Dosimetric assessment in the brain for downlink EMF exposure in Korean mobile communication networks

Abstract

Dosimetric assessment in the brain for downlink EMF exposure in Korean mobile communication networks Lee AK, Choi HD. Dosimetric assessment in the brain for downlink EMF exposure in Korean mobile communication networks. Environ Res. 2023 Jul 5;234:116542. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116542. Abstract Because the position and direction of the human body is not fixed in an actual environment, the incidence direction of the electromagnetic field (EMF) from mobile communication base stations, WiFi access points, broadcasting towers, and other far-field sources is arbitrary. To analyze the overall health effects of radio frequency EMF exposure, the dosimetric assessment for such environmental exposures created from an unspecified number of sources in daily life, along with exposures from specific EMF sources, must be quantified. This study is aimed at numerically evaluating the time-averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) of the human brain for environmental EMF exposure in the frequency range of 50-5800 MHz. Whole-body exposure to EMFs that are evenly incident spatially is considered. By comparing the results of several incidence directions and the number of polarizations, an optimal calculation condition has been derived. Finally, based on the results measured in Seoul at the end of 2021, the SAR and daily specific energy absorption (SA) in the brains of both a child and an adult for downlink exposures from 3G to 5G base stations are reported. Comparison results of the daily brain SA for exposure to DL EMF in all 3G to 5G mobile networks and exposure to a 10-min voice call (uplink EMF) using a mobile phone connected to a 4G network show that the SA from the downlinks is much higher than that from the uplinks. Open access paper: sciencedirect.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

The study numerically evaluated time-averaged brain SAR for environmental RF-EMF exposure across 50–5800 MHz under whole-body exposure with spatially even incidence, and derived an optimal calculation condition by comparing incidence directions and polarizations. Using measurements from Seoul (end of 2021), it reported brain SAR and daily SA for child and adult models for downlink exposures from 3G to 5G base stations. The reported comparison indicated that daily brain SA from downlink exposures across 3G–5G networks was much higher than that from a 10-minute 4G voice call (uplink) using a mobile phone.

Outcomes measured

• Time-averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) in the brain
• Daily specific energy absorption (SA) in the brain
• Comparison of downlink (base station) vs uplink (mobile phone voice call) brain SA

Limitations

• Health outcomes were not assessed; the work focuses on dosimetry (SAR/SA).
• Exposure scenario assumes whole-body exposure with evenly incident fields; real-world incidence may differ.
• Details on sample size and measurement dataset characteristics are not provided in the abstract.

Suggested hubs

• 5g-policy (0.6)
  Assesses downlink exposures from 3G to 5G base stations and reports brain SAR/SA.

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        "band": "RF",
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    "population": "Child and adult (computational human models)",
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    "outcomes": [
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        "Comparison of downlink (base station) vs uplink (mobile phone voice call) brain SA"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The study numerically evaluated time-averaged brain SAR for environmental RF-EMF exposure across 50–5800 MHz under whole-body exposure with spatially even incidence, and derived an optimal calculation condition by comparing incidence directions and polarizations. Using measurements from Seoul (end of 2021), it reported brain SAR and daily SA for child and adult models for downlink exposures from 3G to 5G base stations. The reported comparison indicated that daily brain SA from downlink exposures across 3G–5G networks was much higher than that from a 10-minute 4G voice call (uplink) using a mobile phone.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Health outcomes were not assessed; the work focuses on dosimetry (SAR/SA).",
        "Exposure scenario assumes whole-body exposure with evenly incident fields; real-world incidence may differ.",
        "Details on sample size and measurement dataset characteristics are not provided in the abstract."
    ],
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    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
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        "SAR",
        "specific energy absorption",
        "downlink",
        "uplink",
        "base station",
        "mobile communication networks",
        "3G",
        "4G",
        "5G",
        "WiFi",
        "broadcasting towers",
        "far-field",
        "Seoul",
        "Korea",
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