Analysis of exposure to electromagnetic fields in a healthcare environment: simulation and experimental study.
Recent advances in wireless technologies have lead to an increase in wireless instrumentation present in healthcare centers. This paper presents an analytical method for characterizing electric field (E-field) exposure within these environments. The E-field levels of the different wireless communications systems have been measured in two floors of the Canary University Hospital Consortium (CUHC). The electromagnetic (EM) conditions detected with the experimental measures have been estimated using the software EFC-400-Telecommunications (Narda Safety Test Solutions, Sandwiesenstrasse 7, 72793 Pfullingen, Germany). The experimental and simulated results are represented through 2D contour maps, and have been compared with the recommended safety and exposure thresholds. The maximum value obtained is much lower than the 3 V m(-1) that is established in the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard of Electromedical Devices. Results show a high correlation in terms of E-field cumulative distribution function (CDF) between the experimental and simulation results. In general, the CDFs of each pair of experimental and simulated samples follow a lognormal distribution with the same mean.
*Telemedicine and eHealth Research Unit, Health Institute Carlos III, C/ Sinesio Delgado 6, 28029, Madrid, Spain; †Department of Engineering, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Ofra, s/n. La Cuesta, 38320, La Laguna (Santa Cruz de Tenerife), Spain.
Silvia
S
de Miguel-Bilbao
Miguel Angel
MA
Martín
Alejandro
A
Del Pozo
Victor
V
Febles
José A
JA
Hernández
José C Fernández
JC
de Aldecoa
Victoria
V
Ramos
D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011834:Radiation Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D017751:Safety Management; D059015:Wireless Technology