Abstract

Overview

This study addresses the challenges associated with characterizing exposure levels to electromagnetic emissions from public mobile systems, owing to the stochastic nature and large temporal variations of radio frequency (RF) signals.

Findings

• The traditional 6-minute measurements used to determine mean level RF exposure are deemed unreliable for assessing long-term exposure, as results can significantly overestimate or underestimate the actual exposure depending on the 'extreme' value recorded during that timeframe.
• The research highlights the necessity for continuous 24-hour monitoring to accurately reflect the continuous operation of RF sources.
• A comprehensive analysis was performed using descriptive statistics on 24-hour instantaneous, time-averaged, and integral-based values.
• The application of a 24-hour time-averaged and integral-based measure on a similarly comprehensive dataset indicated a potential reduction in daily exposure variability to ±20% of the mean weekly value obtained.

Conclusion

The study advocates for an extended monitoring period to better evaluate the variability and real impact of RF exposure from mobile systems, potentially influencing future guidelines and public health policies.