From IEEE RF Safety Standard to Address Base Station and Mobile Phone Safety Concerns

From IEEE RF Safety Standard From IEEE RF Safety Standard

to Address Base Station to Address Base Station and Mobile Phone and Mobile Phone Safety ConcernsSafety Concerns

C-K. Chou, Ph.D.Chairman, Technical Committee 95

International Committee on Electromagnetic SafetyInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Piscataway, New JerseyUSA

San SalvadorApril 16, 2007

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Outline

IEEE RF Safety Standard RF Safety Research Trend Ionizing vs Non-ionizing Radiation Biological Complexity Engineering Complexity Research Update Standards Update Conclusions


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IEEE RF Safety Standard HistoryIEEE RF Safety Standard History

1960: USASI C95 Radiation Hazards Project and Committee chartered

1966: USAS C95.1-1966 10 mW/cm2 (10 MHz to 100 GHz) based on simple thermal model

1974: ANSI C95.1-1974 (limits for E2 and H2)

1982: ANSI C95.1-1982 (incorporated dosimetry)

1991: IEEE C95.1-1991 (two tiers – reaffirmed 1997)

2006: IEEE C95.1-2005 published on April 19, 2006 (comprehensive revision, 250 pages, 1143 ref.)


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International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety

TC95 Subcommittee 4: 132 members, 42% from outside the US representing the following 23 countries:

Australia 4 Italy 3 Bulgaria 2 Japan 3Canada 4 Korea 2China 3 Netherlands 2Finland 3 New Zealand 1France 1 Poland 2Germany 1 Slovenia 1Greece 3 South Africa 2Hungary 1 Sweden 1Ireland 3 Switzerland 3Israel 2 Thailand 1

United Kingdom 8


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International Committee on International Committee on Electromagnetic SafetyElectromagnetic Safety

SC4 Membership Composition

Academia 36 27%

Government 45 34%

Industry 22 17%

Consultant 27 20%

General Public 2 2%

Total 132 100%


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SC4 Task for Revision

C95.1-1991 needs a complete revision

ICES is committed to the development of a science-based RF safety standard that is protective of public health, unambiguous, and practical to implement

The RF standard should be harmonized with other international standards to the extent where scientifically defensible


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Extensive DatabaseExtensive Database

The biological effects of RF exposure have been studied for more than 50 years.

The WHO EMF Project website (http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en/) contains more than 2500 entries, of which more than 1400 are relevant to health effects of RF exposure.

At the close of the evaluation by ICES, 1143 studies were listed in the references.

http://www.who.int/peh-emf/en/


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C95.1-2005: DefinitionsC95.1-2005: Definitions

Weight of evidence:For purposes of this standard, the outcome of assessing the published information about the biological and health effects from exposure to RF energy. This process includes evaluation of the quality of test methods, the size and power of the study designs, the consistency of results across studies, and the biological plausibility of dose-response relationships and statistical associations.


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C95.1 Standard’s major revision

A notable revision to the new standard is the recommendation of peak spatial average SAR of 2 and 10 W/kg averaged over 10 g tissue for the lower and upper tier, respectively.

This revision resolves a major harmonization issue with RF standards.


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RF Safety ConcernsRF Safety Concerns

RF Source (years) Body Exposure

Radar (50-60’s) Whole body Broadcasting (60-70’s) Whole body Microwave Oven (70-80’s) Localized Police Radar (80’s) Localized Mobile Communication (90’s - ?)

