Abstract
Whether the use of mobile phones (MP) represents a health hazard is still under debate. As part of the attempts to resolve this uncertainty, there has been an extensive characterization of the electromagnetic fields MP emit and receive. While the radiofrequencies (RF) have been studied exhaustively, the static magnetic fields (SMF) have received much less attention, regardless of the fact there is a wealth of evidence demonstrating their biological effects. We performed 2D maps of the SMF at several distances from the screen of 5 MP (models between 2013 and 2018) using a tri-axis magnetometer. We built a mathematical model to fit our measurements, extrapolated them down to the phones’ screen, and calculated the SMF on the skin of a 3D head model, showing that exposure is in the µT to mT range. Our literature survey prompts the need of further research not only on the biological effects of SMF and their gradients, but also on their combination with extremely low frequency (ELF) and RF fields. The study of combined fields (SMF, ELF, and RF) as similar as possible to the ones that occur in reality should provide a more sensible assessment of potential risks.
Highlights
Whether the use of mobile phones (MP) represents a health hazard is still under debate
On the first floor of the figure the silhouette of the corresponding MP is represented by dashed lines and an upper and a lower hot spots (HS) is pointed by an arrow
In order to extrapolate our measurements at the HS down to the screen of the MP, we modeled these sources of static magnetic fields (SMF) (presumably, the MP speaker and microphone) as a button-like cylindrical permanent magnet (Fig. 4a), which in turn can be represented as a single loop of current (SLC) with a magnetic core (Fig. 4b)
Summary
Whether the use of mobile phones (MP) represents a health hazard is still under debate. Given the massive use of mobile phones (MP) and the fact it is still widely debated whether they constitute a health hazard for the users, the association of radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) with a diversity of pathologies has been extensively studied. Miller et al.[9] proposed that the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) should change the classification of RF EMF from MP and other wireless devices from its current IARC Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic) to Group 1 (carcinogenic), whereas organizations such as the Food and Drugs Administration from the USA10 or the Swedish Radiation Safety A uthority[11] have come to the exact opposite conclusion Due to all this concern and controversy, it is crucial to exhaustively know the fields MP users are exposed to. In this work, we mapped the SMF from 5 MP near the surface of the screen and up to several cm away from it, with the aim of contributing to a more complete characterization of the fields originated from MP
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
