RF-EMF Exposure Assessment of Fetus During The First Trimester of Pregnancy

Abstract

Overview

This study focuses on the computational analysis of Radio Frequency - Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) exposure affecting Uterus-Fetus Units (UFUs) within the body of a 26-year-old human female. The research aims to assess fetal exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy, a crucial stage in development that warrants particular health and safety considerations.

Methodology

• Realistic fetal models were constructed from ultrasound images, covering development stages at 7, 9, and 11 weeks of gestation.
• A deep-learning based segmentation method facilitated accurate modeling.
• Each UFU was integrated into a computational electromagnetic model representing a 26-year-old female.
• The Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the fetus was estimated at commonly used wireless communication frequencies utilizing a commercially available electromagnetic solver.
• An Inverted F Antenna (IFA)—common in mobile phones—was used as the RF source.

Findings

• SAR values for the fetus were consistently reported far below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) maximum allowable limit of 80 mW/kg, across different excitation frequencies, phone positions, and UFU developmental ages.
• When the embryo was replaced with uterine tissues of identical volume, shape, and position, the SAR values for the uterus tissue were only marginally different from the fetal SAR values.

Conclusion ⚠️

While the study found that fetal exposure to RF-EMF from common wireless sources is well below current safety limits in the scenarios tested, it underscores the relevance of SAR measurement in early pregnancy. As even low-level exposures are being actively studied for their connection to health risks, ongoing attention to EMF safety is warranted, especially during sensitive developmental phases.