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Field Level

The document summarizes a study that analyzed electromagnetic field exposure levels from mobile phone base stations in urban areas of Kosovo. It describes: 1) Theoretical, simulated, and in-situ measurements of exposure levels were conducted to determine minimum safe distances for public and occupational exposure. 2) Simulated exposure levels using propagation modeling software generally agreed with but were sometimes higher than measured levels, showing simulations can reasonably estimate exposure. 3) Measured exposure levels in Kosovo were higher than some other countries but still far below international safety limits.

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Mahmood Adel
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
58 views12 pages

Field Level

The document summarizes a study that analyzed electromagnetic field exposure levels from mobile phone base stations in urban areas of Kosovo. It describes: 1) Theoretical, simulated, and in-situ measurements of exposure levels were conducted to determine minimum safe distances for public and occupational exposure. 2) Simulated exposure levels using propagation modeling software generally agreed with but were sometimes higher than measured levels, showing simulations can reasonably estimate exposure. 3) Measured exposure levels in Kosovo were higher than some other countries but still far below international safety limits.

Uploaded by

Mahmood Adel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol.

50, 117–128, 2016

Comparative Analysis of Electromagnetic Field Exposure Levels


and Determination of the Minimum Safe Distances from
Mobile-Phone Base Stations in Urban Areas

Enver Hamiti, Mimoza Ibrani* , Luan Ahma, Vlerar Shala, and Rreze Halili

Abstract—Theoretical, software-computed and experimental evaluations of the exposure levels to


electromagnetic fields generated by GSM 900, GSM 1800 and 3G base stations in urban areas, including
determination of the minimum safe distances for population and occupational exposure, are presented.
Using the software package SPECTRAemc with the P.1546 propagation wave model and a topographic
digital map, the electromagnetic field levels were assessed considering the height of the receiving antenna
to be at the height of human. At a few locations in the direction of maximum radiation intensity, in situ
measurements of the electric field strength were performed. The base station power densities measured
at a few exposure sites were in the range of 0.11 (µW/cm2 ) to 6.73 (µW/cm2 ). The results of Kosovo
experimental survey are compared with surveys done in 21 countries in five continents. The power
density values obtained in Kosovo are higher, but many times below the safety standard limits.

1. INTRODUCTION

The tremendous ongoing growth in the use of cellular communication services requires the installation
of an increasing number of base station transmitters. The installation of base station transmitters is
accompanied by concerns about possible adverse biological and health effects to both the population
living near base stations and workers.
Wireless communication technologies have been shown to account more than 65% of exposure to
radio frequency radiation, with mobile phones being identified as the dominant contributor [1].
The epidemiological evidence of health impacts from base station exposure has been reviewed [2],
while a recent cross-sectional case control study has analysed possible genetic damage in individuals
residing in the vicinity of base stations [3].
The widely used human exposure safety standards announced by the International Commission on
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for the general population and workers gives two types
of exposure limitations that can be used in compliance assessment: basic restrictions that limit the
specific absorption rates (SARs) for mobile-communication frequencies, and reference levels that limit
the electric and/or magnetic field strength and power density [4].
Measurements of occupational exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by base stations and
their comparison with ICNIRP guidelines for rooftop positions have been reported [5]. The results
indicate that the reference levels for workers and the general public may be exceeded in front of a
transmitting antenna at distances up to 1 and 2 m, respectively.
To prevent citizens from entering exposure zones where ICNIRP safety limits are exceeded,
minimum safe distances to mobile-communication base stations should be determined.
The relationship between the base station antenna input power required to reach the ICNIRP SAR
limit and that required to reach the ICNIRP power density limit has been given [6].
Received 25 July 2016, Accepted 14 September 2016, Scheduled 23 September 2016
* Corresponding author: Mimoza Ibrani ([email protected]).
The authors are with the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Prishtina, Prishtina 10000, Kosovo.
118 Hamiti et al.

