Final project for completion of the Radio Signals and Health online course offered by the GSMA Capacity Building programme by: Raquel Martin-Zeegelaar

1. Radiation from
Basestations and
Wireless Networks:
Health and safety
Räquel Martin-Zeegelaar
Telecommunications Authority Suriname (TAS)
1/8/2017
Final Project
Radio Signals and Health online course offered by the GSMA Capacity Building programme

2. Radiation from Basestations and Wireless
Networks: Health and safety
▪ RF signals
▪ Health effects
▪ Safety guidelines
▪ Safety and protection measures
▪ Responsibilty of stakeholders
▪ References
Contents
Base station and wireless networks

3. RF Signals
Base stations and wireless networks transmit
information through propagation of RF signals.
RF signals are electromagnetic wave
frequencies in the Electromagnetic Spectrum
from around 3 kHz to 300 GHz.
These electromagnetic waves carry energy
through a medium or space, they propagate an
electromagnetic field (EMF). The transfer of this
energy is called radiation.
Exposure to RF radiation is addressed as RF
exposure or EMF exposure.
Illustration of radiated Electromagnetic wave

4. RF signals
RF signals cannot directly
impart enough energy to a
molecule to break or change
chemical bonds, they are
non-ionising.
Ionising radiation on the other
hand, can strip electrons from
atoms and molecules,
producing changes that can
lead to tissue damage and
possibly cancer (such as x-
rays, gamma rays). [1]
Electromagnetic Spectrum

5. Health Effects
Concerns:
There is widespread public concern about the long-term effects caused by exposure to RF radiation
from antennas of base stations and other wireless networks.
Research
Over more than a decade extensive studies have been conducted by different organizations
involved with RF radiation, standardization and health. Some of these organizations that have a big
contribution to this matter are:
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
• National Council on Radiation protection and Measurements (NCRP)
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• International Telecommunication Unit (ITU).

6. Health Effects
Research and findings
• Extensive Research have been done about acute and long-term effects of HF exposure below
the thermal threshold, no evidence of adverse health effects have been found. [2]
• Long term research on animals with RF fields plenty times greater than what RF transmitters
from base stations and wireless network in reality radiate, no increased risk to cancer by RF
exposure has been determined. [3]
• A lot of studies have been carried out to find relevancy between HF fields and health effects
such as headaches, concentration difficulty, sleep quality, cognitive function, cardiovascular
effects, etc. Only a small effect on brain activity is observed in these studies, for which a clear
explanation is yet to be given. No clear relationship is found between HF fields and such
health effects. [3]

7. Health Effects
Research and findings
• Patterns of brain waves, cognition and behavior after exposure to RF Fields specifically
generated by mobile phones with exposure levels plenty times higher than exposure to the
public caused by base stations and wireless networks have been researched. No adverse health
effects have been proven. [2], [3]
• Research have shown that the only scientifically proven health effect of RF-fields are related to
an increase of body temperature greater than 1֯ C. This is only possible when exposed to very
high field strengths, which are not even close to radiation from base-station antennas and
wireless technologies. Those are so low that increase of body temperature is not even
noticeable and has no damaging health effects. [2], [3]

8. Health Effects
Conclusions
“Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no
convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks
cause adverse health effects.”
http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/
“The overall evaluation of all the research on HF fields leads to the conclusion that HF exposure
below the thermal threshold is unlikely to be associated with adverse health effects.”
http://www.icnirp.org/en/frequencies/high-frequency/index.html
“…it is important that additional research be conducted into the long‐term, heavy use of mobile
phones. Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures
to reduce exposure such as hands‐free devices or texting.”
http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf

9. Safety Guidelines
Based on a detailed assessment of the available scientific evidence
The ICNIRP has set guidelines for human exposure to EMF, adopted
by most countries.
In the guidelines ICNIRP recommends limiting exposure to HF to a
safety margin that guarantees that no adverse health effects are
experienced when EMF levels are within the established limits.
These limits assure protection to workers and the general public and
are not applicable to patients undergoing medical diagnosis or
treatment.
http://www.icnirp.org/cms/uploa
d/publications/ICNIRPemfgdl.pdf

10. Safety Guidelines
Exposure guidelines limits
Two classes of guidance are presented :
• Basic restrictions: Restrictions on exposure to time-varying electromagnetic fields that are
based directly on established health effects given in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) –
the rate of radiofrequency energy absorption per unit mass of the body with the unit W/kg
(watts/ kilogram of body tissue).
Protection against adverse health effects requires that these basic restrictions are not
exceeded. [4]
• Reference levels: Exposure levels outside the body provided for practical exposure assessment
purposes to determine if the basic restrictions are likely to be exceeded. Remaining below the
reference levels (in air) implies that the basic restrictions will also be met (in the body)
If measured values are higher than reference levels, it does not necessarily follow that the
reference levels have been exceeded, but a more detailed analysis is necessary to assess
compliance with the basic restrictions. [4]

