Limiting exposure to radiofrequency radiation: the principles and possible criteria for health protection

Abstract

Purpose

The current paper is aimed to discuss the principles and criteria for health protection to radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF EMF) considering both thermal and non-thermal mechanisms to evaluate the reasonable level for the limits relevant to control the level of RF EMF for the general public in the living environment. The study combines the conclusions of analyses published in recent reviews on RF EMF effects and the data from RF EMF measurements in different countries to select the possible criteria and to derive proposals for the health protection limits on the level of RF EMF following the ALARA principle – as low as reasonably achievable.

Conclusions

Consideration of not only energetic but also coherent qualities of RF EMF leads to two different models for determining the impact of non-ionizing radiation on human health. The thermal model, based on absorption of electromagnetic energy, has a threshold limiting the heating of tissues. The non-thermal model, based on the ability of coherent electric fields to introduce biological effects at constant temperature, has no threshold. Therefore, the impact of RF EMF on human health cannot be excluded but can be minimized by limiting the level of the radiation. The limits can be selected based on indirect criteria. The minimal level of RF EMF that has caused a biological effect is about 2 V/m. The level of long-term broadcast radiation is 6 V/m and the people can be assumed to be adapted to that level without observable health problems. The level of RF EMF measured during last years does not exceed 5 V/m and the level is decreasing with newer generations of telecommunication technology. Limiting the level of RF EMF to the peak value of 6 V/m hopefully reduces the health risk to a minimal level people are adapted to and does not restrict the further development of telecommunication technology.

Keywords:

• Non-ionizing radiation
• thermal model
• non-thermal model
• radiation protection
• health risk

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This research has been initiated by the Ministry of Social Affairs and funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia, Project 5GEMF1.

Notes on contributors

Hiie Hinrikus

Hiie Hinrikus, PhD, DSc, is a Professor Emeritus of Radiophysics at the Department of Health Technologies, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.

Tarmo Koppel

Tarmo Koppel, PhD, is a Lecturer at the Department of Business Administration, School of Business and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.

Jaanus Lass

Jaanus Lass, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Health Technologies, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.

Priit Roosipuu

Priit Roosipuu, MSc, is a Telecom Solutions Developer at the Thomas Johann Seebeck Department of Electronics, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.

Maie Bachmann

Maie Bachmann, PhD, is a Professor of Biosignals Processing at the Department of Health Technologies, School of Information Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, Estonia.