Electromagnetic interference from GSM and TETRA phones with life-support medical devices.
Disturbances in hospital devices caused by cellular telephone signals were investigated. The interference sources were GSM900, GSM1800, and TETRA380 phones. The number of medical appliances tested was 23. Most measurements were taken in a semi-anechoic laboratory. To simulate the worst situation, the phones were adjusted to emit at their maximum power levels. No interference was observed if the distance from GSM1800 phone was over 5 cm. Corresponding safety distance for GSM900 phone was 70 cm, and for TETRA phones over 3 m. Hence, the use of GSM1800 type mobile phones can be considered safe, whereas GSM 900 and TETRA phones may cause considerable interference in hospital devices, which can result in life-endangering situations.
Hietanen
Maila
M
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, 00250 Helsinki, Finland. maila.hietanen@ttl.fi
Sibakov
Viktor
V
D040421:Cell Phone / Q000145:classification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*