5G EMF Exposure at 3.6 GHz in Greece Using Data From Frequency-Selective Monitoring Sensors

Authors: Iakovidis S, Manassas A, Apostolidis C, Samaras T.

Year: 2025 May

Category: Epidemiology

Journal: Bioelectromagnetics

DOI: 10.1002/bem.70008

URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bem.70008

Abstract

Overview

The rollout of 5G networks has led to heightened public scrutiny about potential shifts in environmental electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure levels. This study presents an in-depth analysis of two years’ worth of continuous EMF monitoring data from 13 frequency-selective sensors situated in the five largest cities in Greece, with a special focus on the 3.6 GHz frequency band.

Findings

  • Trends: EMF exposure at the 3.6 GHz band showed a gradual increase, in parallel with the expansion of 5G infrastructure and user device adoption.
  • Variability: This band displayed notably higher maximum-to-median power density ratios compared to legacy cellular bands. This is attributed to specific characteristics of active antenna systems and fluctuations in network traffic.
  • Averaging Effects: Utilizing 30-minute averaged values, as recommended by the ICNIRP 2020 guidelines, reduced the observed variations in EMF exposure significantly.
  • Safety & Compliance: All recorded EMF measurements—including maximum observed values—remained well below both Greek and international (ICNIRP) reference safety levels.
  • Week-to-Week Variability: In the 3.6 GHz band, maximum 6-min averages were up to 12 times higher than weekly median values. However, median E-field values at this band were still lower than those of former networks (2G, 3G, 4G).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates a clear, ongoing increase in EMF levels in the 3.6 GHz range, closely aligned with 5G deployment. The greater week-to-week variability at this band underscores the need for comprehensive, continuous EMF monitoring to ensure prudent assessment of compliance and safety, especially when utilizing spot or short-term measurements. Although detected values remain far below legal safety thresholds, the upward trend and increased variability highlight the importance of maintaining vigilant EMF monitoring networks and considering potential health risks as exposure changes over time. The study recommends broadening the current measurement network to capture evolving EMF trends associated with new technologies.

5G electromagnetic fields environmental monitoring exposure assessment 3.6 GHz power density Greece
← Back to Stats