Spatial and temporal RF electromagnetic field exposure of children and adults in indoor micro environments in Belgium and Greece

• Published in: Progress in biophysics and molecular biology Vol. 113; no. 2; pp. 254 - 263
• Main Authors: Vermeeren, Günter, Markakis, Ioannis, Goeminne, Francis, Samaras, Theodoros, Martens, Luc, Joseph, Wout
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2013
• Subjects: Adult; adults; Belgium; Body Burden; Child; Child exposure; children; detection limit; Ecosystem; electromagnetic field; Electromagnetic Fields; Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Greece; Housing - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Indoor; people; Personal exposure; Personal exposure meter; Radiation Dosage; Radiation Monitoring - statistics & numerical data; radio; Radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF); radio waves; RF exposure; schools; Schools - statistics & numerical data; Spatio-Temporal Analysis; statistics; telecommunications; temporal variation; Workplace - statistics & numerical data; Greece; Belgium; GSM; TV; RF exposure; DAB; Personal exposure; FM; DL; DECT; UMTS; LOS; TETRA; PMR; ROS; UL; RF-EMF; Child exposure; Indoor; W-LAN; WiFi; Radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF); Personal exposure meter; MHz; Universal Mobile Telecommunications System; digital audio broadcast; Personal mobile Radio; frequency modulation, FM radio; up link; regression on order statistics; digital enhanced cordless telecommunication, cordless phone; radio frequency electromagnetic field; megahertz; Terrestrial Trunked Radio; television; Global System for Mobile Communications; line of sight; wireless local area network; down link; wireless fidelity
• ISSN: 0079-6107; 1873-1732; 1873-1732
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2013.07.002

Personal radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure, or exposimetry, is gaining importance in the bioelectromagnetics community but only limited data on personal exposure is available in indoor areas, namely schools, crèches, homes, and offices. Most studies are focused on adult exposure, whereas indoor microenvironments, where children are exposed, are usually not considered. A method to assess spatial and temporal indoor exposure of children and adults is proposed without involving the subjects themselves. Moreover, maximal possible daily exposure is estimated by combining instantaneous spatial and temporal exposure. In Belgium and Greece, the exposure is measured at 153 positions spread over 55 indoor microenvironments with spectral equipment. In addition, personal exposimeters (measuring EMFs of people during their daily activities) captured the temporal exposure variations during several days up to one week at 98 positions. The data were analyzed using the robust regression on order statistics (ROS) method to account for data below the detection limit. All instantaneous and maximal exposures satisfied international exposure limits and were of the same order of magnitude in Greece and Belgium. Mobile telecommunications and radio broadcasting (FM) were most present. In Belgium, digital cordless phone (DECT) exposure was present for at least 75% in the indoor microenvironments except for schools. Temporal variations of the exposure were mainly due to variations of mobile telecommunication signals. The exposure was higher during daytime than at night due to the increased voice and data traffic on the networks. Total exposure varied the most in Belgian crèches (39.3%) and Greek homes (58.2%).