Myths and Facts on Radiation from Mobile Phones and … Library/Tariq...Myths and Facts on Radiation...

Myths and Facts on

Radiation from Mobile Phones and Base StationsTariq H Alamri

CITC, [email protected]

WEDNESDAY, 25TH MAY 2011 1

2PUBLIC AWARENESS ON HEALTH & SAFETY FROM

MOBILE PHONES AND TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS 25TH MAY 2011 2PUBLIC AWARENESS ON HEALTH & SAFETY FROM

MOBILE PHONES AND TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS 25TH MAY 2011

Contents

Introduction to Electromagnetic Radiation

Public Perception

How Safe are Mobile Phones and Base

Stations

Recent Review of Health Effects from

Mobiles and Base Stations

Tips to Reduce RF Exposure

The Way Forward




Contents

Introduction to

Electromagnetic Radiation Public Perception

How Safe are Mobile Phones and Base Stations

Recent Review of Health Effect from Mobiles and

Base Stations


The Way Forward




Introduction to

Electromagnetic Radiation Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) or electromagnetic

energy (EME) or electromagnetic waves

The radiated waves consist of oscillating electric (E)

and magnetic (H) fields, which are propagate through

space with the speed of light (3 x 108 m/s)




Introduction to

Electromagnetic Radiation

Electromagnetic waves exist everywhere in our

environment: the Earth, Sun and ionosphere are all

natural sources of EMR

Human-made sources include electrical appliances,

vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, radio communications

devices, AM / FM radio and television, mobile

phones, Wi-Fi modems, infrared radiation, X-rays,

etc.

Electromagnetic radiation is classified according to

the frequency or wavelength of its wave




Electromagnetic Spectrum

1 10 100 1 10 100 1 10 100 1 10 100 1 10 100

Hz kHz MHz GHz THz

Infrared

radiationRadio frequency (RF)

radiation

AM

radio

FM

radio

Mobile

Phones

TV

Satellite

X rays Gamma rays

Ionising

radiation

50 Hz

Power

Lines

ELF

fields

Lasers

UV




Ionizing radiation

Contains enough energy to cause ionization

Carries so much energy that has the ability to

break bonds between molecules

Can break chemical bonds and can damage

DNA directly

Examples include gamma rays and X-rays.

