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Mobile Communications: Addressing Concerns About Radio Signals
Mobile Communications: Addressing Concerns About Radio Signals
Addressing Concerns
About Radio Signals
Jack Rowley, PhD,
Senior Director Research & Sustainability
GSM Association
The GSMA in numbers
2
The mobile revolution
3
Mobile phones need
nearby antenna sites
• Phones are low power devices
4
Higher-speed data services require antennas
5
Introduction
Please introduce
yourself and discuss
your motivation for
taking this course.
History and context
Risk perception
Research
Other impacts
Outrage
8
Barrier to deployment
http://www.gsma.com/health
9
Associated issues
10
SESSION 1
12
Electromagnetic radiation (EMR)
X E-FIELD
DIRECTION OF
Z
PROPAGATION
Y H-FIELD
one wavelength
13
Electromagnetic Fields
http://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-content/uploads/electro_spectrum/electro_spectrum.htm
14
RF dielectric heating
E
No Field - +
+ + + + + + + + - - -
- - - + - - -
+ +
+ + + + + + +
+ E
RF fields can affect charged particles and polar molecules leading to heat loss
via ‘friction’.
15
Radiofrequency (RF) signals
Type of electromagnetic energy
Natural form of energy
RF is non-ionizing, unlike x-rays
• Insufficient intrinsic (quantum) energy for genetic damage
16
Field (wave) impedance
Field (wave) impedance is the ratio of the electric (E) to the magnetic (H)
field strength.
Usual symbol is Z
Z= E/H
where E in Volts/metre (V/m)
H in Amperes/metre (A/m)
17
Power flux density
The rate of electromagnetic energy flow across a unit area
Usual symbol is S
The unit is the W/m2 (watt per square meter)
1 mW/cm² = 10 W/m²
1 µW/cm2 = 0.01 W/m2
18
Relationship between E, H and S
In the far field...
• S = E x H (W/m2)
• S = E² / 377 (W/m2)
• S = 377 x H² (W/m2)
E = S 377 (V/m)
19
1 Using the formulas —
questions
• Given S = 10 W/m2 calculate
E=
𝐸2 0.62
S= = = 0.00095 W/m2 = 9.5 x 10-4 W/m2
377 377
S ≈ 1x10-3 W/m2
21
WHO International EMF Project
22
Evidence subject to regular expert review
http://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/mobile-and-health/science-overview/reports-and-statements-index/
23
Review of scientific evidence
The scientific review must be comprehensive.
• No single study can prove a health effect.
Weight of evidence
• Not about counting
• Quality
• Consistency
24
Effects versus hazards
Biological effect versus health hazard
• Effect: response within normal range (For example: response of eye to light level changes)
• Hazard: response outside normal range (For example: laser damage to the eye)
25
Association does not mean causation
Messerli, 2012
26
Large body of EMF research
www.emf-portal.de
27
Many studies specific to mobile
communications
n = 998
n = 67 (RF & children)
(24 April 2014)
http://www.emf-portal.de/overviews.php?l=e
28
Hazards of radiofrequency (RF) exposure
Established Not established
29
Established effects form the basis of RF
exposure standards
• The only adverse effects that have been clearly observed and understood are
acute (immediate).
• Thermal effects exhibit thresholds that are well above levels that are
experienced by the public.
30
Possibility of long-term effects
Concern has been expressed about the possibility that chronic (long-term)
exposures to low-intensity RF fields (that is, below recommended limits of
international guidelines) may increase the risk of pathologies, especially cancer.
Why?
• References to radiation
• Limited and contradictory evidence from epidemiology
• Impossible to prove no risk
31
1 Group discussion
1. What evidence would you use to counter or
balance an argument that radio signals are
health hazards? Why would you use that
evidence?
2. How would you present an explanation to
an individual concerned about the effects of
radio signals on their health using what we
have learned in Session 1?
You have now reached
the end of this session