Statistical analysis of electromagnetic radiation measurements in the vicinity of GSM/UMTS base station antenna masts

Abstract

As a result of dense installations of public mobile base station, additional electromagnetic radiation occurs in the living environment. In order to determine the level of radio-frequency radiation generated by base stations, extensive electromagnetic field strength measurements were carried out for 664 base station locations. Base station locations were classified into three categories: indoor, masts and locations with installations on buildings. Having in mind the large percentage (47 %) of sites with antenna masts, a detailed analysis of this location category was performed, and the measurement results were presented. It was concluded that the total electric field strength in the vicinity of base station antenna masts in no case exceeded 10 V m(-1), which is quite below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection reference levels. At horizontal distances >50 m from the mast bottom, the median and maximum values were <1 and 2 V m(-1), respectively.

A critical note to the standard procedure for assessing exposure to GSM electromagnetic field

“…Although the topic of electromagnetic field exposure has been investigated both in terms of uncertainty contribution related to the measurement chain (see for example [14]) and with extended statistical analysis of measurement data over a given area [15][16][17][18].…”

Conversion from mono-axial to isotropic measurements for assessing human exposure to electromagnetic fields of GSM/DCS/UMTS base stations

“…On the other hand, mobile systems are an unavoidable part of modern life and cannot be easily removed or replaced. For these reasons, an objective assessment of the human exposure to the radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation is of great importance [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. Furthermore, exposure to RF electromagnetic field should be continuously monitored because of expected tremendous growth of traffic in future wireless networks [10] and dense implementation of small cells with base station installed closer to users [11].…”

Statistical analysis of electromagnetic radiation measurements in the vicinity of indoor microcell GSM/UMTS base stations in Serbia

“…To gain better insight into potential exposure to EM radiation in the vicinity of indoor microcell base stations, as well as to verify compliance with ICNIRP, and Serbian national recommendations, detailed analysis of obtained measurement results was performed and is presented in this paper. Moreover, to prove the impact of usually neglected indoor microcell base stations, obtained results were further compared with both indoor and outdoor measurements obtained in the vicinity of antenna masts [Koprivica et al, ] and base stations installed on buildings [Koprivica et al, ].…”

“…The measurement method used in this research was entirely determined by European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization CENELEC [, , ] and Neskovic et al [] and is described in more detail in Koprivica et al []. To assess human exposure to EMF of base stations in far‐field and radiating near‐field, which was the case in this paper, it is sufficient to measure only total electric or magnetic field strength [CENELEC, ].…”

“…To determine spatial distribution of EMF strength, in the second phase, measurements of electric field strength of relevant sources in a number of measurement positions within relevant areas were carried out. Measurements were done with measurement equipment calibrated in accordance with Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission ISO/IEC [] and CENELEC [], using two methods: broadband and frequency selective measurements [Koprivica et al, ].…”