Proposed Mini BTS Sites at Ludwigsdorf Frans Meyer EMSS - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Electromagnetic Field Exposure from Proposed Mini BTS Sites at Ludwigsdorf

Frans Meyer EMSS Stellenbosch, South Africa

Resume: EMSS

• 80+ Engineers and Scientists (13 PhDs in EM engineering)
• Software & Services in Electromagnetic Engineering
• Antenna Design and Optimization
• EM Interference Investigations
• Radiation Hazards Studies

EM Software & Systems

EMSS Resume: Bio-ElectroMagnetics

• Work on Human Exposure to EMF since 1993
• Research on Exposure to Cellphones / BTS (1999->)
• Thousands of Site Surveys (measurements)
• 27 International Conference Presentations

… 7 Journal Publications

Radio Frequency Fields in Our Environment

Radio Frequency Fields in Our Environment

TV Microwave Ovens Comms in Vehicles Cellphones Base Stations Radio

Radio Frequency Fields in Our Environment

1 10 100 1 10 100 1 10 100 1 10 100 1 10 100 Hz kHz MHz GHz THz

Radio frequency emissions

AM radio FM radio Mobile Phones TV Satellite

X rays Gamma rays

Ionising radiation

Lasers

Non-ionising Ionising

Radio Frequency Fields in Our Environment

EMF Exposure

EMF Exposure

Guidelines for Safe Exposure

Guidelines for Safe Exposure ICNIRP Guidelines (1998,2009)

• Thousands of Research Studies (since 1950s).
• Intense periods of research: 1970s (Microwave Oven), 1990s
• ICNIRP: Endorsed by World Health Organization (WHO):

Reviews: European Commission (2009), Swedish Radiation Safety

Authority (2010), UK Health Protection Agency (2012)

• Animals and human experiments show:

… high enough levels of RF exposure cause heating … ALL other studies are considered (low EMF levels) ---

• -- no consistent evidence of ANY harm

Ongoing Research Why Ongoing Research?

• Cellphone Exposure

... Close to the guidelines ... Subtle long term effects? … WHO: Classification as Group 2B Possible Carcinogen

• Base Station Exposure

World Health Organization: ... Exposure from TV and Radio for more than 50 years

… Inadequate Evidence to classify Base Stations / TV / Radio ... Due to very low exposure from base stations, future research is focused on exposure from cellphones

100 x below

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Lets Review what we’ve Covered

• EMF in our Environment:
• Human exposure since 1950s from Radio, TV,

Microwave, Etc.

• Guidelines for Safe Exposure:
• Based on good science, comprehensive reviews and

up to date information (… 2011)

• Research continues:
• Cellphones exposure :  2B possible carcinogen
• Base Station Exposure: As low as Radio and TV exposure (50

years+)  WHO: not a possible carcinogen

Compliance with International Safety Standards

Compliance with Safety Standards 100%=Safety Guidelines 0.148% is 650 times lower

Compliance with Safety Standards Your Field Exposure Values

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ICNIRP

% of ICNIRP

100% = Safety Guidelines

Current Total Exposure: Measured Current Mobile Exposure: Measured Additional Mobile Exposure: Predicted

Exposure vs Safety Standards: Predictions

2300 times below ICNIRP

Antenna

Compliance with Safety Standards Your Field Exposure Values

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ICNIRP

% of ICNIRP

100% = Safety Guidelines

Current Total Exposure: Measured Current Mobile Exposure: Measured Additional Mobile Exposure: Predicted

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Francois' Room

Radio Frequency Fields in Our Environment

Example: Field Exposure Values

Conclusions

Conclusions

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• European Commission (2009)
• Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (2010)
• UK Health Protection Agency (2012)
• Humans exposed to low-level EMF since 1950s
• ICNIRP guidelines: Comprehensive Review (1998, 2009)
• WHO,UK,EC, Swedish and Netherlands Health Panels agree
• Maximum Additional Exposure at ground level: 2300 times

below ICNIRP

2300 times below ICNIRP