This type of radiation is not used for

telecommunication




Non-Ionizing Radiation

Operates at frequencies up to 300 GHz

Very weak fields and radiation

Doesn't have enough energy to cause ionization

or break chemical bonds

Can damage cells by heating or inducing electric

fields and currents in tissues if it does not comply

with standards

There is still no evidence or study confirm the

presence of non-thermal effect of the non-

ionizing radiation




RF heating principle

-

+

+ +

-

+

-

+

-

RF fields can move charged particles, vibrate polar

molecules and rotate polar side chains on proteins

This increased kinetic energy is manifested as heating

++

- +

No Field

- E




Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

The rate at which RF energy is absorbed in body

tissues expressed in units of W/kg

Five factors that affect whole body average SAR

1. Intensity of the RF field

2. Frequency of the RF field

3. Polarization of the RF field

4. Size of the person

5. Grounding of the person




RF absorption changes

with frequency

Frequency

Whole

body R

F a

bsorp

tion

1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz 100 GHz

AM Radio FM

Radio

VHF

TV

Paging

UHF

TV

Mobile

Phones

Microwave

ovens Satellite

surface heating

partial body

resonance

whole body

resonance

••

• ••

•••••••••••••••••••

•••••••••

•••••••

surface

charge &

eddy

currents




RF Bioeffects

Six established mechanisms of RF bioeffects

1. Electro-stimulation of nerves and muscles

2. Whole body heating

3. Localized heating in the limbs

4. Localized heating in the head and torso

5. Microwave hearing effect

6. Surface heating of the body

Incr

easi

ng

fre

qu

ency




Relationship between Adverse RF

Health Effects and Basic Restrictions

Adverse health effect Relevant basic restriction Unit

Whole body heating WBA SAR: Specific Absorption Rate

averaged over the entire body

W/kg

Localized tissue

heating

Localized SAR: Specific Absorption

Rate averaged over a localized mass

of tissue

W/kg

Microwave hearing

effect

SA: Specific Absorption of RF energy

per pulse in a defined mass of tissue

mJ/kg

Electro-stimulation and

electric shock

J: internal current density averaged

over a specified area

mA/m²

Surface heating Sinc: incident power flux density

averaged over a specified area

W/m²




Relationship between basic

restrictions and reference levels in

the 1998 ICNIRP GuidelinesICNIRP 1998 Basic

Restriction

Corresponding Reference Level

Instantaneous spatial peak rms

current density (3 kHz-10 MHz)

Instantaneous rms E and/or H (3 kHz – 10 MHz) and

instantaneous contact currents (3 kHz - 10 MHz)

Time averaged whole body

average SAR (100 kHz - 10 GHz)

Time averaged rms E and/or H (100 kHz – 10 GHz)

Time averaged spatial peak SAR

in limbs (100 kHz – 10 GHz)

Time averaged rms E and/or H (100 kHz– 10 GHz)

and/or time averaged limb currents (10 MHz-110

MHz) and instantaneous contact currents (10 MHz -

110 MHz)

Time averaged spatial peak SAR

in head & torso (100 kHz - 10 GHz)

Time averaged rms E and/or H (100 kHz - 10 GHz)

Instantaneous spatial peak SA in

the head (300 MHz - 10 GHz)

Instantaneous rms E and/or H (300 MHz - 10 GHz)

Time averaged incident power

flux density (10 GHz–300 GHz)

Time averaged rms E and/or H (10 GHz - 300 GHz)




Contents


Public Perception How Safe are Mobile Phones and Base Stations

Recent Review of Health Effects from Mobiles and

Base Stations


The Way Forward




Child safety

New Technologies and

Telecommunication Networks

Can't smell

Can't hear

Can't see

Can't feel

Can't taste….

Maybe it’s

dangerous

to health…Source: Saudi Arabia NG of EMF Project 2007-2010




Perception of Public

Public Health

Radon

UV

EMF

X-rays

Public Concern

Radon

UV

EMF

X-rays

Source: WHO's International EMF Project Presentation, EMF Workshop Riyadh April 2009




Misleading Media Articles




Misleading Media




Misleading Media

Power flux density = 183 µW\m2=0.000183 W\m2




Misleading Media

Frequency rangePower flux density

(W/m²)

10 – 400 MHz 2

0.4 – 2 GHz /200

2 – 300 GHz 10

Comparing the measured value (0.000183 W\m2)

with minimum ICNIRIP Guidelines (2 W\m2)

Its lower than the Reference Levels by 10900

times

ICNIRP Guidelines Public Reference Levels




Common myths




Common myths (2)Cook popcorn? No. Some video clips were circulated in May 2008 on

the Internet claiming that it is possible to cook popcorn using the

electromagnetic energy from mobile

phone. It was a hoax!

Cook an egg or the brain? No. Mobile phones are low powered (0.25W

max) and if all its power were deposited in the egg or the brain, it would

cause a very small temperature increase (0.10C), well below that required to

cook an egg which is > 700C

Cause explosions at petrol stations? No. There is no evidence that

mobile phones caused explosions at any petrol stations (UK Institute of

Petroleum). RF energy from mobile phones is too low to cause sparks that

could ignite petrol.

Attract lightning? No. US National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) advises that cell phones, small metal items, jewelry,

etc. do not attract lightning. Lightning tends to strike much taller objects.




