ITU Workshop on
“Practical measurement of EMF exposure”
(Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011)
Communicating the Results of Base
Station Measurement Surveys
Jack Rowley, PhD,
Director Research & Sustainability
GSM Association
GSM Association (GSMA)
Themes:
Mobile Broadband.
Mobile Lifestyle.
Mobile Planet.
Technical.
Public policy:
EMF science and communications.
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Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
Africa – Mobile Communications
91% GSM.
32.5 million 3G.
20% subscriber growth
year-on-year.
www.wirelessintelligence.com
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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GSMA EMF Program
EMF policy should be evidence based.
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Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
RF Exposure Evaluation
Near to antennas:
Compliance zones.
Access controls.
Far from antennas:
Very low exposures.
Communication.
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Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
Worker.
Public.
Awareness.
Power Density (W/m2)
Compliance Levels
Worker
Public
Frequency (MHz)
www.icnirp.org
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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Antennas Not Accessible
Simplified
evaluation.
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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Antennas Possibly Accessible
Compliance
zones.
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Compliance Boundaries
Calculation.
Measurement.
Compliance
Boundary
Public
Compliance
Boundary
Worker
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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Management of RF Compliance
Evaluate exposure.
Implement
controls.
Shared sites.
www.gsmworld.com/health
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Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
Environmental Radio Signals
FM
GSM900
GSM1800
3G
LTE
T-DAB
TETRA
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Complex Sites
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Environmental RF Evaluations
Why?
What?
Where?
When?
How?
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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Australia – RF Evaluations
• New and updated sites.
• Compliance declaration.
• Prediction method.
www.arpansa.gov.au
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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Australia – RF Evaluations
• New and updated sites.
• Compliance declaration.
• Prediction method.
• Nominated sites.
• Procedure defined.
• Progressive data reporting.
www.arpansa.gov.au
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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Greece – pedion24 Project
• Fixed monitor stations.
• 240 measurements per day.
• Internet accessible results.
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
www.pedion24.gr
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Ireland – Mobile Phone Site Surveys
• 3 measurement stages.
• About 100 sites per year.
• All radio services reported.
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
www.comreg.ie
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UK – Mobile Phone Base Station Audit
• Emphasis on schools and hospitals.
• Mobile communication signals.
• Ten years of data available.
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
www.ofcom.org.uk
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Zambia – National Baseline Study
• Calculated exposures.
• Measured FM, TV, GSM900, GSM1800, WCDMA2100.
• Locations: stationary, trunk roads, cities/towns.
www.caz.zm
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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Comparison to Other Sources
100
90
80
100
70
90
60
80
50
70
40
60
30
50
20
40
10
30
0
20
10
0
ICNIRP (100%)
Level (% ICNIRP)
ICNIRP (100%)
9.22
0.06
0.01
9.22
Average Baby monitors
Average
0.06
urban, TV and
(20 cm)
urban, 0.01
base
radio
stations
Average Baby monitors Average
urban, TV and
(20 cm)
urban, base
radio
stations
0.41
3.93
Level (% ICNIRP)
WLAN access DECT cordless
3.93
0.41
point (20 cm) phone (20 cm)
WLAN access DECT cordless
point (20 cm) phone (20 cm)
Based on Valberg et al., 2007.
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Exposure Similar Between Countries
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Exposure Trends Over Time
UK
Greece
USA
Spain
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
Ireland
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Influence of Distance
ICNIRP
For example, at 100 m, the
measured levels differ by
more than 1,000 times.
The distance between a residential area and an antenna
is not a proper indicator of effect on exposure.
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
Adapted from Neubauer et al, Study on the Feasibility
of Epidemiological Studies on Health Effects of Mobile
Telephone Base Stations, ARC-IT—0124, March 2005.
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Influence of Base Station Type
High
Rural
Com.
Low
High
UHS
Urban Urban
electric field strength in % of limit
Low
Rural
Indoor Stad.
Exh.
Pico
Below
Roof
Exposures are similar.
Com. = commercial.
UHS = Ultra High Site.
Stad. = Football stadium.
Exh. = Exhibition centre.
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
Bornkessel, RF Exposure Measurement Campaigns Between Pure Facts and Practical Risk Communication in
Electromagnetic Field Exposure: Risk Communication in
the context of Uncertainty, 2006.
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electric field strength in % of limit
Influence of Visible Base Stations
The number of visible base stations does not
significantly influence RF exposure level.
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
Bornkessel, RF Exposure Measurement Campaigns Between Pure Facts and Practical Risk Communication in
Electromagnetic Field Exposure: Risk Communication in
the context of Uncertainty, 2006.
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Relative Exposures from Handsets and
Base Stations
1 second
1 day
Based on Neubauer et al., 2010.
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Essentials of Communication
Listen.
Perception is
reality.
Trust then
information.
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Good Practice Risk Communication
Use 3 key messages, for example:
Complies with limits.
Levels are very low relative to limits.
No established health risks.
Use simple language.
Minimise technical terms.
Use images to explain results.
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Example Graphics – Australia (1)
www.arpansa.gov.au
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Example Graphics – Australia (2)
www.arpansa.gov.au
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Example Graphics – UK (1)
www.hpa.org.uk
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Example Graphics – UK (2)
www.mobilemastinfo.com
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Measurements in Africa
Can you
assist with
access to
existing
data?
Can you
contribute
other data?
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
= Measurements made.
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Recommendations
Provide a legal basis for EMF limits.
Be clear on purpose of evaluations.
Define procedure.
Make results available.
Relative to frequency or radio service;
In power density; and
As fraction of limits.
Clear communications.
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Mobile Industry Reputation Index
www.mobilereputationindex.com
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Thank You
Contact: Dr Jack Rowley
Job title: Director
Research & Sustainability
email address:
jrowley@gsm.org
Tel: +353 86 806 0849
Website:
www.gsmworld.com/health
Gaborone, Botswana, 25-26 July 2011
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