For a 900 MHz antenna of a base station, it was found that, at the input power of 10 W or higher,
the minimum safe distance based on the SAR was less than that based on the electromagnetic field
strength [7]. Thus, the calculation of the minimum safe distance can be based on the electromagnetic
field strength, avoiding the high financial and computational costs of SAR-based calculations.
Another advanced method for computing the minimum safe distance for a base station antenna in
the near-field region, based on source reconstruction, has been described [8].
Studies have reported the development of procedures, prediction formulas and instrumentation for
assessing the SAR and radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) of base station antennas, in
terms of the antenna parameters, distance and time variations and amplitude probability of exposure
levels [9–13].
The World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends working to investigate population
radio frequency (RF) exposure, particularly useful for global exposure assessment and hopefully
upcoming health risk from such exposure [14]. Comparative analysis of RF exposure survey of mobile
communications presented in [15], gives data of national surveys in 21 countries across five continents
since 2000. Surprisingly, regardless of country, the year and cellular technology, the measured values
were a small fraction of human exposure standards. Also, no significant increase in exposure levels
is observed since the widespread introduction of 3G mobile services, at ground level. They suggest
extending the study to additional countries.
The main objective of the present paper is to assess the actual level of electromagnetic field exposure
and to determine the minimum safe distance of public and occupational exposure for mobile-phone
base station antennas, in a very dense urban environment in Kosovo. Our study considers the case
of the highly populated neighborhood of Ulpiana in Prishtina, Kosovo. The chosen environment is
characterized as one of the most exposed environments in Kosovo, where density of radiation sources is
very high and the corresponding distance between humans and base stations antennas are worrisome.
This conclusion is based on the research that we have done in different environments, including those
that are considered to be more special, in terms of RF EMF exposure [16, 17].
We also aim to join international efforts to assess the experimental levels of RF-EMF exposure to
areas that are very close to base stations of wireless communication systems. We present the results of
a comparative analysis of data obtained from our measurements and RF-EMF exposure values resulted
from surveys, which includes over 173,000 individual data points presented in [15].
Finally, we compare the results obtained by simulations with those obtained by in-situ
measurements, in order to have a clear picture of the accuracy of the results obtained by simulations
and perhaps to simplify the procedures for evaluating exposure of the population in the future. In a
process of base transceiver station (BTS) sitting along with the signal coverage, also a safety distance
should be calculated, resulting in multi parametric cellular network planning and optimization.

2. METHODOLOGY FOR EVALUATION OF EXPOSURE LEVELS AND


DETERMINATION OF MINIMUM SAFE DISTANCES FROM MOBILE-
COMMUNICATION BASE STATIONS

The first step was to scan RF sources in the chosen urban neighborhood. Eight base station antennas
of GSM 900, GSM 1800 and 3G systems were identified in the study environment. The study area
also contained a few private mobile radio transmitters operating on very high frequency and ultrahigh
frequency ranges, two point-to-point sources operating on unlicensed bands of 2.4 and 5.5 GHz with low
transmitting power, and a few short-distance microwave links with low transmitting power. Evaluation
of the power balance of the identified RF sources reveals that the dominant contributors were the GSM
900, GSM 1800 and 3G base stations. Consequently, these contributions have become part of our study.
A map of the neighborhood and base station locations is presented in Fig. 1.
Base-station antennas operating in Ulpiana neighborhood are GSM 900, GSM 1800 and 3G
antennas, characterized by 17, 17.8 respectively 18 dBi. Transmitting power/channel (W) was in the
range between 1.99526 W and 6.30957 W for GSM 900 antennas, 6.30957 W for GSM 1800, while for
3G were used antennas of 19.95262 W and 15.84893 W. The data regarding the base stations technical
parameters are obtained from service provider.
Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 50, 2016 119

Figure 1. The map of Ulpiana neighborhood.

2.1. Theoretical Evaluation of the Peak Power Density and Minimum Safe Distance
Calculation
The power density of a plane wave, when a person is exposed to a single antenna of a base station, can
be calculated as [18–20]
1 Pt G
S= 10 10 (1)
4π R2
where Pt is the total power of the channels per sector radiated by the antenna and G the gain of the
antenna (in dB) in the direction of the person from the antenna.
In the case of the simultaneous action of N antennas, the total power density is obtained as the
sum of individual power densities of the different antennas.
At a distance ρ0 from the antenna, the form of the electric field changes from a cylindrical shape
in the near field to a spherical field. For a sector antenna, this distance is determined as [18–20].
φ3 dB
ρo = GA L (2)
6
where φ3 dB is the horizontal half-power (or −3 dB) beam width, GA the antenna broadside directivity
and L the antenna height.
For sector base-station antennas, the peak value of the power density of near-field (cylindrical)
radiation, in the horizontal direction of propagation, at distance ρ from the antenna centre and at
azimuth Φ, is calculated as [18–20]
 2
φ

Pt 2 φ3 dB
Sρpeak (ρ, φ) =    (3)
ρ 2
φ3 dB ρL 1+ 2
ρ0
where Pt is the total power of the channels per sector radiated from the antenna and Φ the azimuth
angle.
120 Hamiti et al.

