Smart Meter Health and Exposure Assessment Research

Abstract

As smart meters incorporate radio frequency transmitters, are located on consumer premises and not under the direct control of the property owner or occupant, concern has been expressed about the possibility of adverse health effect due to human exposure to their electromagnetic fields. In this chapter, these concerns are addressed by describing typical smart meter system configurations, describing the characteristics of nonionizing radio frequency radiation from smart meters and summarizing experimental studies of smart meter radiation. Finally, the radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure from these meters is compared to standards for exposure of these fields that (i) have been developed by carefully convened scientific panels and (ii) are generally well accepted. It is found that the exposure is well below the permissible exposures found in these standards.