Radiofrequency radiation at Stockholm
Central Railway Station in Sweden and some medical aspects on public exposure
to RF fields
Lennart
Hardell, Tarmo Koppel, Michael Carlberg, Mikko Ahonen, Lena Hedendahl. Radiofrequency
radiation at Stockholm Central Railway Station in Sweden and some medical
aspects on public exposure to RF fields. International Journal of Oncology. Published
online August 12, 2016.
Abstract
The Stockholm
Central Railway Station in Sweden was investigated for public radiofrequency
(RF) radiation exposure. The exposimeter EME Spy 200 was used to collect the RF
exposure data across the railway station. The exposimeter covers 20 different
radiofrequency bands from 88 to 5,850 MHz. In total 1,669 data points were
recorded. The median value for total exposure was 921 µW/m2 (or 0.092 µW/cm2; 1
µW/m2=0.0001 µW/cm2) with some outliers over 95,544 µW/m2 (6 V/m, upper detection
limit). The mean total RF radiation level varied between 2,817 to 4,891 µW/m2
for each walking round. High mean measurements were obtained for GSM + UMTS 900
downlink varying between 1,165 and 2,075 µW/m2. High levels were also obtained
for UMTS 2100 downlink; 442 to 1,632 µW/m2. Also LTE 800 downlink, GSM 1800
downlink, and LTE 2600 downlink were in the higher range of measurements. Hot
spots were identified, for example close to a wall mounted base station
yielding over 95,544 µW/m2 and thus exceeding the exposimeter's detection
limit. Almost all of the total measured levels were above the precautionary
target level of 3-6 µW/m2 as proposed by the BioInitiative Working Group in
2012. That target level was one-tenth of the scientific benchmark providing a
safety margin either for children, or chronic exposure conditions. We compare
the levels of RF radiation exposures identified in the present study to
published scientific results reporting adverse biological effects and health
harm at levels equivalent to, or below those measured in this Stockholm Central
Railway Station project. It should be noted that these RF radiation levels give
transient exposure, since people are generally passing through the areas
tested, except for subsets of people who are there for hours each day of work.
Excerpts
The mean
measurements in the Stockholm Central Station showed a total RF radiation
between 2,817 to 4,891 μW/m2. Studies with laboratory animals exposed to RF
radiation at or below these levels have shown influence on several
physiological parameters in the body of mammals. Influence on the blood-brain
barrier, proteins and microRNA in the brain, testicular function, oxidative
stress in the cells and DNA damage have been shown. Also neurotransmitters in
people living in a village were changed after activation of a GSM mobile phone
base station. These are non-thermal effects and are discussed briefly …
Due to the
rapid development of the telecommunications technology and the evolution of the
wireless infrastructure, it is imperative to measure public's exposure. Yearly
monitoring measurements would allow an overview of the public's exposure
budget, since nowadays, rapid deployment of new RF radiation sources take
place. The information obtained by the exposure studies allows assessing
public's exposure to RF radiation today and in the years to come, when future
epidemiologic studies seek for information in assessing the historic exposure
levels to which the public was commonly exposed. Unfortunately studies on human
risk from long-term environmental RF radiation based on personal exposure
monitoring do not exist to our knowledge. Given the lack of good historic RF
radiation exposure information to date, it is imperative that better efforts be
directed to periodic collection of RF radiation exposures in daily life for use
in epidemiological studies of cancer as well as of neurological diseases and
other adverse health effects attributed to RF radiation exposures.
Plets
D, Joseph W, Aerts S, Vermeeren G, Varsier N, Wiart J, Martens L. Assessment of contribution of other users to own total whole-body RF
absorption in train environment. Bioelectromagnetics. 2015 Oct 29. doi:
10.1002/bem.21938. [Epub ahead of print]
Abstract
For
the first time, the contribution of radio-frequent radiation
originating from other people's devices to total own whole-body
absorption is assessed in a simulation study.