Taking the azimuth value Φ = 0 in the expression and considering the peak power density to be
equal to the ICNIRP reference level, the minimum safe distance ρ can be calculated as

  2
 Pt
 1 1
 + −
φLSρ0 16 4
ρ = ρ0 (4)
2
Relations in Eqs. (3) and (4) can be used to simply and accurately calculate the level of exposure and
minimum safe distance from a base station antenna.

2.2. Calculated Results


The density of radiated power and the minimum safe distance are calculated using technical parameters
of the base station antennas under investigation, in the direction of the maximum radiation intensity
(angle Φ = 0) [19, 21, 22].
In Table 1 are presented the minimum safe distances for GSM 900, GSM 1800 and 3G base stations,
in terms of public and occupational exposure.

Table 1. Evaluated minimum safe distances for mobile-communication base stations.

The minimum safe distance for

The minimum safe distance for


for occupational [µW/cm 2]

occupational exposure ρ [ m]
channels per sector [W]

The value of the ρ o [m]


ICNIRP standard for

public exposure ρ [m]


Antenna length L [m]

Value of Φ 3dB [rad]


Antenna directivity

Total power of the

public [µW/cm 2]
Frequency [MHz]

ICNIRP standard
Antenna type

GA [dBi]
System
No.

1 GSM 900 955 K 742 266 17 3x5 2.51 0.57 450 2250 11.90 2.19 0.47
2 GSM 900 95 0 APX 17 3x7 2.00 0.57 450 2250 9.52 3.35 0.81
3 GSM 1800 1810 K 742 266 17.8 3x6.3 2.51 0.58 900 4500 14.56 1.42 0.29
4 UMTS 1820 K 742 215 18 20 1.30 0.57 900 4500 7.79 2.52 0.59

Figure 2 illustrates the dependence of the peak power density (W/m2 ) as a function of distance
ρ (m) from the antenna. The graphs also show the reference exposure levels of the ICNIRP for the
general population and occupational exposure. The results for the minimum safe distances varied from
1.42 m to 3.35 m for the exposure of the general population.
The results are valid for specific antennas having certain parameters and maximum transmission
power. Additionally, the results are obtained for ideal conditions of wave propagation, since no
consideration is given to possible reflections and other effects that may occur in reality.
For the far-field region, calculated power densities of the base station at different exposure positions
are given in Table 2. The calculated base station power densities for given exposure sites ranged from
0.1 to 7.6 µW/cm2 .

3. EVALUATION AND MAPPING OF ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD LEVELS AND


IN SITU MEASUREMENTS

3.1. Software Mapping of Electromagnetic Field Levels


The methodologies of determining RF exposure and coverage, as well as electromagnetic field mapping
via different software packages, are elaborated [23–27].
Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 50, 2016 121

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 2. Peak power density (W/m2 ) as a function of distance ρ (m), compared with ICNIRP
standards for (a) GSM 900 with antenna K742266; (b) GSM 900 with antenna APX906515L; (c) GSM
1800 with antenna K742266; and (d) 3G with antenna K742215.

Table 2. Calculated base station power densities in the far-field region.

Mobile system Base station power density in the far-field region


ρ [m] 38.36 40 45 50
GSM 900 (K742 266)
S (µW/cm2 ) 1.1 0.1 0.8 0.6
ρ [m] 24.24 30 35 40
GSM 900 (APX906 215L) 2
S (µW/cm ) 5.00 4.00 3.00 3.00
ρ [m] 74.26 80 85 90
GSM 1800
S (µW/cm2 ) 0.6 0.47 0.42 0.37
ρ [m] 20.35 25 30 35
UMTS
S (µW/cm2 ) 7.6 5.1 3.5 2.6

SPECTRAemc software, the ITU-R P.1546 wave propagation model, and digital topographic maps,
digital terrain models, with resolution of 20 m are used to evaluate and map the RF-EMF levels. The
electromagnetic field levels are assessed at two positions from the ground, considering the height of a
receiving antenna to be 1.5 or 5 m. The signal coverage zones for electric field levels ranging from 60
122 Hamiti et al.

