Variability in electromagnetic field levels over time, and Monte-Carlo simulation of exposure parameters

• Published in: Radiation protection dosimetry Vol. 162; no. 4; p. 523
• Main Authors: Pachón-García, F T, Paniagua-Sánchez, J M, Rufo-Pérez, M, Jiménez-Barco, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Computer Simulation; Electromagnetic Fields - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Humans; Likelihood Functions; Monte Carlo Method; Radiation Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; Radio Waves - adverse effects; Radiometry; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1742-3406
• DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncu035

This article analyses the electric field levels around medium-wave transmitters, delimiting the temporal variability of the levels received at a pre-established reception point. One extensively used dosimetric criterion is to consider historical levels of the field recorded over a certain period of time so as to provide an overall perspective of radio-frequency electric field exposure in a particular environment. This aspect is the focus of the present study, in which the measurements will be synthesised in the form of exposure coefficients. Two measurement campaigns were conducted: one short term (10 days) and the other long term (1 y). The short-term data were used to study which probability density functions best approximate the measured levels. The long-term data were used to compute the principal statistics that characterise the field values over a year. The data that form the focus of the study are the peak traces, since these are the most representative from the standpoint of exposure. The deviations found were around 6 % for short periods and 12 % for long periods. The information from the two campaigns was used to develop and implement a computer application based on the Monte Carlo method to simulate values of the field, allowing one to carry out robust statistics.