Absorption in a
train environment due to base station's downlink is compared with
absorption due to uplink (UL) of the user's own mobile device and
absorption due to the UL of 0, 1, 5, or 15 other nearby active users.
In
a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) macro cell connection
scenario, UL of 15 other users can cause up to 19% of total absorption
when calling yourself and up to 100% when not calling yourself. In a
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) femtocell connection
scenario, UL of 15 other users contributes to total absorption of a
non-calling user for no more than 1.5%. For five other users in the
train besides the considered person, median total whole-body Specific
Absorption Rate is reduced by a factor of about 400,000 when deploying a
UMTS femtocell base station instead of relying on the GSM macrocell.
http://1.usa.gov/1jXzFRZ
Excerpts
Two
train scenarios were investigated, for which a 20 m × 2.83 m train
wagon (type M6, lower floor of double-decker, built by Bombardier
(Montreal, Canada) and Alstom (Levallois-Perret, France)) with 66
passenger seats were considered (Fig. 1). The first scenario was a
reference scenario, where people in the train made a phone call and
connected to a GSM macro cell base station at 900 MHz (GSM900), a
typical current deployment. The second scenario considered a future
deployment, in which people on the train made a phone call and connected
to an in-train UMTS FBS.
It can be concluded that for current
deployments, contributions of other in-train users is sometimes not
negligible: 15 other users connected to a GSM 900 macro cell base station
can induce absorption rates up to 24% of that induced by user's own
device. This corresponds for the scenario to a contribution of 19% to
total absorption rate when calling yourself and a contribution of 100%
when not calling yourself. A UMTS femtocell deployment in this
environment drastically reduces total absorption (when calling, at least
by a factor 39097) and makes the other users' contributions to total
absorption negligible (at most 1.5% of the total absorption when not
calling yourself). Future research will consist of considering influence
of antenna orientation of mobile device and of assessment of 4G and 5G
scenarios. In-train Long-Term Evolution (LTE) femtocell BS will provide a
user with high data rate traffic, while keeping exposure low, thanks to
power control mechanisms.
--
October 29, 2012
Secondhand Exposure to Cell Phone Radiation: An Emerging Public Health Problem?
Exposure to other people's cell phone radiation on buses and trains can be considerable according to a newly published study.
Joel M. Moskowitz, PhD, Press Release, Oct. 29, 2012 - PRLog
Many people are unaware that they are exposed to cell phone radiation when their cell phones are in standby mode. This occurs because their cell phone contacts the nearest cell tower periodically to update its location.
In a moving vehicle, cell phones in standby mode contact cell towers more frequently. Thus, exposure to cell phone radiation from one's cell phone is greater in transit.
The Israeli Environmental Protection Ministry found that "when one fourth of the passengers in one train car or bus use their cell phones, all the passengers are exposed to a level of radiation higher than the allowable 0.8 watts per kilogram" (0). Thus, everyone's exposure exceeds the legal safety limit.
Two Swiss researchers, Damiano Urbinello and Martin Roosli, set out to measure personal cell phone radiation exposure during car, bus and train trips when one's own phone was in standby mode.
Their study just published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiologyidentified a source of cell phone radiation that may constitute a public health problem. Namely, secondhand exposure to cell phone radiation from other people's cell phones can be considerable while traveling on buses and trains (1).
During bus or train trips, individuals may be exposed to considerable amounts of cell phone radiation from other people's cell phones. Buses and railroad cars act like "Faraday cages" that reflect much of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by cell phones throughout the vehicles' interiors. Thus, all passengers, including infants and pregnant women as well as those without cell phones, may be exposed to considerable levels of cell phone radiation emitted by others' phones.
As for car trips, the results of the study suggest that exposure to cell phone radiation from one's own phone in standby mode is relatively low compared to overall exposures during public transit. Nonetheless, those who are concerned about their exposure to cell phone radiation should turn off their phones during car trips, or at the very least, avoid using their phones for calls.
