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Executive summary

With the expanded use of radiofrequency (RF) communication technologies, questions have been raised concerning the RF levels that the community is exposed to. Such questions relate to the amount of electromagnetic energy (EME) that people are exposed to from devices such as mobile phones, cordless phones, Wi-Fi and cordless routers, both individually and due to their cumulative exposure. The present study tested such RF EME levels in 20 suburban homes in Melbourne, Australia, assessing EME levels from devices in isolation, as well as from their cumulative exposure. Overall, measurements were very low, with the highest level for a particular home less than 1% of national exposure limits. In terms of individual devices, the highest level was less than 10% of national exposure limits, and the effect of having all RF devices on simultaneously in a home (cumulative exposure) had little effect on the results. This study suggests that the use of RF devices in an average suburban home results in very low RF EME exposure (compared to national exposure limits), and that this conclusion is not affected by having numerous RF devices operating simultaneously.

Study aims

• survey a sample of Australian homes to characterise the ‘typical’ RF environment (number and type of devices) present in the home
• conduct a series of measurements to determine how exposure to RF fields in the home compares to general public compliance levels
• consider exposure to individual devices as well as cumulative exposure to a number of devices operating concurrently in typical domestic configurations
• a particular scenario to be considered was that of a typical desk or study environment where several wireless devices may be “clustered” together in close proximity to the desk or study occupant

Results

Overall, the cumulative exposure at the reference point (lounge or living room) or in the study or at the desk was determined to be, on average, hundreds or thousands of times below the safety limits stipulated in the Australian RF exposure standard [ARPANSA]. This is in agreement with previous studies of this type in other countries [Foster et al, Thuroczy et al], which similarly found very low exposure levels from wireless technology in public areas in urban environments.

Exposure to individual devices measured 20 cm from the device were higher, although still more than 20 times less than, the exposure limit in worst cases. A particular feature of the ACRBR study was that in Australian homes, individual exposure tended to be dominated by microwave ovens. This was somewhat unexpected as microwave ovens are not generally associated with the general public’s concern when considering their exposure to EME at home. Other devices which dominated exposure to EME in the home (but at lesser levels) included cordless phones and wireless routers in download mode.

The ACRBR wishes to acknowledge the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association for providing funding for this project, and RadHaz Consulting who undertook the measurement work.

The Centre aims to form the hub of RF bioeffects research conducted in this country. Through the extensive skills, knowledge and experience of the centre members, and via its extensive network of research collaborators and contacts, national and international, the Centre will identify, initiate, participate in and coordinate a program of research which addresses the most relevant and urgent research questions yet to be resolved in this complex and sensitive area of study.

In recent years there has been a number of substantive international reviews on the potential for biological and health impacts from public exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) emissions of telecommunications technologies, especially with regard to mobile telephony (see for example The Royal Society of Canada 1999, Health Council of the Netherlands 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, UK International Expert Group on Mobile Phones 2000, French Health General Directorate 2001, UK Health Protection Agency 2005, World Health Organisation Research Agenda 2006). These reviews have been led by distinguished scientists and public policy makers in their field, and while varying in detail, have produced a consensus view on the highest priority issues to be addressed in ongoing research.

The Centre's research program has been carefully formulated to reflect the identified research priorities. These include biological studies (in particular neurobiological studies), epidemiological studies (both of cancer and non cancer outcomes), and dosimetry studies (to ensure rigour in other studies and in regard to the impact of rapidly changing new technologies on currently accepted test methods for determining regulatory compliance of RF devices). Public information dissemination and consideration of particular population subgroups (e.g. children and self declared hypersensitives) are also accorded high priority.