Two-way radios (since 60’s) Localized Mobile phones Localized Base stations Whole body


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IEEE ICESB e i j i n g 4 / 1 9 / 2 0 0 2

S l i d e 4


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Ionizing vs. Non-Ionizing Energy Ionizing

Sufficient energy to alter chemical bonds and atomic structure

Confirmed health effects include genetic damage Effects can occur from cumulative exposure

Non-ionizing (including RF) Lower energy, insufficient to cause effects like those above Only confirmed RF health effects relate to tissue heating at

levels well above limits No known chronic/cumulative effects


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Biological Complexity

In vivo study Species Strain Sex Age Extrapolation from animal to humans

In vitro study Monolayer Cell suspension Isolated tissue Extrapolation to human beings


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Cataract study


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Ophthalmologist looking for cataract


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Microwave induced Cataract In a rabbit eye


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Facial burns but no cataract


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Engineering Complexity

Far Field Exposure Near Field Exposure RF Dosimetry Resonance Modulation

CW, Pulsed AM, FM, TDMA, CDMA

Experimental Artifacts Temperature Control


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Health policy must be science basedHealth policy must be science based

A single study can form the basis of an hypothesis, but does not provide the basis for hazard identification.

Confirmation of the results of any study is needed through replication and/or supportive studies.

The resulting body of evidence forms the basis for science-based judgments by defining exposure levels for

adverse health effects no observable adverse effects


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Study Type Strengths and Study Type Strengths and WeaknessesWeaknesses

Epidemiological studies: Greatest weighting (WHO, IARC)•Distribution of disease in a population and factors affecting this•BUT can be subject to bias and confounding

Volunteer studies:•Response of people to an agent such as RF•BUT short-term exposure and selection (of healthy volunteers)

Animal studies:•Responses of mammals to an agent such as RF•BUT differences in metabolism, physiology, lifespan, etc

In Vitro Cell studies: Least weighting•Rapid cheap screening for possible interaction mechanisms•BUT simple systems, may not be applicable to a whole organism

RF Bioeffects: Peer Reviewed Publications Since 1950

Study Type/Subtype OngoingCompleted

w/oPublication

PublishedPapers

Epidemiology 44 8 234

Human/Provocation 62 16 180

In Vitro 63 31 428

Long Term Animal Studies

Cell Line Injection Tumor Bioassay 0 0 5

Chemical-Radiation-Genetically Initiated 4 1 25

Rodent Bioassay 5 1 18

All Other Animal Studies 40 28 690

Grand Totals 218 85 1580

Mobile Telephony Related Studies

Study Type/Subtype OngoingCompleted

w/oPublication

PublishedPapers

Epidemiology 36 6 78

Human / Provocation 59 16 114

In Vitro 52 26 133

Long Term Animal Studies

Cell Line Injection Tumor Bioassay 0 0 2

Chemical-Radiation-Genetically Initiated 4 1 20

Rodent Bioassay 4 1 9

All Other Animal Studies 36 18 167

Grand Total 191 68 523


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WHO Comment on Database

scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals.

WHO concluded that current evidence does not confirm the existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.

http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html

New RF Research ProgramsCountry Time

periodBudget

(M€)Australia 2004-2009 1.5

Denmark 2004-2008 4.0

Finland 2004-2007 1.5

Germany 2002-2007 17.0

UK: MTHR 1

MTHR 2

2002-2008

2007-2012

10.8

est 11.25

France 2006-2010 4.8

Korea 2005-2010 10.8

Netherlands 2006-2014 16.6

Switzerland 2006-2010 3.2

USA/NTP 2005-2010 18.0

Total 99.45 M€

$130M

+ Japan, China, etc.

WHO estimated$250 M already spent on mobile telephony bioeffect research


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To date, epidemiological studies do not provide guidance for the study of low-level non-thermal effects and as a whole do not suggest the existence of low-level effects.

General Conclusion from Epi studies


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Summary: Animal CancerSummary: Animal Cancer

The weight of scientific evidence in 41 studies shows that RF exposure up to lifetime exposure (2 years) does not adversely affect carcinogenic processes (initiation, promotion or co-promotion) at

whole-body dose rates up to 4 W/kg and localized dose rates up to 2.3 W/kg.

Long term animal studies provide no supportive evidence of low-level non-thermal effects.


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The conclusion so far from the data obtained within the MTHR programme is that there is no evidence of effects. However, the question remains of the nature of the mechanism of effects due to chronic exposure, if they exist.

