Children's exposure assessment of radiofrequency fields: Comparison between spot and personal measurements

Abstract

Overview

The study investigates the exposure of children to radiofrequency (RF) fields, exploring the use of spot versus personal measurements in environments where children frequent, such as homes, schools, and parks. The research is part of the Spanish INMA birth cohort study.

Objectives

• To assess RF exposure in children using both spot and personal measurements.
• To determine which settings and sources contribute most to RF exposure.
• To evaluate the efficacy of spot measurements as a proxy for personal exposure.

Methods

Spot measurements were conducted in homes, schools, and parks for 104 participants, while personal measurements were taken for a subset of 50 children over three days. The study compared these measurements by analyzing median exposure levels, contribution of different sources, and the relationship between spot and personal measurement results through statistical tests and Bland-Altman plots.

Findings

• Median exposure levels ranged from 29.73 μW/m² in children's bedrooms to 200.10 μW/m² in school playgrounds for spot measurements. Personal exposures averaged 52.13 μW/m² with spot measurement ranges from 25.46 to 123.21 μW/m².
• The largest contributions to RF exposure were from FM radio, mobile phone downlink, and Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial. Indoor and personal sources were minimal, contributing less than 20%.
• Spot measurements often resulted in higher exposure estimates compared to personal measurements but were still considered a viable method for classifying children into exposure categories.

Conclusion

While there are differences in exposure levels measured by the two methods, spot measurements can serve as a feasible proxy for ranking personal RF exposure, especially if all relevant locations are considered.