Common myths (3)Cause collapse of bee colonies? Researchers in Germany suggested

bees were being "confused" by mobile phone signals causing Colony

Collapse Disorder (CCD) and bee deaths. But researchers from US

universities have identified a virus causing the deaths. The US

Department of Agriculture says there is no link between mobile phones

and CCD

Do 'shields' reduce RF from mobile phones? RF shield cases,

earpiece pads/shields, antenna clips/caps, “absorbing” buttons and

„neutralizer‟ chips claim to reduce RF

Mobile phones automatically operate at the lowest power necessary

to maintain a quality call

Adding a device interfering with normal operation can reduce

coverage, reduce battery life and increase transmitter power of the

phone and base station (up to its maximum)




Common myths (4)

(Cont’d) Do 'shields' reduce RF from mobile phones?

(…) WHO states that „shield‟ products are unnecessary and their

effectiveness in reducing RF exposure is unproven

Concerned individuals can limit exposure by reducing call times or

using "hands-free" kits to keep mobile phones away from the head

and body



RF Fields in our

Environment

RF fields are everywhere, both natural and man-made

Earth and people emit RF (~ 0.3 µW/cm2 at 20 0C from 30-300

GHz)

Energy from base stations is less than energy emitted from a

full moon

A light bulb emits about the same energy as a base station

Radio and TV antennas generally emit more RF than base

stations

24 hours exposure from a base station emitting 1 V/m gives same

exposure to the head as 30 sec with a mobile phone.

Note: 1 V/m ≈ 0.3 µW/cm2 in far field using S (W/m2) = E2/377Source: M. Repacholi Presentation, EMF Workshop Riyadh April 2009



Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi antenna in WHO

cafeteria, Geneva

Examples of Antenna Locations




Typical Transmitter Power

from RF Sources



Typical Exposures from

Base Stations




Typical Photon Energies

for Different Radiations

Soft X-rays 10,000 eV Ionize molecules

Visible light 1.5 - 3.3 eV Bends molecules

Infrared (heat) ~ 0.03 eV Moves molecules

Radars (100 MHz) ~ 0.0001 eV Vibrates molecules

Cell phones (2 GHz) ~ 0.00001 eV Vibrates molecules

which is lower than X-ray by 1000,000,000 times




Contents


Public Perception

How Safe are Mobile

Phones and Base Stations Recent Review of Health Effects from Mobiles and

Base Stations


The Way Forward




How Safe are Mobile Phones

and Base Stations

Decades of research into EMF and health has

produced a large body of scientific literature which

national and international standards organizations can

review to establish safe exposure limits

WHO established International EMF Project in 1996 to

provides scientific information and practical advice on

the health impact and environmental effects of

exposure to electromagnetic fields

WHO has formally recognized the International

Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection

(ICNIRP) to develop international EMF exposure

guidelines




How Safe are Mobile Phones

and Base Stations

WHO advises “the international EMF safety guidelines

from ICNIRP were developed following reviews of all the

peer-reviewed scientific literature, including thermal and

non-thermal effects. The standards are based on

evaluations of biological effects that have been

established to have health consequences.”

ICNIRP guidelines are developed based on:

– Science

– No consideration for economic or social issues

– Only established effects are considered

– Offering protection for all persons and ages including

children




Exp

osu

re le

ve

l

Safety Factors

/50

critical effect

4 W/kg

basic limit

0.08 W/kg

established effects

How safe are Mobile Phones

and Base Stations

Expert judgment from estimation of

overall uncertainties

Safety factor of 10 for occupational

exposure considered adequate for

healthy adults with medical

monitoring and knowledge of EMF

precautions

Safety factor of 50 for public to

account for differences in age

(aged, babies, children), health, no

requirement to take any

precautions




Peak SAR Standards Regulations

ICNIRP mandatory or accepted products (2 W/kg over 10 g)

IEEE mandatory: USA, Canada, South Korea, Bolivia (1.6 W/kg over 1 g)

Do not use SAR limit




Contents


Public Perception


Recent Review of Health

Effects from Mobiles and

Base Stations Tips to Reduce RF Exposure

The Way Forward




Recent Review of Health Effects

from Mobiles and Base Stations

WHO says: "The main conclusion from the WHO reviews is

that EMF exposures below the limits recommended in the

ICNIRP international guidelines do not appear to have any

known consequence on health.”