(a) (b)

Figure 3. Electromagnetic field levels in the Ulpiana neighborhood for receiving antenna heights of
(a) h = 1.5 m and (b) h = 5 m.

to 105 dBµV/m are mapped and illustrated. Fig. 3 presents the signal coverage zones for base-station
electric field levels ranging from 60 to 105 dBµV/m and for a height of the receiving antenna of 1.5 or
5 m in the urban neighborhood under investigation.
In the human exposure scenario in the urban neighborhood of Ulpiana, for the case that the height
of the receiving antenna is 1.5 m, the electric field strength calculated with SPECTRAemc ranges from
65.4 dBµV/m (0.001862 V/m) to 157.5 dBµV/m (76.73 V/m). The maximum value of 157.5 dBµV/m is
found close to the antenna having the highest transmission power. This is also seen in Fig. 3.
In the case that the height of the receiving antenna is 5 m, the electric field strength within the
area of Ulpiana ranges from 76.9 dBµV/m (0.006998 V/m) to 157.5 dBµV/m (76.73 V/m).
The results reveal that the electromagnetic field is stronger at greater heights. This is to be expected
because the antennas are located at altitudes above 20 m, and in their horizontal plane, the radiated
level is higher.
Table 3 gives the minimum and maximum of the electric field strength E and power density S, in
the urban neighborhood calculated with SPECTRAemc. These values of electric field strength (E) and
power density (S) show the determined level in certain points using the SPECTRAemc software.

Table 3. The minimum and maximum value of the electric field E (V/m) and power density S
(µW/cm2 ) in the Ulpiana neighborhood, expressed also in dBµ.

Antenna The minimum value The maximum value


height E E S S E E S S
(m) [dBµV/m] [V/m] [µW/cm2 ] [dBµW/cm2 ] [dBµV/m] [V/m] [µW/cm2 ] [dBµW/cm2 ]
1.5 65.4 0.001862 9.19 × 10−7 −60.36 157.7 76.73 1561.91 31.93
5 76.9 0.006998 1.29 × 10−5 −48.86 157.7 76.73 1561.91 31.93

Given the total surface area of the Ulpiana neighborhood, which is 0.39 km2 , Table 4 presents the
percentages of the neighborhood having different levels of exposure of the electromagnetic field.

3.2. Experimental Evaluation of the Electromagnetic Field Levels


An in situ experimental evaluation of base-station electromagnetic field levels was performed with a
Narda EMR-300 radiation meter. Measurement points were chosen near antennas, in the far-field
region, and in the direction of the maximum antenna radiation intensity, for all sectors of base stations.
Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 50, 2016 123

Table 4. Zones of exposure levels to the electromagnetic field, shown by values of the electric field E
(V/m) and power density S (µW/cm2 ), expressed also in dBµ.

Area coverage of the respective electric field strength


h = 1.5 m h = 5m
E E S S
Area Area Area Area
[dBµV/m] [V/m] [µW/cm2 ] [dBµW/cm2 ]
covered covered covered covered
[km2 ] [%] [km2 ] [%]
≥ 105 0.177 0.00838 −20.76 0.02 5.12 0.13 33.33
≥ 100 0.1 0.0026 −25.76 0.05 12.82 0.28 71.79
≥ 95 0.056 8.31 × 10−4 −30.76 0.12 30.76 0.37 94.87
≥ 90 0.031 2.54 × 10−4 −35.76 0.24 61.53 0.39 100
≥ 85 0.017 8.38 × 10−5 −40.76 0.35 89.74 - -
≥ 80 0.01 2.65 × 10−5 −45.76 0.39 100 - -

Maximum and average values were obtained for the electric field strength and power density, measured
for a period of 6 minutes at a height 1.5 m from the ground. The maximum value obtained for the
average electric field strength was 5.04 V/m.
The measurements were conducted in time period 11–12 a.m. The measurements were repeated
at other time intervals during the same day and in the same time period on other days. The obtained
results were in the range of + − 15% of the ones presented.
Comparison of the obtained results with the ICNIRP reference values reveals that the exposure
levels of the base-station electromagnetic field are well below the ICNIRP exposure limits.
The results of comparative analysis conducted between exposure levels obtained via measurements
and exposure levels estimated with software are given in Table 5. The measured exposure levels are
lower, but the differences are small and within acceptable confidence intervals.
Besides a comparison of the electric field strength, Table 5 presents measured power density values
for base stations at certain exposure positions. The measured power densities range between 0.11
(µW/cm2 ) to 6.73 (µW/cm2 ).
Measured values of electric field in 900 MHz band are 1.5%–9.47% of ICNIRP reference levels, while
measured values for 1800 MHz band vary from 1.3%–8.6% of respective ICNIRP limits.
There is ongoing research debate about children sensitivity to radio-frequency electromagnetic
fields, in comparison with sensitivity in other age groups, and the exposure of children to base-station
electromagnetic fields thus needs investigation. Table 6 presents measurements of the electromagnetic
field strength in the playgrounds of a primary school and kindergarten located in the neighborhood under
study, as a tentative evaluation of base-station exposure levels in environments specific to children.
Results for mobile-phone use by children and the exposure of children to different radio-frequency
sources in indoor environments have been published [28] while a method of modelling base station
indoor exposure according to outdoor measurements has been proposed [29], triggering new research in
this direction. Furthermore, to clarify the effects of RF-EMF energy absorption by biological tissues,
a method for measuring the absorbed radiation from cell phone antennae into ex vivo brain tissue
is elaborated on [30], confirming that magnitude of temperature rise as a result of RF-EMF energy
absorption in the brain tissue was a function of irradiation power and time.
The obtained values of electric field measured in playground of school and kindergarten are at
2.11% and 1.22% of ICNIRP limit, respectively.

4. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MOBILE COMMUNICATION BASE


STATIONS RF EXPOSURE LEVELS BETWEEN KOSOVO AND OTHER WORLD
COUNTRIES

In order to present results of a comparative research done between the exposures levels obtained from
measurements in Kosovo with different world countries, we have based our comparative analyses on
results published in [15]. This publication includes summarized information of the surveys for 23
124 Hamiti et al.

Table 5. Measured vs. software-estimated values of the electric field E (V/m) and power density S
(µW/cm2 ), expressed also in dBµ.

Evaluation
Distance
Measured vales with
Base Sector Azimuth from
SPECTRAemc
station no. [◦ ] base-station
E E S E E S
[m]
[dBµV/m] [V/m] [µW/cm2 ] [dBµV/m] [V/m] [µW/cm2 ]
1 190 15 128 2.51 1.67 129 2.81 2.09
SB 8
2 290 7 134 5.04 6.73 136 6.31 10.55
1 60 30 122 1.25 0.41 125 1.77 0.83
SB 6 2 215 30 121 1.12 0.33 132 3.98 4.20
3 345 30 132 3.98 4.20 133 4.46 5.29
1 30 55 124 1.58 0.66 126 1.99 1.05
SB 1 2 150 40 127 2.23 1.32 129 2.81 2.09
3 270 30 128 2.51 1.67 130 3.16 2.65
1 60 40 116 0.63 0.11 118 0.79 0.16
SB 4 2 165 20 128 2.51 1.67 130 3.16 2.65
3 295 35 120 1.00 0.26 124 1.58 0.66
1 50 20 130 3.16 2.65 130 3.16 2.65
SB 7 2 170 25 128 2.51 1.67 129 2.81 2.09
3 270 15 131 3.54 3.34 132 3.98 4.20
1 80 12 126 1.99 1.05 127 2.23 1.33
SB 5 2 240 20 124 1.58 0.66 125 1.77 0.83
3 350 35 126 1.99 1.05 127 2.23 1.32
1 40 65 120 1.00 0.26 122 1.25 0.41
SB 2 2 150 55 131 3.54 3.34 132 3.98 4.20
3 260 45 118 0.79 0.16 120 1.00 0.26

Table 6. Electromagnetic field base-station exposure levels (values of the electric field E (V/m) and
power density S (µW/cm2 ), expressed also in dBµ)) in the playgrounds of a kindergarten and primary
school.
Measurements with Narda EMR 300 Evaluation with SPECTRAemc
Location of
E E S E E S
measurement
[dBµV/m] [V/m] [µW/cm2 ] [dBµV/m] [V/m] [µW/cm2 ]
Kindergarten
117 0.71 0.13 118 0.79 0.16
playground
Primary
school 119 0.89 0.21 120 1 0.26
playground

countries in five continents with 173,323 measurement points, with the main characteristics and expands
of the abbreviated names of the mobile technologies presented at Table 7.
Since all measurement surveys were done independently there was lack of a standardized
measurement protocol in the participating countries, different methodology in use, different instruments,
different frequency bands and resolution bandwidths and measurement modes, different criteria for
selecting measurement locations etc. All these facts are considered to have caused a discrepancy between
obtained results. In Table 7 are presented the results by country and by mobile technology in use, for
Progress In Electromagnetics Research M, Vol. 50, 2016 125

Table 7. Summary of the results from measurement surveys by country and mobile technologies‡ .

Power density S ( μW/cm2)/ Technology

GSM 1800/WCDMA

GSM900/GSM1800/
ABBREVIATIONS

ALL MOBILE
REQUENCIES
GSM 900/1800
COUNTRY

GSM 1800

WCDMA

WCDMA
GSM 900

PCS1900
ETACS
CDMA

UMTS
AMPS
AU 0.0189 0.0179 0.0062
AT 0.0043 0.0046 0.0005
BE 0.2270 0.0366 0.0083
CA 0.0018 0.0008
EG 0.4120
FR 0.1120 0.0468 0.0140
DE 0.3590 0.7330
GR 0.1430 0.1590
HU 0.1370 0.0419
IE 0.0629 0.0317 0.0620
JP 0.0003 0.0002
MY 0.4880
NZ 0.6780
PE 0.5560 1.0100
KR 0.3430 0.5590 0.3070
ES 0.5370
SE 0.1910 0.1260 0.1060
CH 0.1370
TH 0.0047 0.0142
UK 0.0009 0.0014 0.0001 0.0000
USA 1.3600
KOS 1.1158 2.5533 3.000

comparative reasons. In the first column are presented all country abbreviated names† , while in others
are respective measured power density S (µW/cm2 ) values by different mobile technologies. Measured
results for the Kosovo case are worrisome and need to be adressed by respective authorities, even that
are taken in mentioned particular location. The extensive research in this regard is preferable, in order
to have complete view of power density values for Kosovo case.
A graphical representation of obtained power density data in Kosovo in comparison with power
density data of other countries, for different cellular technologies, is given in Fig. 4.
As a conclusion, USA and Kosovo have measured the highest exposure levels, due to the use of
broadband measurements instruments, which are considered to yield higher values than narrowband
measurements instruments.
The below detection limit of narrowband instruments is typically 4–5 orders of magnitude below
broadband instruments, but this is very dependent on the amount of amplification and the signal
processing involved in the setup [15].
† Australia AU, Austria AT, Belgium BE, Canada CA, Egypt EG, France FR, Germany DE, Ghana GH, Greece GR, Hungary HU,
Ireland IE, Japan JP, Malaysia MY, Netherlands NL, New Zealand NZ, Peru PE, South Korea KR, Spain ES, Sweden SE, Switzerland
CH, Thailand TH, United Kingdom UK, United States of America USA, Kosovo KOS.
‡ Abbreviations: AMPS, Advanced Mobile Phone System; CDMA, Code Division Multiple Access; ETACS, Extended Total Access

Communications System; GSM, Global System For Mobile; NMT, Nordic Mobile Telephone; PCS, Personal Communications Services;
WCDMA, Wideband CDMA; a Broadcast (FM radio and television).
126 Hamiti et al.

Figure 4. Comparison of power density S (µW/cm2 ) for each country and for different cellular
technology.

Another reason for the high levels of exposure in the USA is that the measurements were taken in
a large number of rooftops very close to base stations, same as in Kosovo, where the measurements were
taken considering the direction of maximum radiation intensity. This fact has resulted in significantly
higher exposures levels in comparison with other countries.
In Kosovo, it is observed that due to irregular urban planning levels of exposures tend to be higher.

5. CONCLUSIONS

The continuous deployment of emerging wireless-communication base stations in densely populated


areas is triggering research on the assessment of human exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic
fields and possible health and environmental impacts, including the determination of safe exposure
zones. The present study scanned electromagnetic sources in an urban environment and evaluated
the power balance. The main contributors to electromagnetic exposure levels were thus found to be
GSM 900-MHz, GSM 1800-MHz and 3G base stations. A comparative analysis of exposure levels
obtained employing a theoretical approach, in situ measurements and exposure levels estimated with
software shows that the measured exposure levels are lower, however the differences are small and
within acceptable confidence intervals. Furthermore, comparing results of the power density values
obtained in Kosovo with other countries have resulted to be higher. This due to some differences in
measurement equipment, measurement location criteria, settings of measurements, survey methodology,
urban planning and years of survey analyses.
Comparing the obtained results of electric field levels with ICNIRP reference levels reveals that the
exposure levels are many times below the safety standard limits at positions from the ground to the
height of a person.

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