The Importance of Quantification of Data in Studies on the Health Effects of Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields Generated by Mobile Base Stations

Author(s):  
S. M. J. Mortazavi ◽  
Valentina Emilia Balas ◽  
A. Zamani ◽  
A. Zamani ◽  
S. A. R. Mortazavi ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 422-428
Author(s):  
Jin-Hwa Moon

In today’s world, most children are exposed to various manmade electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs are electromagnetic waves less than 300 GHz. A developing child’s brain is vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation; thus, their caregivers’ concerns about the health effects of EMFs are increasing. EMF exposure is divided into 2 categories: extremely low frequencies (ELFs; 3–3,000 Hz), involving high-voltage transmission lines and in-house wiring; and radiofrequencies (RFs; 30 kHz to 300 GHz), involving mobile phones, smart devices, base stations, WiFi, and 5G technologies. The biological effects of EMFs on humans include stimulation, thermal, and nonthermal, the latter of which is the least known. Among the various health issues related to EMFs, the most important issue is human carcinogenicity. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC’s) evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, ELFs and RFs were evaluated as possible human carcinogens (Group 2B). However, the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) view of EMFs remains undetermined. This article reviews the current knowledge of EMF exposure on humans, specifically children. EMF exposure sources, biological effects, current WHO and IARC opinions on carcinogenicity, and effects of EMF exposures on children will be discussed. As well-controlled EMF experiments in children are nearly impossible, scientific knowledge should be interpreted objectively. Precautionary approaches are recommended for children until the potential health effects of EMF are confirmed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 344-350
Author(s):  
Evgeny V. Zibarev ◽  
A. S. Afanasev ◽  
O. V. Slusareva ◽  
T. I. Muragimov ◽  
V. A. Stepanets ◽  
...  

In recent years, in the Russian Federation there has been an increase in the levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in residential areas, including due to an increase in the number of base stations (BS). The purpose of sanitary and epidemiological surveillance at the stages of placement and commissioning of base stations (BS) is to prevent their adverse effects on public health. The increase in the number of base stations, together with the advent of new electronic equipment and antennas, provide opportunities for improving the processes of their accounting at the stage of placement and monitoring of the levels of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields at the operation stage. This automation tool can be a geo-information portal for providing sanitary and epidemiological surveillance of cellular base stations. The prototype of the geo-information portal allows both calculating the size of sanitary protection zones (SPZ) and building restriction zones (RZ) from the BS in online mode, displaying the results of calculations in graphical form and issuing sanitary and epidemiological conclusions for the placement and operation of base stations. The geo-information portal has the ability to synchronize with the data of the radio frequency center. Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing will be able to receive up-to-date analytical data. There will be completely automated processes of collecting, processing and storing information on BS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Cristiano Pesaresi ◽  
Davide Pavia

This paper—which is contextualized in the discussion on the methodological pluralism and the main topics of medical geography, the complexity theory in geographies of health, the remaking of medical geography and ad hoc systems of data elaboration—focuses on radio base stations (RBSs) as sources of electromagnetic fields, to provide GIS applications and simplifying-prudential models that are able to identify areas that could potentially be exposed to hazard. After highlighting some specific aspects regarding RBSs and their characteristics and summarizing the results of a number of studies concerning the possible effects of electromagnetic fields on health, we have taken an area of north-east Rome with a high population and building density as a case study, and we have provided some methodological and applicative exemplifications for different situations and types of antennas. Through specific functionalities and criteria, drawing inspiration from a precautionary principle, these exemplifications show some particular cases in order to support: possible risk factor identification, surveillance and spatial analysis; correlation analysis between potential risk factors and outbreak of diseases and symptoms; measurement campaigns in heavily exposed areas and buildings; education policies and prevention actions. From an operative viewpoint, we have: conducted some field surveys and recorded data and images with specific geotechnological and geomatics instruments; retraced the routes by geobrowsers and basemaps and harmonized and joined up the materials in a GIS environment; used different functions to define, on aero-satellite images, concentric circular buffer zones starting from each RBS, and geographically and geometrically delimited the connected areas subject to high and different exposure levels; produced digital applications and tested prime three-dimensional models, in addition to a video from a bird’s eye view perspective, able to show the buildings in the different buffer zones and which are subject to a hazard hierarchy due to exposure to an RBS. A similar GIS-based model—reproposable with methodological adjustments to other polluting sources—can make it possible to conceive a dynamic and multiscale digital system functional in terms of strategic planning, decision-making and public health promotion in a performant digital health information system.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. e00724
Author(s):  
Abel B. Olorunsola ◽  
Omolayo M. Ikumapayi ◽  
Bankole I. Oladapo ◽  
Adeleke O. Alimi ◽  
Adeyinka O.M. Adeoye

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