1. © GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Levels of Exposure in Mobile Networks
Jack Rowley, PhD,
Senior Director Research & Sustainability
GSM Association
Forum “National Non-Ionizing Radiation, Health and Infrastructure Deployment”,
Colombia
August 2013

2. 1
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
More use of internet and more use indoors
ITU, 2012; OFCOM, 2012
120x more data
than feature phone
79% indoor usage

3. 2
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Phones need antenna sites
Low power devices.
Extend battery life.
Less interference.
Adaptive power control.

4. 3
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
The antenna transmits radio signals
Signals directed outwards and not directly downwards.

5. 4
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Exposure reduces rapidly as distance increases
Worker limit
Public limit
Small fraction of limit

6. 5
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Antennas not accessible
Simplified
evaluation.

7. 6
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Compliance boundaries
Compliance
Boundary
Worker
Compliance
Boundary
Public
Assess zones.
Manage access.
Signage.

8. 7
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Environmental levels from mobile network antennas
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.13

9. 8
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Exposure similar for all countries
Global average more than 5,500 times below limit values.
Based on Rowley and Joyner, 2012
1000
100
10
1
0.1
0.00000001
0.0000001
0.00001
0.0001
0.010.001
0.01
Country (points)
Microwattspersquarecentimetre

10. 9
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
0
Average
urban, TV and
radio
Baby monitors
(20 cm)
Average
urban, base
stations
WLAN access
point (20 cm)
DECTcordless
phone (20 cm)
Mobile network exposure levels similar to other radio
sources
Based on Valberg et al., 2007.

11. 10
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Time trends – 5 countries
No significant change in RF exposure since introduction of 3G
Based on Rowley and Joyner, 2012

12. 11
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Many types of antenna sites

13. 12
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Exposures similar from different site types
Adapted from Figure 2 of
Bornkessel et al, 2007
Rural Urban In-building
system
Rooftop,
building
below

14. 13
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Small daily variation in radio signal levels
ICNIRP
<<1%
Joseph et al, BEMS, June 2010
Small variation
due to traffic
activity.
Sample audit
measurements to
build trust.
Benefits of
continuous
monitors should
be independently
evaluated.

15. 14
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Summary – mobile network exposure levels
Typically far below
international
recommendations.
All mobile technologies
produce similar exposure.
Similar to other sources of
radio signals.
Little change in exposure
since the introduction of 3G.

16. 15
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Established Risk
http://www.michellehenry.fr/tel.htm

17. 16
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Muchas Gracias
Contact: Dr Jack Rowley
Job title: Senior Director
Research & Sustainability
email address:
jrowley@gsma.com
Global:
www.gsma.com/health
Latin America
www.gsma.com/latinamerica/
gsma-latin-america-es/salud-
y-moviles

18. 17
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
More antennas does not mean more exposure
Bornkessel, RF Exposure Measurement Campaigns -
Between Pure Facts and Practical Risk Communication in
Electromagnetic Field Exposure: Risk Communication in
the context of Uncertainty, 2006.
The number of visible base stations does not
significantly influence RF exposure level.
electricfieldstrengthin%oflimit

19. 18
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
RF exposure evaluation
Near to antennas:
– Compliance zones.
– Access controls.
Far from antennas:
– Very low exposures.
– Communication.

20. 19
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Mobile networks evolve in response to customer
demand
More base stations to provide:
– More coverage.
– More capacity.
– Higher data rates.
Potential public concern.
Cisco

21. 20
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Evolution of mobile technologies
Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2013
today

22. 21
© GSM Association 2013
J. Rowley, August 2013
Ground level: closer does not mean higher exposure
Source: Adapted from Neubauer et al,
Study on the Feasibility of
Epidemiological Studies on Health
Effects of Mobile Telephone Base
Stations, ARC-IT—0124, March 2005.
For example, at 100 m, the
measured levels differ by more than
1,000 times.
ICNIRP