title: Evaluation of Electromagnetic Fields in a Hospital for Safe Use of Electronic Medical Equipment.
abstract: Establishment of electromagnetic compatibility is important in use of electronic medical equipment in hospitals. To evaluate the electromagnetic environment, the electric field intensity induced by electromagnetic radiation in broadcasting spectra coming from outside the hospital was measured in a new hospital building before any patients visited the hospital and 6 months after the opening of the hospital. Various incoming radio waves were detected on the upper floors, with no significant difference in measured levels before and after opening of the hospital. There were no cellphone terminal signals before the hospital opened, but these signals were strongly detected at 6 months thereafter. Cellphone base stations signals were strongly detected on the upper floors, but there were no signals at most locations in the basement and in the center of the building on the lower floors. A maximum electrical intensity of 0.28 V/m from cellphone base stations (2.1 GHz) was detected at the south end of the 2nd floor before the hospital opened. This value is lower than the EMC marginal value for general electronic medical equipment specified in IEC 60601-1-2 (3 V/m). Therefore, electromagnetic interference with electronic medical equipment is unlikely in this situation. However, cellphone terminal signals were frequently detected in non-base station signal areas. This is a concern, and understanding signal strength from cellphone base stations at a hospital is important for promotion of greater safety.
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Informatics, Faculty of Healthcare, Tokyo Healthcare University, Setagaya 3-11-3, Tokyo, 154-8568, Japan. k-ishida@thcu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8835-6412
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Development Section, Building Technology Development Department, Technology Center, Taisei Corporation, Nase-cho 344-1, Yokohama, 245-0051, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomomi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujioka
authors.affiliation: Advanced Technology Development Section, Building Technology Development Department, Technology Center, Taisei Corporation, Nase-cho 344-1, Yokohama, 245-0051, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Endo
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Safety Engineering, School of Allied Health Science, Kitasato University, Kitasato 1-15-1, Sagamihara, 252-0373, Japan.
authors.forename: Ren
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.affiliation: Environmental Survey Office, Shinbashi 3-7-7, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujisaki
authors.affiliation: Environmental Survey Office, Shinbashi 3-7-7, Tokyo, 105-0004, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshino
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Safety Engineering, School of Allied Health Science, Kitasato University, Kitasato 1-15-1, Sagamihara, 252-0373, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hirose
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D060733:Electromagnetic Radiation; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans
keywords: Cellphone; Electromagnetic environment; Immunity; Measurement; Radio wave