Abstract

Overview

The study investigates the transmitted power levels of mobile phones and the specific absorption rates (SAR) of electromagnetic frequencies in the brain during mobile phone voice calls in Seoul's wireless communication networks for the years 2015 and 2017.

Findings

• Transmission power levels analyzed included CDMA 2000, Wide CDMA (WCDMA), and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks.
• Significant differences were observed in the power levels among different network operators, particularly within the LTE networks.
• A crucial finding is the variation in SAR dependent on network technology, the specific year of the mobile phone, and the mobile operator.
• The study quantified a maximum 1-g peak spatial-average SAR level at 4.8 mW/kg for a child head model in LTE networks, indicating notable exposure differences.

Conclusion

The research clearly indicates that there is a substantial risk associated with electromagnetic field exposures from mobile phones, with significant variations based on several factors. These findings could be crucial for establishing future safety standards and protective guidelines for mobile phone usage.