MTHR: Mobile Telephony Health Research

UK MTHR program (2007)


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WHO on Children’s Exposure (2005)

“Present scientific evidence does not indicate the need for any special precautions for the use of mobile phones.. If individuals are concerned, they might choose to limit their own or their children's RF exposure by limiting the length of calls, or by using ‘hands-free’ devices…”

http://www.who.int/emf




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Expert Scientific Reviews (1996-2007)Expert Scientific Reviews (1996-2007)

Australian Committee on EM Energy Public Health Issues European Commission Expert Group European Committee on Toxicology, Eco-toxicology French Environmental Health and Safety Agency (AFSSE) Health Council of the Netherlands Hong Kong - Office of the Telecommunications Authority International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) International Radiation Protection Association (IRPA) Japanese Ministry of Post and Telecommunications New Zealand Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment Nordic Authorities (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) Royal Society of Canada Expert Panel and Health Canada Singapore Health Sciences Authority Swedish State Radiation Protection Authority U.K. Advisory Group of Non Ionizing Radiation U.K. Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (Stewart Report) U.K. National Radiological Protection Board U.S. Food and Drug Administration World Health Organization


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General Conclusion of Expert Scientific Reviews

No credible evidence that RF exposures within internationally accepted limits cause any adverse health effects, but…

More research is needed ……

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One can never prove the null hypothesis and thus one can never prove that something is absolutely safe.

There is no known mechanism for adverse health effects of RF exposure other than thermal.

Due to the current extensive database, it is unlikely that results of ongoing studies will shift the weight of evidence on health effects.

Remarks


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Future Important ReviewsFuture Important Reviews

International Agency for Research on Cancer, RF Review – late 2008 Classification of the carcinogenic potential of

RF exposure

WHO RF Environmental Health Criteria – 2009 Assessment of all health endpoints


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Differences between Science and Media

Science Media

Consensus Conflicts

Truth “News“

General Laws Stories

to be continued


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Problems in Media Communication

Media reports on EME issues often are not verified and

reviewed

Statements from so called “Experts”

Sensationalism

Misinformation propagates fast and continuously

Corrections do not make the news

General public acquire knowledge from media and NOT from

scientific journals


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Exposure Safety Standards IEEE ICES TC95 International Commission on Non-

Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Emission Assessment Standards IEEE IECS TC34 International Electrotechnical

Commission (IEC) TC106 Safety Related Compatibility Standards

Three Types of RF standards


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New IEEE Std. C95.1-2005pp 1-250


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Phone test positions

Touch position

Tilted position


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Phone reference marksPhone reference marks


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RF Product Compliance

For mobile phone or two-way radioPeak SAR determination


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Densitometry

Measure power density in mW/cm2 or μW/cm2

with a survey meter

Compare with Reference Limits or MPE

Distance from 3 m 15 m 30 m 124 m 300 m transmission source

Power density .00004 mW .00006 mW .00004 mW .00002 mW .00013 mWper square centimeter*

Number of times below 13,750 9,167 13,750 27,500 4,230internationally recognizedsafety standards**

Cellular Transmission Towers

*1 milliwatt (mW) = 1/1,000 watt**The ANSI/IEEE and NCRP safety standards for the general public in theenvironment depicted above are .550 milliwatts per square centimeter

40 m

20 Channels10 Watts/Channel


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Rooftop Antennas Rooftop Antennas

Residential and office building RF exposures are in general lower than 1% of ICNIRP or IEEE limits, similar to radio and TV broadcast exposure level.

Rooftop antenna installation is safe.

10% Exposure Limit

1% Exposure Limit


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WHO Fact Sheet #304 (May 2006)

Electromagnetic fields and public health: Base stations and wireless technologies

Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs304/en/index.html


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ConclusionsConclusions

RF electromagnetic waves are not nuclear radiation

Only proven RF adverse effect is thermal effect

Exposure levels near base stations are very low

Both ICNIRP and IEEE standards provide ample

protection for all populations


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IEEE ICESThank you

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From IEEE RF Safety Standard to Address Base Station and Mobile Phone Safety Concerns