Assessment of exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields from smart utility meters in GB; part II) numerical assessment of induced SAR within the human body

Muhammad R.A. Qureshi*, Yasir Alfadhl, Xiaodong Chen, Azadeh Peyman, Myron Maslanyj, Simon Mann

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Human body exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic waves emitted from smart meters was assessed using various exposure configurations. Specific energy absorption rate distributions were determined using three anatomically realistic human models. Each model was assigned with age- and frequency-dependent dielectric properties representing a collection of age groups. Generalized exposure conditions involving standing and sleeping postures were assessed for a home area network operating at 868 and 2,450 MHz. The smart meter antenna was fed with 1 W power input which is an overestimation of what real devices typically emit (15 mW max limit). The highest observed whole body specific energy absorption rate value was 1.87 mW kg−1, within the child model at a distance of 15 cm from a 2,450 MHz device. The higher values were attributed to differences in dimension and dielectric properties within the model. Specific absorption rate (SAR) values were also estimated based on power density levels derived from electric field strength measurements made at various distances from smart meter devices. All the calculated SAR values were found to be very small in comparison to International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection limits for public exposure. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:200–216, 2018.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)200-216
Number of pages17
JournalBioelectromagnetics
Volume39
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Grant sponsor: Public Health England; grant number: 837 “Smart Meter Modelling Project”.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Copyright:
Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • RF
  • dosimetry
  • electromagnetic absorption
  • exposure
  • exposure guidelines

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