Conduct of a personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurement study: proposed study protocol.
BACKGROUND
The development of new wireless communication technologies that emit radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) is ongoing, but little is known about the RF-EMF exposure distribution in the general population. Previous attempts to measure personal exposure to RF-EMF have used different measurement protocols and analysis methods making comparisons between exposure situations across different study populations very difficult. As a result, observed differences in exposure levels between study populations may not reflect real exposure differences but may be in part, or wholly due to methodological differences.


METHODS
The aim of this paper is to develop a study protocol for future personal RF-EMF exposure studies based on experience drawn from previous research. Using the current knowledge base, we propose procedures for the measurement of personal exposure to RF-EMF, data collection, data management and analysis, and methods for the selection and instruction of study participants.


RESULTS
We have identified two basic types of personal RF-EMF measurement studies: population surveys and microenvironmental measurements. In the case of a population survey, the unit of observation is the individual and a randomly selected representative sample of the population is needed to obtain reliable results. For microenvironmental measurements, study participants are selected in order to represent typical behaviours in different microenvironments. These two study types require different methods and procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
Applying our proposed common core procedures in future personal measurement studies will allow direct comparisons of personal RF-EMF exposures in different populations and study areas.
Röösli
Martin
M
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, Basel, 4051, Switzerland. martin.roosli@unibas.ch
Frei
Patrizia
P
Bolte
John
J
Neubauer
Georg
G
Cardis
Elisabeth
E
Feychting
Maria
M
Gajsek
Peter
P
Heinrich
Sabine
S
Joseph
Wout
W
Mann
Simon
S
Martens
Luc
L
Mohler
Evelyn
E
Parslow
Roger C
RC
Poulsen
Aslak Harbo
AH
Radon
Katja
K
Schüz
Joachim
J
Thuroczy
György
G
Viel
Jean-François
JF
Vrijheid
Martine
M
D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D018579:Patient Selection; D011827:Radiation; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects; D012107:Research Design; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires