Abstract
The electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted out of wireless communication modules in various IoT devices (especially used for healthcare applications due to their close proximity to the body) have been identified by researchers as biologically hazardous to humans as well as other living beings. Different countries have different regulations to limit the radiation density levels caused by these devices. The radiation absorbed by an individual depends on various factors such as the device they use, the proximity of use, the type of antenna, the relative orientation of the antenna on the device, and many more. Several standards exist which have tried to quantify the radiation levels and come up with safe limits of EMR absorption to prevent human harm. In this work, we determine the radiation concern levels in several scenarios using a handheld radiation meter by correlating the findings with several international standards, which are determined based on thorough scientific evidence. This study also analyzes the EMR from common devices used in day to day life such as smartphones, laptops, Wi-Fi routers, hotspots, wireless earphones, smartwatches, Bluetooth speakers and other wireless accessories using a handheld radio frequency radiation measurement device. The procedure followed in this paper is so detailed that it can also be utilized by the general public as a tutorial to evaluate their own safety with respect to EMR exposure. We present a summary of the most prominent health hazards which have been known to occur due to EMR exposure. We also discuss some individual and collective human-centric protective and preventive measures that can be undertaken to reduce the risk of EMR absorption. This paper analyses radiation safety in pre-5G networks and uses the insight gained to raise valuable concerns regarding EMR safety in the upcoming 5G networks.
Highlights
The ever-increasing adoption of wireless communication has created a very complex situation of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure
We have explored the literature in this area and presented a section describing various health risks associated with EMR exposure
We have investigated the power flux densities (PFD) of the EMR emitted from specific devices which are used very extensively in our day to day life
Summary
The ever-increasing adoption of wireless communication has created a very complex situation of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure. Some of the most common electronic/IoT devices which people use today such as mobile-phones, smartphones, laptops, wireless speakers and headphones, and smartwatches, all communicate using radio frequencies When the phone is situated in areas with weak reception such as the far end of its closest cell tower or in the basement of a building, its radiation increases by several magnitudes in order to ensure good connection with the cellular base station Laptops communicate with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology, but Wi-Fi is used more extensively to connect to wireless routers located nearby. The BioInitiative report states that this level is not definite, i.e., based on information from newer studies, it may decrease or increase this level
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