Abstract

Overview

Portable devices used for measuring radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) encounter issues with crosstalk, which are signals from one frequency detected in another. This affects the accuracy of RF-EMF exposure assessments.

Findings

• Crosstalk notably affects DECT, GSM 1800 downlink, and UMTS uplink, leading to biased exposure statistics.
• An analytic approach identified crosstalk, with corrections made via median substitution based on unaffected observations during the same activities.
• Significant correction instances include DECT with about 43% of observations modified, leading to a 38% reduction in perceived exposure.
• Lesser corrections for GSM 1800 downlink and UMTS uplink frequencies showed minor exposure impact.
• Total RF-EMF exposure decreased by an average of 1.0%, with some individuals seeing reductions up to 16%.

Conclusion

The study introduces a robust method for detecting and correcting crosstalk in RF-EMF measurements, offering a significant tool for researchers and emphasizing the importance of accurate EMF exposure assessments. An R function is provided to facilitate the application of this correction technique.

Note: Conflicts of interest were declared by authors who are involved with a related company.