● "The study indicates that own uplink exposure during car driving can be considerably reduced (about a fraction of 100) when turning off ones own mobile phone in order to prevent it from location updates." (1)
The researchers found that GSM, the 2G carrier system in Europe which is used in the U.S. for voice communication by AT&T and T-Mobile, is particularly problematic compared to UMTS, a 3G carrier system used for data transmission. The researchers did not test CDMA which in the U.S. is used by Verizon and Sprint for voice calls. Other research has found that GSM emits 13 to 28 times more radiation on average than CDMA during phone calls. No published studies have examined exposures from LTE, the 4G carrier system now in widespread use in this country.
● "GSM levels in the reference scenario during bus and train rides were about 100 times higher than those during car rides. As a consequence of this high background exposure in trains, due to the use of other people's mobile phone in a closed area intensified by the Faraday cage effect, the relative contribution of the location update from ones own mobile phone is small" (1)
The study also reported that smart phones, including the iPhone 4 and the Blackberry Bold 8800, which can operate on four radiofrequency bands emit more radiation during standby mode than classic phones, like the Nokia 2600, which operate on two bands.
Earlier this year, a study was published that examined cell phones in standby mode while stationary. Kjell Mild and his colleagues from Sweden found that under these conditions cell phones contacted the cell towers only once every two to five hours. They concluded that exposure to cell phone radiation in this situation "can be considered negligible." (2)
These studies should be replicated in the U.S. as well as in other countries since every cell phone carrier system operates differently.
In the meantime it is advisable to keep cell phone use in moving vehicles to a minimum as low level exposures to cell phone radiation have been associated with deleterious effects in humans.
To protect us from the health risks associated with cell phones and related devices (e.g., cordless phones, Wi-Fi, wireless Smart Meters and security systems, and cell towers), we need research independent of industry to develop biologically-based standards and safer technologies. A nickel a month from each cell phone subscription would suffice to fund a comprehensive program of research. Since the average cell phone subscription costs more than $47.00 per month, this tiny fee constitutes a prudent investment in our health and our children's health.
References
0) Minat, Z. Ministries look at cell phone-free zones on public transit. Haaretz. Apr 10, 2012.
1) Urbinello D, Roosli M. Impact of one's own mobile phone in stand-by mode on personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology advance online publication, Oct 24, 2012.
Abstract
When moving around, mobile phones in stand-by mode periodically send data about their positions. The aim of this paper is to evaluate how personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) measurements are affected by such location updates. Exposure from a mobile phone handset (uplink) was measured during commuting by using a randomized cross-over study with three different scenarios: disabled mobile phone (reference), an activated dual-band phone and a quad-band phone. In the reference scenario, uplink exposure was highest during train rides (1.19 mW/m(2)) and lowest during car rides in rural areas (0.001 mW/m(2)). In public transports, the impact of one's own mobile phone on personal RF-EMF measurements was not observable because of high background uplink radiation from other people's mobile phone. In a car, uplink exposure with an activated phone was orders of magnitude higher compared with the reference scenario. This study demonstrates that personal RF-EMF exposure is affected by one's own mobile phone in stand-by mode because of its regular location update. Further dosimetric studies should quantify the contribution of location updates to the total RF-EMF exposure in order to clarify whether the duration of mobile phone use, the most common exposure surrogate in the epidemiological RF-EMF research, is actually an adequate exposure proxy.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=23093102
2) Mild KH, Andersen JB, Pedersen GF. Is there any exposure from a mobile phone in stand-by mode?Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine. 2012 Mar;31(1):52-6.
Abstract
Several studies have been using a GSM mobile phone in stand-by mode as the source for exposure, and they claimed that this caused effects on for instance sleep and testicular function. In stand-by mode the phone is only active in periodic location updates, and this occurs with a frequency set by the net operator. Typical updates occur with 2-5 h in between, and between these updates the phone is to be considered as a passive radio receiver with no microwave emission. Thus, the exposure in stand-by mode can be considered negligible.
http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.201...