title: Preliminary background indoor EMF measurements in Greece.
abstract: The main purpose of this work was to investigate the fluctuation of Greek indoor electromagnetic field (EMF) intensity values and identify peaks that might occur. The scientific interest is mainly focused on the bands of extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and radiofrequency (RF) electric fields which have been suggested to be possibly carcinogenic to humans by the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR). Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) measurements were performed in a variety of indoor dwellings, in Attica and in the islands of Zakynthos and Lesvos. A total number of 4540 measurements were taken in a wide frequency range (50 Hz-2100 MHz) of which 3301 in Attica, 963 in Lesvos and 276 in Zakynthos. Statistical analysis of the data revealed specific statistically significant differences between the mean values of the electric (ELF and RF) but not the magnetic (ELF) field strengths measured at different distances from the EMF source, as well as between some of the mean values of the RF electric field at different bands. Some statistically significant differences between mean electric field values at different geographic locations were also identified. As far as the RF electric field is concerned, the maximum values, in most cases, were below 0.5 V/m, however increased values above 1 V/m and up to 5.6 V/m were occasionally observed. The ELF magnetic field values were lower than 1 μT. It may be concluded that overall, the observed indoor EMF intensity values remained well below domestic and European established limits.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, GR 11527 Goudi, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: skottou@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kottou
authors.affiliation: Technological Education Institute (TEI) of Piraeus, Petrou Ralli & Thivon 250, GR 12244 Aigaleo, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulos
authors.affiliation: Technological Education Institute (TEI) of Piraeus, Petrou Ralli & Thivon 250, GR 12244 Aigaleo, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Panayiotis H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yannakopoulos
authors.affiliation: Evangeliki Model School of Smyrna, Lesvou 4, GR 17123 Nea Smyrni, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vogiannis
authors.affiliation: Technological Education Institute (TEI) of Piraeus, Petrou Ralli & Thivon 250, GR 12244 Aigaleo, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ermioni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Western Greece, M. Alexandrou 1, GR 26334 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Dionisios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panagiotaras
authors.affiliation: Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Ionian Islands, Department of Environmental Technology, Neo Ktirio, Panagoula, GR 29100 Zakynthos, Greece.
authors.forename: Dionysios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koulougliotis
mesh_terms: D004560:Electricity; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D006115:Greece; D011846:Radio Waves / Q000009:adverse effects; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Electric field; Electromagnetic field (EMF); Electromagnetic radiation (EMR); Extremely low frequency (ELF); Magnetic field; Power density; Radiofrequency (RF)