Unveiling the Impact: Human Exposure to Non-Ionizing Radiation in the Millimeter-Wave Band of Sixth-Generation Wireless Networks

• Published in: Electronics (Basel) Vol. 13; no. 2; p. 246
• Main Authors: Al-Falahy, Naser, Alani, Omar Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.01.2024
• Subjects: 6G mobile communication; Electromagnetism; Environmental aspects; Exposure; Frequencies; Heat; Human body; Ionizing radiation; Millimeter wave communication systems; Millimeter waves; Power; Radiation; Radio equipment; Wireless networks; Iraq
• ISSN: 2079-9292; 2079-9292
• DOI: 10.3390/electronics13020246

The investigation into potential hazards linked with millimeter-wave (mmWave) radiation is crucial, given the widespread adoption of body-centric wireless sensor nodes operating within this frequency band. This is particularly pertinent in light of its envisaged use for the upcoming 5G/6G networks and beyond. As 6G is anticipated to leverage a broad spectrum, including both sub-6 GHz and mmWave bands (30–300 GHz), concerns arise regarding increased human exposure to non-ionizing radiation (NIR). This work highlights the advantages of deploying 6G in the mmWave band, focusing on evaluating human body exposure to NIR interactions. Additionally, this research aims to address mmWave NIR exposure by introducing a Distributed Base Station (DBS) network. Utilizing low-power remote antennas to extend network coverage, the DBS architecture seeks to effectively minimize NIR’s impact without compromising overall network performance. The findings underscore the significant potential of the DBS approach in mitigating NIR-related concerns associated with mmWave utilization in 6G networks.