activities on facts and data.
Highlights
Public exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) is continuously changing in the two main frequency domains, i.e. radiofrequency (RF; 100 kHz–300 GHz) and extremely low frequency (ELF; 0 Hz–300 Hz), due to new infrastructure deployments (4th generation mobile phone networks, smart grids for efficient electricity distribution), smart environments, and new wireless consumer devices
Exposure from applications in the intermediate frequency (IF; 300 Hz–100 kHz) and the terahertz frequency (TF; >300 GHz) domains will become more prominent in the future [1,2]
As a key challenge for future EMF monitoring we recognize the need to change from ambient to personal exposure assessments and eventually to estimate dose for corresponding monitoring
Summary
Public exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) is continuously changing in the two main frequency domains, i.e. radiofrequency (RF; 100 kHz–300 GHz) and extremely low frequency (ELF; 0 Hz–300 Hz), due to new infrastructure deployments (4th generation mobile phone networks, smart grids for efficient electricity distribution), smart environments (small-scale wireless sensors, monitoring and access networks), and new wireless consumer devices. In a nutshell: without knowledge about real exposures, health risk assessments cannot be carried out, policymakers cannot establish evidence-based management measures and effective health risk communication programs, and industries cannot anticipate neither potential exposure impacts of new technologies nor potential regulatory developments, entailing, for instance, delays in the growth of new technology-markets From this overall perspective, the following scientific challenges need to be overcome: Collection of systematic data and establishment of a paradigm to monitor EMF exposure; Development of appropriate equipment to assess and monitor personal EMF exposures; Development of appropriate equipment and data interpretation standards for near-field sources (devices used close to the body) in particular; Development of reliable exposure assessment methods tailored to the needs of epidemiological studies; Reduction of the large uncertainties in EMF exposure assessment when carried out by computational electromagnetics (mostly related to fixed installations). We conclude with highlighting the relevance of personal exposure monitoring in light of technology dynamics, research needs and policy requirements
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