Exploring RF-EMF levels in Swiss microenvironments: An evaluation of environmental and auto-

Abstract

Exploring RF-EMF levels in Swiss microenvironments: An evaluation of environmental and auto- induced downlink and uplink exposure in the era of 5G Veludo AF, Stroobandt B, Van Bladel H, Sandoval-Diez N, Guxens M, Joseph W, Röösli M. Exploring RF- EMF levels in Swiss microenvironments: An evaluation of environmental and auto-induced downlink and uplink exposure in the era of 5G. Environmental Research, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120550. Highlights A new protocol was created to measure environmental and auto-induced RF-EMF levels. Environmental RF-EMF was mainly attributed to downlink frequency bands Inducing downlink and uplink traffic increased RF-EMF exposure levels notably Auto-induced downlink exposure was mainly attributed to the 5G band at 3.5 GHz The main contributor to auto-induced uplink exposure was the band at 2.1 GHz Abstract The advancement of cellular networks requires updating measurement protocols to better study radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure emitted from devices and base stations. This paper aims to present a novel activity-based microenvironmental survey protocol to measure environmental, auto-induced downlink (DL), and uplink (UL) RF-EMF exposure in the era of 5G. We present results when applying the protocol in Switzerland. Five study areas with different degrees of urbanization were selected, in which microenvironments were defined to assess RF-EMF exposure in the population. Three scenarios of data transmission were performed using a user equipment in flight mode (non-user), inducing DL traffic (max DL), or UL traffic (max UL). The exposimeter ExpoM-RF 4, continuously measuring 35 frequency bands ranging from broadcasting to Wi-Fi sources, was carried in a backpack and placed 30cm apart from the user equipment. The highest median RF-EMF levels during the non-user scenario were measured in an urban business area (1.02 mW/m2). Here, DL and broadcasting bands contributed the most to total RF-EMF levels. Compared to the non-user scenario, exposure levels increased substantially during max DL due to the 5G band at 3.5 GHz with 50% of the median levels between 3.20-12.13 mW/m2, mostly in urban areas. Note that the time-division nature of this band prevents distinguishing between exposure contribution from DL beamforming or UL signals emitted at this frequency. The highest levels were measured during max UL, especially in rural microenvironments, with 50% of the median levels between 12.08-37.50 mW/m2. Mobile UL 2.1 GHz band was the primary contributor to exposure during this scenario. The protocol was successfully applied in Switzerland and used in nine additional countries. Inducing DL and UL traffic resulted in a substantial increase in exposure, whereas environmental exposure levels remained similar to previous studies. This data is important for epidemiological research and risk communication/management. Conclusion A novel activity-based microenvironmental survey protocol was developed and successfully carried out to disentangle environmental from auto-induced downlink and uplink exposure in the era of 5G. The measurements conducted in Switzerland demonstrate that higher RF-EMF exposure levels were measured when inducing maximum downlink and uplink traffic using a user equipment, with the 5G band at 3.5 GHz and the UL band at 2.1 GHz the main contributors to exposure, respectively. This data is important for epidemiological research, risk communication and risk management, but also for future dosimetry and modelling studies. Future research understanding auto-induced DL and UL exposure from more realistic case scenarios remains necessary for a better characterization of the exposure levels. Future research will consist of the application of the proposed protocol in various countries and the comparison of the exposure values. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Authors developed and applied an activity-based microenvironmental protocol in Switzerland to measure environmental and auto-induced DL/UL RF-EMF. Median RF-EMF levels were highest in an urban business area during the non-user scenario (1.02 mW/m²), increased substantially during max DL largely attributed to the 5G 3.5 GHz band (50% of median levels 3.20–12.13 mW/m²), and were highest during max UL (50% of median levels 12.08–37.50 mW/m²), with UL 2.1 GHz as the primary contributor.

Outcomes measured

• Environmental RF-EMF levels (mW/m²)
• Auto-induced downlink (DL) RF-EMF levels (mW/m²)
• Auto-induced uplink (UL) RF-EMF levels (mW/m²)
• Frequency-band contributions to total RF-EMF (including 5G 3.5 GHz and UL 2.1 GHz)

Limitations

• Sample size and number of measurements not reported in the provided abstract
• Time-division nature of the 3.5 GHz band prevented distinguishing DL beamforming from UL signals at that frequency
• Max DL/max UL scenarios may not represent realistic everyday use; authors note need for more realistic scenarios

Suggested hubs

• 5g-policy (0.62)
  Measures RF-EMF exposure in the era of 5G and identifies 3.5 GHz as a main contributor under induced downlink traffic.

{
    "study_type": "exposure_assessment",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "mobile network/base stations and user equipment; broadcasting; Wi‑Fi (measured bands)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "General population microenvironments in Switzerland (five study areas with different degrees of urbanization)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Environmental RF-EMF levels (mW/m²)",
        "Auto-induced downlink (DL) RF-EMF levels (mW/m²)",
        "Auto-induced uplink (UL) RF-EMF levels (mW/m²)",
        "Frequency-band contributions to total RF-EMF (including 5G 3.5 GHz and UL 2.1 GHz)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Authors developed and applied an activity-based microenvironmental protocol in Switzerland to measure environmental and auto-induced DL/UL RF-EMF. Median RF-EMF levels were highest in an urban business area during the non-user scenario (1.02 mW/m²), increased substantially during max DL largely attributed to the 5G 3.5 GHz band (50% of median levels 3.20–12.13 mW/m²), and were highest during max UL (50% of median levels 12.08–37.50 mW/m²), with UL 2.1 GHz as the primary contributor.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size and number of measurements not reported in the provided abstract",
        "Time-division nature of the 3.5 GHz band prevented distinguishing DL beamforming from UL signals at that frequency",
        "Max DL/max UL scenarios may not represent realistic everyday use; authors note need for more realistic scenarios"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "RF-EMF",
        "exposure assessment",
        "microenvironment",
        "5G",
        "downlink",
        "uplink",
        "ExpoM-RF 4",
        "Switzerland",
        "3.5 GHz",
        "2.1 GHz",
        "broadcasting",
        "Wi-Fi"
    ],
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}

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