Radio frequency exposure and safety associated with base stations used for personal wireless telecommunication

Abstract

The persistent public concern about the biological effects and safety of RF exposure from wireless base stations can be traced, in part, to the public's desire to protect itself from unnecessary exposure to potentially harmful radiation, including RF and microwaves associated with cellular mobile telecommunication operations. This concern is posing new questions regarding the adequacy of the existing knowledge of biological effects of RF electromagnetic fields, and of the protection afforded the public from the harmful effects of these fields. Existing guidelines and standards were developed primarily from a scientific database derived using continuous-wave (CW) exposures. While some studies have reported biological effects specific to the signal forms and modulations commonly used by wireless mobile telecommunication, a majority of previous studies using these signal forms and modulations did not show any effect. However, given the confined scope and extent of recent studies, a wider range of investigations would be propitious in elucidating the safety of wireless base stations.