Exploring RF-EMF levels in Swiss microenvironments: An evaluation of environmental and auto-induced downlink and uplink exposure in the era of 5G

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• dc.contributor.author Fernandes Veludo, Adriana
• dc.contributor.author Stroobandt, Bram
• dc.contributor.author Van Bladel, Han
• dc.contributor.author Sandoval-Diez, Nekane
• dc.contributor.author Guxens Junyent, Mònica
• dc.contributor.author Joseph, Wout
• dc.contributor.author Röösli, Martin
• dc.date.accessioned 2025-02-11T07:22:45Z
• dc.date.available 2025-02-11T07:22:45Z
• dc.date.issued 2025
• dc.description.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 30 cm 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 and 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 and 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.
• 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 Fernandes Veludo A, Stroobandt B, Van Bladel H, Sandoval-Diez N, Guxens M, Joseph W, et al. Exploring RF-EMF levels in Swiss microenvironments: An evaluation of environmental and auto-induced downlink and uplink exposure in the era of 5G. Environ Res. 2025 Feb 1;266:120550. DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.120550
• dc.identifier.doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.120550
• dc.identifier.issn 0013-9351
• dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10230/69540
• dc.language.iso eng
• dc.publisher Elsevier
• dc.relation.ispartof Environ Res. 2025 Feb 1;266:120550
• dc.relation.projectID info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/HE/101057262
• dc.relation.projectID info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/3PE/CEX2023-0001290-S
• dc.rights © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
• dc.rights.accessRights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
• dc.rights.uri http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• dc.subject.keyword Electromagnetic fields
• dc.subject.keyword Europe
• dc.subject.keyword Exposure assessment
• dc.subject.keyword New radio
• dc.subject.keyword Non-ionizing radiation
• dc.subject.keyword Protocol
• dc.title Exploring RF-EMF levels in Swiss microenvironments: An evaluation of environmental and auto-induced downlink and uplink exposure in the era of 5G
• dc.type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
• dc.type.version info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion