MCU18.0166 - Response to Information Request (amended)

Radio Communications
in the Community
Explained Series – Wireless Technology and Health                                                                             Issue Date – July 2008


                                                                                                 How strong are the environmental
   How do the transmitter                                                                        or background EMF levels in the
   powers compare?                                                                               community?
                                                                                                 In a typical community, broadcast television and radio
   Radio Systems*                         Typical Transmitter Power (Watts)                      signals are similar in strength to signals from mobile
                                                                                                 phone networks and other two-way communications
                                                                                                 systems. These signals are overall very low and well
   TV & Radio broadcast                                                  5,000 – 100,000
                                                                                                 below the established safety guidelines.
   Air traffic control radars                                              5000 – 20,000
                                                                                                 The World Health Organisation has reviewed the
   Radio paging services                                                        50 – 100
                                                                                                 background EMF levels from wireless systems
   Emergency communications                                                     50 – 100         and says,
   Government radio systems                                                     50 – 100
                                                                                                    “Recent surveys have shown that the
   Mobile phone base station                                                       2 – 50
                                                                                                    RF exposures from base stations range
   Wireless Broadband base station                                                 2 – 50           from 0.002% to 2% of the levels of
                                                                                                    international exposure guidelines,
   Radio Devices                          Typical Transmitter Power (Watts)                         depending on a variety of factors such
                                                                                                    as the proximity to the antenna and the
   Walkie Talkies                                                                   0.1 – 5         surrounding environment. This is lower
   Mobile phones                                                                0.002 – 0.2         or comparable to RF exposures from
   Wi-Fi Modem                                                                          0.1         radio or television broadcast
   Cordless phones                                                               0.01 – 0.2         transmitters"
   Baby monitors                                                                 0.01 – 0.1      Specifically on EMF levels in public areas the
   Car remote control                                                           0.001 – 0.1      WHO says,
                                                                                                    "Recent surveys have indicated that
   * typical power into antenna
                                                                                                    RF exposures from base stations and
                                                                                                    wireless technologies in publicly
                                                                                                    accessible areas (including schools and
                                                                                                    hospitals) are normally thousands of
                                                                                                    times below international standards."


                                                                                                 What research has been done on
                                                                                                 radio communications and EMF
                                                                                                 safety?
                                                                                                 There has been a lot of research conducted
                                                                                                 worldwide to investigate possible health effects of
                                                                                                 radio communications and wireless technology.
                                                                                                 In relation to radio frequency exposures and wireless
                                                                                                 technology and health, the general conclusion from
                                                                                                 the World Health Organisation (WHO) is
                                                                                                    "Despite extensive research, to date
                                                                                                    there is no evidence to conclude that
 Spectrum plot showing typical radio communications signals in a community                          exposure to low level electromagnetic
 This picture is a plot from a spectrum analyser (specialised radio measurement                     fields is harmful to human health”
 equipment) showing the various radio communications signals measured in a typical               The WHO also says,
 community. The plot is taken at one location to illustrate typical radio communication             "radio and television broadcast stations
 signals present, and to make a comparison of signal level.
                                                                                                    have been in operation for the past 50 or
 The type of radio service is indicated on the plot along the horizontal axis and signal            more years without any adverse health
 level in dBm (level relative to 1 milli-watt) on the left hand axis. The units are not really
                                                                                                    consequence being established”.
 important here except to show relative levels. The picture also shows how many radio
 services are used in a typical community.




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