Auto-induced uplink 4G and 5G RF-EMF exposure assessment using a network monitoring application in different microenvironments across seven European countries

Stroobandt, Bram; Van Bladel, Han; Fernandes Veludo, Adriana; Deprez, Kenneth; Aerts, Sam; Verloock, Leen; Thuróczy, György; Politanski, Piotr; Polanska, Kinga; Tognola, Gabriella; Parazzini, Marta; Wiart, Joe; Guxens Junyent, Mònica; Röösli, Martin; Joseph, Wout

Auto-induced uplink 4G and 5G RF-EMF exposure assessment using a network monitoring application in different microenvironments across seven European countries

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dc.contributor.author Stroobandt, Bram
dc.contributor.author Van Bladel, Han
dc.contributor.author Fernandes Veludo, Adriana
dc.contributor.author Deprez, Kenneth
dc.contributor.author Aerts, Sam
dc.contributor.author Verloock, Leen
dc.contributor.author Thuróczy, György
dc.contributor.author Politanski, Piotr
dc.contributor.author Polanska, Kinga
dc.contributor.author Tognola, Gabriella
dc.contributor.author Parazzini, Marta
dc.contributor.author Wiart, Joe
dc.contributor.author Guxens Junyent, Mònica
dc.contributor.author Röösli, Martin
dc.contributor.author Joseph, Wout
dc.date.accessioned 2025-04-08T06:13:43Z
dc.date.available 2025-04-08T06:13:43Z
dc.date.issued 2025
dc.description.abstract The auto-induced uplink (a-UL) radio-frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) exposure, often the dominant part of the total RF-EMF exposure, has not been included in previous microenvironmental studies. As 5G exposure depends more on mobile phone usage, monitoring typical transmit power levels is crucial towards more accurate personal exposure assessment. This study describes spatial differences in average mobile phone transmit power and investigates the influence of uplink duty cycles and frequency band usage. A novel methodology using the network monitoring application QualiPoc in fourth-generation (4G) and non-standalone fifth-generation (5G) networks was presented. For the first time, the assessment of 4G and 5G a-UL RF-EMF exposure was conducted simultaneously in a large-scale microenvironmental study in Europe. Measurements were performed along predefined routes in 282 different microenvironments (e.g., parks, residential areas) across seven European countries, during a maximum uplink usage scenario. The Netherlands had the highest average transmit powers per microenvironment (median 20.6 dBm). Transmit powers in villages were 0.6-2.1 dB higher than in big cities. The study suggested that base station density is a key predictor of a-UL exposure. Comparing technologies and frequency bands, average transmit powers for 5G were about 3.3 dB lower than for 4G and lowest for frequency bands with a time division duplexing (TDD) scheme due to the low uplink duty cycle (below 20%). This study provides crucial measurement data for epidemiologists and governments to enhance the understanding of the a-UL component of personal RF-EMF exposure.
dc.description.sponsorship This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101057262. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. We acknowledge support from the grant CEX2023-0001290-S funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. Mònica Guxens was funded by a Miguel Servet II fellowship (CPII18/00018) awarded by the Spanish Institute of Health Carlos III.
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf
dc.identifier.citation Stroobandt B, Van Bladel H, Veludo AF, Deprez K, Aerts S, Verloock L, et al. Auto-induced uplink 4G and 5G RF-EMF exposure assessment using a network monitoring application in different microenvironments across seven European countries. Environ Res. 2025 Apr 1;270:121029. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2025.121029
dc.identifier.doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.121029
dc.identifier.issn 0013-9351
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10230/70106
dc.language.iso eng
dc.publisher Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof Environ Res. 2025 Apr 1;270:121029
dc.relation.projectID info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/HE/101057262
dc.relation.projectID info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/3PE/CEX2023-0001290-S
dc.rights.accessRights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights.uri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject.keyword 4G
dc.subject.keyword 5G
dc.subject.keyword Exposure
dc.subject.keyword Microenvironments
dc.subject.keyword Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields
dc.subject.keyword Transmit power
dc.subject.keyword Uplink
dc.title Auto-induced uplink 4G and 5G RF-EMF exposure assessment using a network monitoring application in different microenvironments across seven European countries
dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type.version info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

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