Electromagnetic exposure from mobile phones in a city like environment: The case study of Leuven, Belgium

Abstract

Overview

A comprehensive measuring campaign took place in Leuven, Belgium, aimed at assessing electromagnetic exposure levels from mobile phones. This study focused on evaluating how exposure varied depending on user location relative to city base stations.

Findings

• Exposure is substantially higher indoors compared to outdoors.
• The user's proximity to base stations significantly affects exposure levels.
• Outdoor mobile phone user exposure is about 8 times higher than that from base stations. Indoors, this multiplier increases to about 30.
• All exposure levels complied with the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limits set by ICNIRP.

Conclusions

The research highlights the importance of effective infrastructure planning to mitigate electromagnetic exposure from mobile phones. A significant disparity was observed between exposure levels in different environments, triggering a necessary evaluation of public safety measures in urban settings.