RF Health Safety Limits and Recommendations

Authors: Lin JC

Year: 06/2023

Category: Health Safety

Journal: IEEE Microwave Magazine

Institution: IEEE

DOI: 10.1109/MMM.2023.3255659

URL: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10121536

Abstract

Overview

The rapid increase in the use of cellular mobile telecommunications has heightened concerns regarding the biological effects of RF radiation exposure. The article delves into the current health safety limits and assesses their efficacy in protecting public health.

Findings

Discussion of existing safety standards including those by the FCC, ICNIRP, and ICES, which focus on preventing short-term heating effects of RF radiation.
Examination of the assumptions underlying these standards and their adequacy in protecting varying populations such as children, workers, and people with electromagnetic sensitivity.
Consideration of the special cases of millimeter-wave radiation from 5G technology and the absence of comprehensive human health impact studies.

Conclusion

The review critically questions the sufficiency of the revised guidelines and standards from bodies like ICNIRP and ICES for protecting public health. The guidelines focus mainly on short-term exposure limits and do not address long-term low-level exposure or the nuances introduced by technologies such as 5G.

Furthermore, current standards overlook critical animal studies and have not kept pace with the technological advances, thereby not fully safeguarding the public, especially those with heightened sensitivity to electromagnetic fields.

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