Intensity-time dependence dosing criterion in the EMF exposure guidelines in Russia

Abstract

Major approaches of the Russian Federation in setting of exposure guidelines to electromagnetic fields (EMF) in occupational and public environments are discussed in this paper. EMF exposure guidelines in Russia are based on the results of hygienic, clinical, physiological, epidemiological and experimental studies and are frequency-dependent. The concept of a threshold principle of occupational and environmental factors due to hazardous exposure effects has been used to set permissible exposure levels of different EMF frequency ranges. The data of experimental studies showed hazardous threshold levels of EMF effects. The main criteria of EMF hazardous exposure evaluated in the experimental study concerned both estimation of threshold levels of chronic (long-term) and acute exposure. Also, this paper contains some recent experimental study data on correlation of long-term radiofrequency and power-frequency EMF exposure effects with regard to time duration, the so-called time-dependence approach. It enables identification of the value of permissible EMF exposure levels depending on exposure duration. This approach is used in occupational exposure guideline setting and requires the introduction of "power exposition" (PE) and "maximal permissible level" (MPL). In general, EMF exposure guidelines are established with regard to possible duration of exposure per day.

Electromagnetic Field Biological Effects Studies as Important Principle of Hygienic Standardization in the Russian Federation

“…The main discrepancy between the Russian and the international EMF hygienic standardization approaches are in different concepts of "cumulative" or "acute" effects. Since EMF hygienic norms in Russia are time-dependent, the principle "protection by time" is based on biological responses realization [1]. The Russian concept of EMF exposure biological effects (depending on intensity) is divided into 3 zones: sub-threshold zone, the zone of adaptive perception, and the zone of hazard effects [2].…”

Spectral density constraints on wireless communication

“…Constraints on transmitted power and on the electrical and magnetic field strength due to transmission exist currently in documents prepared and published by several international standards organizations [1,2,3,4]. Some of these regulations are explicitly formulated for the purpose of avoiding possible harmful effects on health [5,6], and others are formulated as technical restrictions on the use of electromagnetic spectrum, for communication [7], without explicitly acknowledging the potential for harm to be caused.…”