Outdoor measurement of SAR in a full‐sized human model exposed to 29.9 MHz in the near field

Localized and averaged specific absorption rates (SARs) were obtained in a full‐size muscle‐equivalent human model exposed to near‐field 29.9 MHz irradiation at an outdoor facility. The model was positioned erect on a metallic groundplane 1.22 m (4 ft) from the base of a 10.8‐m (35 ft) whip antenna with an input power of 1.0 kW. For whole‐body SAR, a mean value of 0.83 W/kg was determined using two gradient‐layer calorimeters in a twin‐well configuration. The localized SARs at 12 body locations were measured using nonperturbing temperature probes and were highest in the ankle region. We conclude that averaged SAR measurements in a full‐size phantom are feasible using a twin‐calorimeter approach; measurements in the field are practical when human‐size (183 × 61 × 46 cm) calorimeters are used.