Measurements on Electromagnetic Scattered Fields of Some Rf and Microwave Equipments

Abstract

In many laboratories, offices and home rooms exists devices and equipment working in the radio frequency (RF) and microwave (MW) bands. People working with these equipments may be exposed to electromagnetic fields of high density that can produce adverse effects on human health. It is suitable to perform measurements on the scattered fields, especially in the near-field regions (Fresnel' radiating and reactive regions), where the incident power density can reach dangerous levels for occupational personnel and for people living in the neighbourhood. The devices subjected to measurements are: a microwave oven, a microwave generator for supply a TEM (Transversal ElectroMagnetic) exposure cell; wireless communication devices, different mobile phones, a power microwave generator that produces cold plasma. In this paper besides a general introduction, many experimental results concerning the power density, electric and magnetic intensities of the scattered fields of the mentioned particular devices are reported; also, a comparison of these results with the most recent international protection standards is performed. The goal of the introduction is to define the radiation regions of different sources, thus permitting a better interpretation of the experimental data.

Occupational exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields

“…3 ). Action levels were exceeded near (closer than 10 cm to) a device for plasma sputtering operating at 13.6 MHz 40 ) and near a microwave generator used for plasma excitation operating at 2.3 GHz 54 ) . If exposure would last sufficiently shorter than 6 minutes or if a greater distance could be observed, exposure would be expected to remain under the action levels.…”

“…Symbols in grey represent data published before 2012 and symbols in black data published in or after 2012. Literature references used: 40 , 53 , 54 )…”