Development of an RF-EMF Exposure Surrogate for Epidemiologic Research

Abstract

Exposure assessment is a crucial part in studying potential effects of RF-EMF. Using data from the HERMES study on adolescents, we developed an integrative exposure surrogate combining near-field and far-field RF-EMF exposure in a single brain and whole-body exposure measure. Contributions from far-field sources were modelled by propagation modelling and multivariable regression modelling using personal measurements. Contributions from near-field sources were assessed from both, questionnaires and mobile phone operator records. Mean cumulative brain and whole-body doses were 1559.7 mJ/kg and 339.9 mJ/kg per day, respectively. 98.4% of the brain dose originated from near-field sources, mainly from GSM mobile phone calls (93.1%) and from DECT phone calls (4.8%). Main contributors to the whole-body dose were GSM mobile phone calls (69.0%), use of computer, laptop and tablet connected to WLAN (12.2%) and data traffic on the mobile phone via WLAN (6.5%). The exposure from mobile phone base stations contributed 1.8% to the whole-body dose, while uplink exposure from other people’s mobile phones contributed 3.6%. In conclusion, the proposed approach is considered useful to combine near-field and far-field exposure to an integrative exposure surrogate for exposure assessment in epidemiologic studies. However, substantial uncertainties remain about exposure contributions from various near-field and far-field sources.

Outdoor and indoor sources of residential radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, personal cell phone and cordless phone use, and cognitive function in 5–6 years old children

“…The estimation of RF-EMF levels from outdoor sources was also limited to mobile phone base stations, even though there are more sources of outdoor RF-EMF, such as radio and TV broadcast stations. Nonetheless, mobile phone base stations represent the major source of environmental outdoor RF-EMF exposure (Bolte and Eikelboom, 2012;Roser et al, 2015). Indoor residential RF-EMF exposure sources and child's cell phone and cordless phone use at 5-6 years old was reported by the mothers at 7 years' follow-up and a differential recall bias related to the outcome could have been introduced.…”

“…Although we assessed different sources of RF-EMF exposure, the development in future studies of an integrative RF-EMF exposure at different ages may be helpful to better understand the exact contribution of the different exposure sources to the RF-EMF dose received in the brain (Roser et al, 2015). Moreover, a better understanding of the potential biological mechanism behind the studied associations in the epidemiological studies is indispensable to interpret the results more precisely.…”

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

“…A further limitation is the use of self-reported mobile or cordless phone use as proxy for RF-EMF exposure, because such reports are inaccurate (Aydin et al 2011;Inyang et al 2009) and do not take into account other sources that contribute to the RF-EMF exposure of adolescents such as the use of computers, laptops and tablets connected to wireless internet (WLAN) or the exposure from fixed site transmitters for broadcast and mobile telecommunication (Lauer et al 2013;Roser et al 2015a). …”

Symptoms and the use of wireless communication devices: A prospective cohort study in Swiss adolescents

“…To be able to calculate a RF-EMF dose to the brain and the whole body of the participating adolescents, an integrative RF-EMF exposure surrogate including various factors affecting near-field and far-field RF-EMF exposure was developed, which is described in detail in Roser et al (2015). The near-field component combines the exposure from the use of wireless devices (mobile phones, cordless phones, computer/laptop/tablet connected to wireless internet (WLAN)).…”