ICNIRP review, 2009: “It is the opinion of ICNIRP that the

scientific literature published since the 1998 guidelines has

provided no evidence of any adverse effects below the

basic restrictions and does not necessitate an immediate

revision of its guidance on limiting exposure to high

frequency electromagnetic fields.”

ICNIRP note on Interphone Publication: “ICNIRP therefore

considers that the results of the Interphone study give no

reason for alteration of the current guidelines”, May 2010




Recent Review of Health Effects

from Mobiles and Base Stations

WHO fact sheet: "To date, no adverse health effects

have been established for mobile phone use” and

“While an increased risk of brain tumors is not

established from INTERPHONE data, the increasing

use of mobile phones and the lack of data for mobile

phone use over time periods longer than 15 years

warrant further research of mobile phone use and brain

cancer risk.” May 2010




Contents


Public Perception



Base Stations

Tips to Reduce RF

Exposure The Way Forward




Tips to Reduce RF

Exposure

Base Stations

Co-location of antennas where practicable

Use of best practice engineering for antennas

Optimize the network of antennas

Mobile phones

Use hands-free kits

Use loud-speaker option

Text instead of calling

Reduce call times




Contents


Public Perception



Base Stations


The Way Forward




The Way Forward

Adopt international standards

(ICNIRP)

Establish EMF programs to ensure

compliance with standards and

approve safety of new large

installations

Establish a public information

program

Monitor and participate with reputable

EMF bodies




The Way Forward

Adopt international standards

International Commission on Non-

Ionizing Radiation Protection – ICNIRP.

Statement on the "Guidelines for limiting

exposure to time-varying electric,

magnetic and electromagetic fields (up

to 300 GHz)", 2009

Model legislation developed by the WHO

International EMF Project to provide the

legal framework for implementing

protection program against non-ionizing

radiation




The Way Forward

Establish EMF programs to ensure compliance

with standards and approve safety of new large

installations

Operating by AITI

Outsourcing (third party)

Consultation company

Establish collaboration program with local universities to

conduct field measurements for wireless base stations




The Way Forward

Establish collaboration program with local

universities to conduct field measurements for

wireless base stations

Knowledge transfer

Enhance collaboration

between AITI and

academic institutions

Student involvement

Relay on qualified local

experts




The Way Forward

Establish a public information program

Passive engagement techniques:

Brochures

Advertisements

Website

Media interviews




The Way Forward

Establish a public information program

Active engagement techniques:

Surveys

Phone-in

Public meetings

Focus groups

Participation in local and international ICT exhibitions

Monitoring and responding to misleading info in the

media

Response to questions and complaints from the

public




The Way ForwardMonitor and participate with reputable EMF bodies:

WHO International EMF Project: website for information

on EMF, upcoming meetings, new reports, fact sheets,

etc.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

ITU-D Study Group 1 (Enabling environment, cybersecurity,

ICT applications and Internet-related issues):

Question 23/1 “Strategies and policies concerning human

exposure to electromagnetic fields”

ITU-T Study Group 5 (Environment and climate change):

Question Q 3/5 “Human exposure to electromagnetic fields

(EMFs) due to radio systems and mobile equipment”

ITU-R Study Group 1 (Spectrum management) and Study

Group 6 (Broadcasting service)




The Way Forward

Monitor and participate with reputable EMF bodies

(cont‟d):

IEEE International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety

(ICES) Technical Committee (TC) 34: Wireless Handset

SAR Certification, TC95

International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)

TC106: Methods for the assessment of electric,

magnetic and electromagnetic fields associated

with human exposure

والسالم عليكم

ورحمة هللا

وبركاته

[email protected]

www.citc.gov.sa

Myths and Facts on Radiation from Mobile Phones and … Library/Tariq...Myths and Facts on Radiation...

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