An Evaluation of Electromagnetic Exposure While Using Ultra-High Frequency Radiofrequency Identification (UHF RFID) Guns

The aim is to evaluate specific absorption rate (SAR) values from exposure near handheld ultra-high frequency radiofrequency identification readers (UHF RFID guns—small electronic devices, or even portable computers with relevant accessories—emitting up to several watts of electromagnetic field (EMF) to search for RFID sensors (tags) attached to marked objects), in order to test the hypothesis that they have an insignificant environmental influence. Simulations of SAR in adult male and female models in seven exposure scenarios (gun near the head, arm, chest, hip/thigh of the operator searching for tags, or near to the chest and arm of the scanned person or a bystander). The results showed EMF exposure compliant with SAR limits for general public exposure (ICNIRP/European Recommendation 1999/519/EC) at emissions up to 1 W (reading range 3.5–11 m, depending on tag sensitivity). In the worst-case scenario, guns with a reading range exceeding 5 m (>2 W emission) may cause an SAR exceeding the general public limits in the palm of the user and the torso of the user, a bystander, or a scanned person; occupational exposure limits may be exceeded when emission >5 W. Users of electronic medical implants and pregnant women should be treated as individuals at particular risk in close proximity to guns, even at emissions of 1 W. Only UHF RFID guns emitting below 1 W may be considered as environmentally insignificant EMF sources.

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Advancing the Ultra High Frequency RFID in Industrial Applications: A Review

West Indian Journal of Engineering ◽

10.47412/pwpg5760 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 40-52

Author(s):

Tracy Aleong ◽

Kit Fai Pun

Keyword(s):

Radio Frequency Identification ◽

High Frequency ◽

Measurement Data ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Automatic Identification ◽

Rfid Technology ◽

Uhf Rfid ◽

Privacy And Security ◽

Ultra High Frequency ◽

The Past

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology transmits data wirelessly and falls under the broad classification of Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC). The advances in RFID technology continue to be accepted worldwide for various tracking and monitoring type applications. This paper reviews the principle of RFID system operation using an extensive search of relevant articles from technology management and related journals, over the past two decades. It explores 1) the RFID tags operating in the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band, 2) analyses some of the major advancements of this technology in the field of sensor tagging solutions in the past two decades, and 3) discusses industry-based applications utilising UHF RFID sensor tagging solutions for process measurement data acquisition. The main challenges identified are privacy and security concerns on their applications in industry. The paper contributes to amalgamating a list of UHF RFID industry-based applications. It is expected that the findings from this review exercise would shed light on critical areas of the UHF RFID Technology.

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Soil–air partitioning of volatile organic compounds into soils with high water content

Environmental Chemistry ◽

10.1071/en20032 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (8) ◽

pp. 545

Author(s):

Jeonghyeon Ahn ◽

Guiying Rao ◽

Mustafa Mamun ◽

Eric P. Vejerano

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Soil Water ◽

Mineral Soil ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Exposure Limits ◽

Case Scenario ◽

Worst Case ◽

Water Saturated ◽

Water Contents

Environmental contextAssessing environmental and human health impacts of chemical spills relies on information about how chemicals move across multiple environments. We measured volatile contaminants in the air above soil saturated with water to provide estimates of air concentrations of selected chemicals released to soil from an oil refinery in Texas during Hurricane Harvey. Estimated concentrations were below recommended exposure limits, even in a worst-case scenario. AbstractThe emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from soil into air is affected by soil moisture dynamics, soil temperature, solar irradiance and carbon availability. The high amount of water in soil can modify its properties, which changes how VOCs interact. We conducted a comprehensive measurement of the soil–air partition coefficient (KSA) of VOCs into water-saturated soil with both low and high water contents for polar, weakly polar and nonpolar VOCs into a mineral soil (S-clay) and soil containing a high amount of organic matter (S-om) under a water-saturated condition. Partitioning of non-polar substituted aromatics (1,2-dichlorobenzene and toluene) was sensitive to the organic matter content in water-saturated soil. 1,2-Dichlorobenzene and toluene had higher affinities to S-om than to S-clay at all investigated water contents because of their strong interaction with the organic matter in soil. KSA decreased with elevated water content only for non-polar substituted aromatic VOCs. Less hydrophobic VOCs (benzene and trichloroethylene) exhibited similar partitioning into both soils by sorbing onto the air-water interface and dissolving in soil water, while the organic matter did not affect partitioning. The weakly polar and polar VOCs (methyl tert-butyl ether and 1-butanol) showed similar partitioning into both soils by dissolving in soil water while sorption to the organic matter was significant only at high soil water contents. KSA of VOCs on soil with high organic matter content correlated strongly with psat and Koa, but not on mineral soil. Estimates of the air concentrations for a subset of VOCs released from one refinery during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 in Harris County, Texas were lower than the recommended exposure limits, even under a worst-case scenario.

