On the Measurement of Human Exposure to Cellular Networks

Abstract

The measurement of Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) is an important topic in today's scenarios. Indeed, the even more pervasive diffusion of cellular networks (also with incoming 5G technology), as well as short-range and personal wireless devices, has increased interest in human exposure issues. Focusing the attention on cellular systems, although regulators and normative committees are conveying specific guidelines for the measurements of EMFs generated by second-generation (2G), third-generation (3G) and fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication systems, there are still several issues to be addressed regarding the most reliable measurement procedures and evaluation of the related measurement uncertainties. In particular, the high variability of voice and data traffic makes it very difficult to achieve reliable forecasting of human exposure to 3G and 4G systems in both narrowband and dosimetric measurements. Therefore, refinement of measurement methods and procedures, as well as data post-processing and averaging techniques, are still open issues that must be investigated in detail by the measurement and networking community.