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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
Author(s) -
Qureshi Muhammad R. A.,
Alfadhl Yasir,
Chen Xiaodong,
Peyman Azadeh,
Maslanyj Myron,
Mann Simon
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
bioelectromagnetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.435
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-186X
pISSN - 0197-8462
DOI - 10.1002/bem.22094
Subject(s) - bioelectromagnetics , specific absorption rate , non ionizing radiation , electromagnetic field , electromagnetic radiation , absorption (acoustics) , electric field , acoustics , environmental science , physics , computational physics , telecommunications , optics , antenna (radio) , computer science , quantum mechanics
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. © 2017 The Authors. Bioelectromagnetics Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Bioelectromagnetics Society.