11. Safety guidelines
EMF compliance limits for EMF workers
A distinction is made in exposure guidelines limits for EMF workers and limits for the general public. Limits
for EMF workers are higher than for the general public, seen that workers are trained to be aware of
potential risks and know what appropriate precautions to take. These limits apply to exposure averaged over
a 6 minute period. [5], [6]
https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/gsma2008rfworkersafetymmf-1.pdf
EMF compliance limits for general public

12. Safety and protective measures
The aim of protective measures is to eliminate or reduce human exposure to RF fields below
acceptable limits.
General protective measures:
• Always comply with all aspects of the ICNIRP guidelines
• Be informed and updated; especially personnel must acquaint themselves with the up-to-
date technical and safety information
• Limit exposure time
• Use handsfree devices

13. Safety and protective measures
 Compliance distance
RF fields are strongest close to the source and decrease
significantly with increasing distance. The distance at which the
RF level is always below the RF exposure limit is called the
compliance distance and is related to reference level or SAR
SAR limits. [5]
Illustration of a sign used to inform about the
compliance distance for RF workers
https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-
content/uploads/2012/03/gsma2008rfworkersa
fetymmf-1.pdf
• Maintain a safe distance from radiation source, e.g. antenna

14. Safety and protective measures
https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-
content/uploads/2012/03/gsma2008rfworkersafety
mmf-1.pdf
 Compliance boundary / exclusion zone
A compliance boundary specifies the compliance distance in all radiating directions of the
antenna. [5]
Exceedance zone: no Access
Occupational zone: Only EMF workers have access
Compliance zone: Area accessible by the general Public
Illustration of compliance boundaries around a radiator

15. Safety and protective measures
Where basic restrictions are being exceeded, measures for the protection of workers include :
• engineering controls: good safety design and, where necessary, the use of interlocks or similar
health protection mechanisms.
• administrative controls: limitations on access and the use of audible and visible warnings
above have priority over the following measures. [6]
instruction/warning signs Personal Monitor

16. Safety and protective measures
• personal protection programs: protective clothing, as insulated gloves (the basic restrictions
must not be exceeded), though useful in certain circumstances, should be regarded as a last
resort to ensure the safety of the worker.
• medical surveillance
Protective clothing
With the exception of protective clothing and other personal
protection, the same measures can be applied to the general
public whenever there is a possibility that the general public
reference levels might be exceeded. [6]

17. Responsibilities of stakeholders
▪ Adopt international standards to protect
their citizens against adverse levels of RF
fields.
▪ Perform site surveys to quantify RF field
levels in the area
▪ Restrict access to areas where exposure
limits may be exceeded
▪ Provide education programmes, effective
communications and involvement of the
public and other stakeholders
▪ Conduct risk communication if necessary
Regulator/ Government authority
▪ Ensuring compliance with all aspects of
the guidelines
▪ Perform site surveys to quantify RF field
levels in the area
▪ restrict access to areas where exposure
limits may be exceeded
▪ Apply appropriate protective measures for
workers
RF mobile and wireless industry
▪ Be involved in RF exposure matters and stay informed about health risks
Public
Academics
• Carry out liable research especially on topics
that reside in a grey area and publish the
results, accessible for the greater public

18. Conclusion
• Scientific research has not proven adverse health effects from exposure to high
frequency radiation from base station or wireless networks
• Additional research should be done about the long term heavy use of mobile phones.
• Exposure limits are set out by ICNIRP and should be followed at any time
• Protective measurements should be used by everybody exposed to limits higher than
the threshold value and also those who think
• All stakeholders should join together to create and keep a risk free RF environment

19. References
1. Radio Signals and Health online course offered by the GSMA Capacity Building programme,
sessions 1 to 6
2. http://www.icnirp.org/en/frequencies/high-frequency/index.html
3. http://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs322/en/
4. http://www.icnirp.org/en/frequencies/high-frequency/index.html
5. https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-
content/uploads/2012/03/gsma2008rfworkersafetymmf-1.pdf
6. http://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIRPemfgdl.pdf
7. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/en/
8. http://www.who.int/peh-emf/meetings/archive/en/keynote5dawoud.pdf
9. http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf
10. https://www9.nationalgridus.com/niagaramohawk/attachments/non_html/rf_procedure.pdf