Statistical Analysis of RF-EMF Exposure Induced by Cellular Wireless Networks in Public

Abstract

Statistical Analysis of RF-EMF Exposure Induced by Cellular Wireless Networks in Public Transportation Facilities of the Paris Regionx Y. Zhang et al. Statistical Analysis of RF-EMF Exposure Induced by Cellular Wireless Networks in Public Transportation Facilities of the Paris Regionx. IEEE Access, vol. 12, pp. 79741-79753, 2024, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3410090. Abstract Wireless communications are increasingly used today. Despite such use, there is a significant perception of risk which makes exposure monitoring a significant concern today. The work described in this article was carried out within the framework of the European SEAWave project and the French Beyond5G project. The exposure assessment was evaluated using a personal exposimeter (MVG EMF Spy) whose compactness and ease of use make it more suitable and portable than a system combining measuring probes and spectrum analyzers. Measurements were carried out on the cellular frequency bands used by 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G, as well as that of Wi-Fi, in different modes of public transportation (RER, metro, tramway, bus, and train) circulating in the Paris region. The measurements have been analyzed by frequency band, type of public transportation, and type of environment encountered. For each set of measurements (e.g., metro lines, tramways), the mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis were evaluated and analyzed. For all exposure measurements taken in the 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600, and 3500 MHz frequency bands, the overall average values are 0.39, 0.43, 0.30, 0.21, 0.18, 0.24 and 0.18 V/m, respectively. These measurements have, in all cases, a significant dispersion as shown by the ratios of standard deviations to mean values. The well-known K-means clustering technique was applied to these four parameters for different subsets of data. The number of clusters k = 3 has been chosen based on the analysis of the optimal value of k for the current dataset. Our analysis indicates that the first group’s members display the highest mean values with moderate variance and the lowest values for the third and fourth moments. The second cluster is distinguished by points with large mean and variance, accompanied by moderate skewness and kurtosis. Conversely, the third group comprises points with the smallest mean and variance values, yet the largest measurements for the third and fourth moments. ieeexplore.ieee.org

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Using a personal exposimeter (MVG EMF Spy), measurements were collected in multiple public transportation modes in the Paris region across cellular bands (2G/3G/4G/5G) and Wi-Fi. For the 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands, the reported overall average electric field strengths were 0.39, 0.43, 0.30, 0.21, 0.18, 0.24, and 0.18 V/m, respectively, with significant dispersion (high standard deviation-to-mean ratios). K-means clustering (k=3) on mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis identified three groups characterized by differing combinations of mean/variance and higher-moment values.

Outcomes measured

• Personal RF-EMF exposure levels (electric field strength, V/m) across 2G/3G/4G/5G and Wi-Fi bands in public transportation modes (RER, metro, tramway, bus, train) in the Paris region
• Descriptive statistics of exposure distributions (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis) by frequency band, transport type, and environment
• Clustering of exposure statistics using K-means (k=3)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in the abstract
• No health outcomes assessed; exposure assessment only
• Measurement duration and sampling protocol details not provided in the abstract
• Specific Wi-Fi band results not reported in the abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.2)
  Measurements were conducted in public transportation environments; could be relevant to transit workers, though the abstract does not specify worker populations.

{
    "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "cellular wireless networks in public transportation facilities; Wi-Fi",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Personal RF-EMF exposure levels (electric field strength, V/m) across 2G/3G/4G/5G and Wi-Fi bands in public transportation modes (RER, metro, tramway, bus, train) in the Paris region",
        "Descriptive statistics of exposure distributions (mean, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis) by frequency band, transport type, and environment",
        "Clustering of exposure statistics using K-means (k=3)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Using a personal exposimeter (MVG EMF Spy), measurements were collected in multiple public transportation modes in the Paris region across cellular bands (2G/3G/4G/5G) and Wi-Fi. For the 700, 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands, the reported overall average electric field strengths were 0.39, 0.43, 0.30, 0.21, 0.18, 0.24, and 0.18 V/m, respectively, with significant dispersion (high standard deviation-to-mean ratios). K-means clustering (k=3) on mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis identified three groups characterized by differing combinations of mean/variance and higher-moment values.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
        "No health outcomes assessed; exposure assessment only",
        "Measurement duration and sampling protocol details not provided in the abstract",
        "Specific Wi-Fi band results not reported in the abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "RF-EMF",
        "exposure assessment",
        "personal exposimeter",
        "MVG EMF Spy",
        "public transportation",
        "Paris region",
        "2G",
        "3G",
        "4G",
        "5G",
        "Wi-Fi",
        "700 MHz",
        "800 MHz",
        "900 MHz",
        "1800 MHz",
        "2100 MHz",
        "2600 MHz",
        "3500 MHz",
        "K-means clustering",
        "electric field strength",
        "V/m"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "reason": "Measurements were conducted in public transportation environments; could be relevant to transit workers, though the abstract does not specify worker populations."
        }
    ]
}

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