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Numerical Modeling of the Exposure on Radiofrequency Radiation of Marine Mammal Observers During Their Shift: A Case Study

International Journal of Safety and Security Engineering ◽

10.18280/ijsse.100605 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 753-758

Author(s):

Christos C. Spandonidis ◽

Kyriakoula Arvaniti

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Numerical Modeling ◽

Radiation Exposure ◽

Marine Mammal ◽

Working Environment ◽

Control Measures ◽

Operational Environment ◽

Exposure Limits ◽

Case Scenario ◽

Worst Case

Following the standard numerical modeling approach for Electromagnetic Field (EMF) radiation exposure prediction, we intend to provide an analytical framework to Marine Mammal Observers (MMOs) for dynamic risk assessment; enhancing thus occupational health and safety awareness. The analysis is based on power levels and antenna characteristics reported by MMOs for two systems (VHF and UHF) located close to the working environment. Whilst occupational exposure limits apply for MMOs, as for the rest crew (seismic and maritime), evaluation of exposure levels against general public limits is presented as well. At present we have restricted our study to single-source radiation, as well as we did not consider any irregularities due to system malfunction. The worst-case scenario of continuous RF transmission was considered. Risk assessment indicated regions where radiation exposure is higher than the permissible limits. Uncertainty due to the operational environment is inserted in methodology using an uncertainty coefficient. A list of control measures is proposed, to support both MMO’s and Operators’ decision making.

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Modelling and Evaluation of the Absorption of the 866 MHz Electromagnetic Field in Humans Exposed near to Fixed I-RFID Readers Used in Medical RTLS or to Monitor PPE

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21124251 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (12) ◽

pp. 4251

Author(s):

Patryk Zradziński ◽

Jolanta Karpowicz ◽

Krzysztof Gryz ◽

Grzegorz Owczarek ◽

Victoria Ramos

Keyword(s):

Electromagnetic Field ◽

High Frequency ◽

Thermal Effects ◽

Microstrip Antennas ◽

The Body ◽

Uhf Rfid ◽

Exposure Limits ◽

Passive Tags ◽

Radiated Power ◽

Rfid Readers

The aim of this study was to model and evaluate the Specific Energy Absorption Rate (SAR) values in humans in proximity to fixed multi-antenna I-RFID readers of passive tags under various scenarios mimicking exposure when they are incorporated in Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), or used to monitor Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The sources of the electromagnetic field (EMF) in the modelled readers were rectangular microstrip antennas at a resonance frequency in free space of 866 MHz from the ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID frequency range of 865–868 MHz. The obtained results of numerical modelling showed that the SAR values in the body 5 cm away from the UHF RFID readers need consideration with respect to exposure limits set by international guidelines to prevent adverse thermal effects of exposure to EMF: when the effective radiated power exceeds 5.5 W with respect to the general public/unrestricted environments exposure limits, and with respect to occupational/restricted environments exposure limits, when the effective radiated power exceeds 27.5 W.

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Automated bench test for UHF RFID tags measurement in operational environment

International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies ◽

10.1017/s1759078711000511 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 3 (4) ◽

pp. 415-422 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Audrey Pouzin ◽

Tan-Phu Vuong ◽

Smaïl Tedjini ◽

Jacques Perdereau

Keyword(s):

High Frequency ◽

Free Space ◽

Test Bench ◽

Bench Test ◽

Rfid Tags ◽

Uhf Rfid ◽

Operational Environment ◽

Radiofrequency Identification ◽

Power Frequency ◽

Disturbed Environment

This paper synthesizes protocol measurements for Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags’ performance. We introduce the main parameters allowing the evaluation of an inlay tag performances. We characterize all devices implemented on the test bench. We explain the different programs and all methods used for the software automation. Finally, we studied the variation of the measured parameters as a function of power, frequency, or tag orientation, both in free space and in disturbed environment through our automated test bench

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Application of Gbest-guided artificial bee colony algorithm to passive UHF RFID tag design

International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies ◽

10.1017/s1759078715000902 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 537-545 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sotirios K. Goudos ◽

Katherine Siakavara ◽

Argiris Theopoulos ◽

Elias E. Vafiadis ◽

John N. Sahalos

Keyword(s):

High Frequency ◽

Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm ◽

Artificial Bee Colony ◽

Uhf Rfid ◽

Design Problems ◽

Spiral Antennas ◽

Rfid Tag ◽

Passive Uhf Rfid ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Radiofrequency Identification

In this paper, new planar spiral antennas with meander lines and loads for passive Radiofrequency identification tag application at ultra-high-frequency band are designed and optimized using the global best (gbest)-guided Artificial Bee Colony (GABC) algorithm. The GABC is an improved Artificial Bee Colony algorithm, which includes gbest solution information into the search equation to improve the exploitation. The optimization goals are antenna size minimization, gain maximization, and conjugate matching. The antenna dimensions were optimized and evaluated in conjunction with commercial software FEKO. GABC is compared with other popular algorithms. The optimization results produced show that GABC is a powerful optimization algorithm that can be efficiently applied to tag antenna design problems.

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A Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID Antenna Design for Food Quality and Safety

International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering - 2 ◽

10.35940/ijrte.f7566.038620 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (6) ◽

pp. 1013-1022

Keyword(s):

Radio Frequency Identification ◽

High Frequency ◽

Review Paper ◽

Antenna Design ◽

Uhf Rfid ◽

Ultra High Frequency ◽

Materials Modeling ◽

Food Quality And Safety ◽

Frequency Identification ◽

Monitoring Application

In this proposed review paper an antenna design for Ultra High Frequency Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is presented. We discuss various applications of RFID antenna: meat freshness monitoring application, RFID card, RFID bracelets, in food containers for catering business and methods to measure dielectric properties on agri food materials. Modeling and simulation results are also presented.

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