Abstract

BackgroundThe general population is exposed to Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMFs) used by telecommunication networks. Previous studies developed methods to assess this exposure. These methods will be inadequate to accurately assess exposure in 5G technologies or other wireless technologies using adaptive antennas. This is due to the fact that 5G NR (new radio) base stations will focus actively on connected users, resulting in a high spatio-temporal variations in the RF-EMFs. This increases the measurement uncertainty in personal measurements of RF-EMF exposure. Furthermore, a user’s exposure from base stations will be dependent on the amount of data usage, adding a new component to the auto-induced exposure, which is often omitted in current studies.GoalsThe objective of this paper is to develop a general study protocol for future personal RF-EMF exposure research adapted to 5G technologies. This protocol will include the assessment of auto-induced exposure of both a user’s own devices and the networks’ base stations.MethodThis study draws from lessons learned from previous RF-EMF exposure research and current knowledge on 5G technologies, including studies simulating 5G NR base stations and measurements around 5G NR test sites.ResultsTo account for auto-induced exposure, an activity-based approach is introduced. In survey studies, an RF-EMF sensor is fixed on the participants’ mobile device(s). Based on the measured power density, GPS data and movement and proximity sensors, different activities can be clustered and the exposure during each activity is evaluated. In microenvironmental measurements, a trained researcher performs measurements in predefined microenvironments with a mobile device equipped with the RF-EMF sensor. The mobile device is programmed to repeat a sequence of data transmission scenarios (different amounts of uplink and downlink data transmissions). Based on simulations, the amount of exposure induced in the body when the user device is at a certain location relative to the body, can be evaluated.ConclusionOur protocol addresses the main challenges to personal exposure measurement introduced by 5G NR. A systematic method to evaluate a user’s auto-induced exposure is introduced.

Highlights

  • The growth of wireless telecommunication technologies has raised public concern about potential health effects of personal exposure to the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) that are emitted by these networks and their users

  • This study draws from lessons learned from previous Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMFs) exposure research and current knowledge on 5G technologies, including studies simulating 5G NR base stations and measurements around 5G NR test sites

  • A trained researcher performs measurements in predefined microenvironments with a mobile device equipped with the RF-EMF sensor

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Summary

Introduction

The growth of wireless telecommunication technologies has raised public concern about potential health effects of personal exposure to the radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) that are emitted by these networks and their users. Participants selected from the general public are given a personal exposure meter (PEM) to carry with them for a certain amount of time. They are instructed to keep a diary of their activities and based on this, summary statistics on population exposure are obtained. A trained researcher performs the measurements in a way that represents the typical behaviour in the environment of interest In both cases it has proven difficult to quantify the RF-EMF exposure induced within the user by their own devices. The main requirements are that participants are randomly selected, representative for their part of the population, and that the sample of participants is large enough [11]

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