A model for radiofrequency electromagnetic field predictions at outdoor and indoor locations in the context of epidemiological research

Abstract

We present a geospatial model to predict the radiofrequency electromagnetic field from fixed site transmitters for use in epidemiological exposure assessment. The proposed model extends an existing model toward the prediction of indoor exposure, that is, at the homes of potential study participants. The model is based on accurate operation parameters of all stationary transmitters of mobile communication base stations, and radio broadcast and television transmitters for an extended urban and suburban region in the Basel area (Switzerland). The model was evaluated by calculating Spearman rank correlations and weighted Cohen's kappa (kappa) statistics between the model predictions and measurements obtained at street level, in the homes of volunteers, and in front of the windows of these homes. The correlation coefficients of the numerical predictions with street level measurements were 0.64, with indoor measurements 0.66, and with window measurements 0.67. The kappa coefficients were 0.48 (95%-confidence interval: 0.35-0.61) for street level measurements, 0.44 (95%-CI: 0.32-0.57) for indoor measurements, and 0.53 (95%-CI: 0.42-0.65) for window measurements. Although the modeling of shielding effects by walls and roofs requires considerable simplifications of a complex environment, we found a comparable accuracy of the model for indoor and outdoor points.

Mobile phone use, behavioural problems and concentration capacity in adolescents: A prospective study

“…The far-field component aggregates the exposure from environmental sources. To predict the exposures from radio and television broadcast transmitters and mobile phone base stations a geospatial propagation model was used (Bürgi et al 2010;Bürgi et al 2008).…”

Memory performance, wireless communication and exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields: A prospective cohort study in adolescents

“…For mobile phone calls we also considered the type of network that was used for each call, either directly obtained from the operator data or estimated for selfreported data by mixed linear regression models with school as cluster variable calibrated on the operator data using the following predictors: type of mobile phone operator, use of mobile internet on mobile phone (yes/no) and modelled UMTS exposure levels at home. The far-field component aggregates the exposure from environmental sources, which were derived from propagation modelling for radio and TV broadcast transmitters as well as for mobile phone base stations (Bürgi et al 2010;Bürgi et al 2008). Exposure from cordless phone base stations, WLAN access points and other people's mobile phones were estimated by linear regression models calibrated on the personal measurement data available from 95 study participants .…”

Cohort study on the effects of everyday life radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure on non-specific symptoms and tinnitus

“…Exposure to environmental far-field sources as well as to near-field sources were considered. Regarding exposure to environmental far-field sources, we used two surrogates: 1) Residential exposure to fixed site transmitters (mobile phone base stations and broadcast transmitters), calculated by means of a geospatial propagation model which had been developed and validated for the study region (Bürgi et al 2008;Bürgi et al 2010).…”