Radio Signal and Health

1. Radio Signal and Health
ENG : SHEFQET MEDA

2. Do we pay for any costs for this?!
Are Radio Signals dangerous to
our Health?!
RFs are everywhere.
On every home, office,
building, car, bar. Its for
me and for you. It’s even
your religious.
We use and thanks
everyday RF as they are
the presence and the
future in our life.
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02
03
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But the main question is:
RF – Radio Frequency

3. Arguments that radio signals are health hazards will
be based mainly on these:
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4
3
3
3
1
ICNIRP – publication-Exposure to high frequency
electromagnetic fields, biological effects and health
consequences (100 kHz-300 GHz)
WHO key facts
ITU recommendations and studies
The International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC), studies facts and evidences

4. Guidelines
 The present international guidelines were published in 1998.
 Many expert reviews and statements from ICNIRP in 2009 and 2017 have confirmed that they
remain valid.
 ICNIRP has previously reviewed limits for frequencies up to 100 kHz (up to 10 MHz for some
limits).
 ICNIRP published a draft for frequencies from 100 kHz to 300 GHz in mid-2018 and confirms
many of the limits in the 1998 guidelines.
 The proposal was finalised in 2020. (ICNIRP GUIDELINES FOR LIMITING EXPOSURE TO
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS (100 KHZ TO 300 GHZ) PUBLISHED IN: HEALTH PHYS 118(5): 483–524;
2020

5. Purpose of the Guidelines

6. Many studies specific to mobile communications

7. Hazards of radiofrequency (RF) exposure

8. Established adverse effects form the basis
of RF exposure standards
 The only adverse effects (hazards) that have been
clearly observed and understood are acute
(immediate).
Absorption of radiofrequency energy leads to an
increase of body temperature (general or local).
 Thermal effects exhibit thresholds that are well
above levels that are experienced by the public.
 Exposure limits (well below thresholds) totally
prevent such effects.

9. How we do this

10. Possibility of long-term adverse effects

11. IARC Monographs
‘A cancer hazard is an agent that is capable of causing cancer under
some circumstances, while a cancer risk is an estimate of the
carcinogenic effects expected from exposure to a cancer hazard.’
‘Monographs identify cancer hazards even when risks are very low at
current exposure levels, because new uses or unforeseen exposures
could engender risks that are significantly higher.’

12. IARC classification framework
Classification Groups
1 – Established
2A – Probably
2B – Possibly
3 – Unclassifiable
4 – Probably not

13. Compliance zones near to the antennas

14. Mobile networks levels similar to other radio sources

15. 5G and new wireless technologies
o Expected to use frequencies similar today and also much higher frequencies,
known as millimetre waves, that are mostly absorbed by the skin
o International exposure guidelines are not technology specific and apply to new
wireless applications
o New methods for assessing compliance for devices and antennas
“The strict and safe exposure limits for electromagnetic fields recommended at EU
level apply for all frequency bands currently envisaged for 5G.” – European
Commission, 2017

16. Advanced antenna technologies
- Conventional antennas transmits a radio signal to a wide area regardless of how many
users are connected
- Advanced beam forming antennas transmit radio signals only to connected users
reducing unwanted exposure
- More complex compliance assessment approaches

18. Established risk

19. Established mechanisms for RF energy

20. Whole body heating
 Core body temperature varies naturally about 1ºC
 • Core body temperature rises of more than 1-2 ºC over prolonged periods can
 have adverse health effects such as heat exhaustion (headache, nausea &
 dizziness) and heat stroke
 • SAR = specific absorption rate (units of W/kg)
 • The rate at which RF energy is absorbed in body tissues
 • Normal loads from activity vary from about 1 to 10 W/kg
 • A whole-body-average SAR of 1 W/kg for one hour, and up to 4 W/kg for
 short periods, will result in a rise of less than 1ºC in core body temperature in
 resting subjects in moderate thermal environments

21. Factors affecting whole body SAR
Intensity of the RF field
Frequency of the RF field
Polarisation of the RF field
Size of the person
Grounding of the person

22. Surface heating
At frequencies above 10 GHz the skin depth of
absorption is very small.
• Skin depth penetration at 10 GHz = 3.8 mm
• Skin depth penetration at 100 GHz = 0.36 mm
RF power at high frequencies is absorbed as surface
heating, similar to heating from an infrared lamp.
Limit specified in terms of power density (W/m2).

23. IARC classification for RF
 RF-EMF are classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
- This means that when an event has occurred and is
associated by the suspicion that it is caused by the RF-EMF then it
will be considered as credible.
Therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cancer
risk and EMF. But we need to be careful that because of the lack of
evidence or data for another cause we do not confound it with EMF.
Additional research be conducted into the long‐term.
- More studies on evidence of carcinogenicity because the
studies up to now so far are inadequate and do not provide
sufficient evidence for a grounded suspicion.
There is no a causal association between exposure and cancer, or
data on cancer in humans available.

24. The main conclusion of the WHO and many
independent expert reviews is that there are no
established health risks where antennas comply
with these limits.
A Belgium study11 found that in a 3G network with average macrocell
coverage using a small cell resulted in total exposures that were 20-40
times lower, mostly due to the significant reduction in the mobile phone
output power.

25. ​​​ITU: No scientific basis between 5G and COVID-19
 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a threat to humanity and the
first pandemic in human history where information technology and
social media are being used on a massive scale to help cope with
and respond to the disease.
 But if these technologies have helped keep people safe, productive
and connected during this unprecedented crisis, they have also
spread fear and confusion about COVID-19.
 To tackle this issue and overcome the spread of COVID-19, ITU has
urged to promote facts and science over despair and division.
 As claims linking 5G technology and the spread of COVID-19 are
mounting, ITU stands on the side of science and makes it clear
that such claims have no scientific basis whatsoever.
 Bringing trusted news and facts about COVID-19 is paramount.
 “Now, more than ever, information technology is vital to our
economy, health, and safety. And ITU, as the UN specialized
agency for information and communication technologies, will
continue to leverage these technologies to help defeat COVID-19
and make us safer, stronger, and more connected.

26. References and tools:
GSMA: Mobile and Health
ICNIRP: High frequency health effects and protection guidelines
WHO: Electromagnetic fields and public health: mobile phones
WHO: Electromagnetic fields and public health: base stations and wireless technologies
ITU-T: Activities on human exposure to EMFs due to radio systems and mobile equipment
EMF-Portal: Science database
GSMA Risk Communication Guide for Mobile Phones and Base Stations
GSMA Summary of IARC Monograph on Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields
GSMA Mobile Communications and Health (multiple languages)
Photo for representation only. iStock
Laws and regulations in Albania

27. Thank you!