ARPANSA Measures Public Exposure to 5G Radiation with the SRM-3006
The Role of 5G Technology in the Modern World
The fifth generation of mobile phone technology, 5G, is presented by mobile companies as a solution to the ever-increasing demand for faster and more efficient data. With improved bandwidth, connection capacity and low latency, 5G technology consists of several different technologies that are combined to produce the instantaneous connections consumers have grown to expect.
While 5G brings a myriad of exciting new possibilities for the world of technology, there are also concerns regarding the safety impact that the radiation from 5G technologies could potentially have. While 5G does use technologies that produce electromagnetic energy (EME), exposure level are well managed and kept far below the safety limit, as backed by a recent study conducted by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).
ARPANSA Measures 5G Radiation Levels Across Melbourne
ARPANSA is the Australian Government’s primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety. They handle health, safety and environmental risks associated with radiation, promoting safe practices and ensuring informed policies are implemented by regulators. As a government agency, ARPANSA conducts research to ensure that the risks associated with radiation are properly managed and regulated.
During March and April in 2022, ARPANSA surveyed public exposure to Radiofrequency (RF) EME levels at 50 sites across Melbourne, compiling the results into the Survey of Residential Radio Wave Exposure report. The study was conducted using the Narda SRM-3006 Handheld Spectrum Analyser, an instrument capable of accurately measuring high frequency electromagnetic fields from 9 kHz to 6 GHz. In all suburbs surveyed, exposure levels were found to be 700 times lower than the safety limit, which is set at 300 GHz for both public and occupational exposure in the ARPANSA RF Standard. This standard was set while considering all ages and health statuses to minimise the risk of health effects related to RF EME exposure. ARPANSA’s study indicated that exposure levels at real sites were no more than 0.15% of the standard, with these measurements in Melbourne aligning with the average exposure levels expected in major cities across Australia. Radiation from 5G technology was hence deemed to not pose a threat to public health, conforming with set regulations.
How the Residential Radio Wave Exposure Survey was Conducted
To determine the measurement sites to be used for the study, 103 grid points were mapped out over the Melbourne metropolitan area, from which 50 were selected to be used in this study. Measurement locations were all to be publicly accessible open areas, with all measurements taking place on weekdays between 3 March and 27 April 2022, from 9:30am to 5:30pm.
Selected for its ability to selectively measure RF EME levels in specific frequency ranges, a Narda SRM-3006 Handheld Spectrum Analyser was used to obtain measurements at each site. The Narda SRM-3006 was connected to either an H-field probe (Narda 3581/01) or one of two E-field probes (Narda 3501/01 and 3502/01) mounted at a height of 1.5 meters above the ground on a non-conductive tripod. All probes were equipped with tri-axial sensors and the SRM-3006 operated with predefined measurement routines that were configured to perform an average over 1 minute for each frequency range of interest.
Key Findings in Public Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Energy
The median RF EME level across all 50 sites, taking into account all sources, was measured at 150 μW/m2, which corresponds to only 0.0011% of the general public exposure limit. The highest recorded total RF EME level, obtained by summing the 1-minute mean values from all sources at a single location, was found in The Basin suburb, measuring 2.85 mW/m2. This reading is equivalent to just 0.14% of the allowable limit, which is more than 700 times below the limit.
The graph below shows the total exposure to all radio wave sources combined across the 50 sites measured.
Source: Survey of residential radio wave exposure 2022 (ARPANSA)
Measurements for the study were grouped by EME sources including radio services and Base Transmit Stations (BTS) for mobile phone towers. The largest source of EME was broadcast radio in many locations, with BTS being a close second. As the first study of radio waves since the implementation of 5G, exposure from BTS was also segmented according to the technology used, including 3G, 4G, and 5G technology. EME exposure from 5G was found to be significantly lower than 4G, however ARPANSA expects that 5G exposure may surpass 4G as 5G-enabled devices become more common.
The Narda SRM-3006 Spectrum Analyser is available in Australia exclusively from Air-Met Scientific for sale and rental. Contact your local Air-Met Scientific from more information.
