Abstract

Overview

The study examines the increase in wirelessly communicating devices within residential spaces due to the Internet of things, focusing on their radiofrequency emissions and the potential impact on public exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Methodology

• A new measurement procedure was proposed and employed to assess the peak emitted fields from residential devices at various distances.
• The study covered 55 different devices across 10 residences in Belgium and France.

Findings

Comparisons were made between the emissions from residential devices and those from 41 mobile phones, as well as against international standards.

Most residential devices, like individual smart meters, were found to contribute minimally to overall exposure due to their low duty cycles and remote installation locations.

However, devices with high duty cycles, such as motion sensors and IoT toothbrushes, pose a higher risk of significant exposure, especially when used close to the body.

Conclusion

Despite the study’s overall findings suggesting low emission levels from most devices, the continuous use of devices with high duty cycles close to the body was emphasized as a significant source of radiofrequency electromagnetic field exposure.