Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Setting exposure guidelines and product safety standards for radio-frequency exposure at frequencies above 6 GHz: brief review

  • Published:
Annals of Telecommunications Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two international guidelines/standards for human protection from electromagnetic fields are on-going revision. Most attention has been paid to the revisions above 3 or 10 GHz where the new fifth generation wireless communication system will be deployed soon. The frequency of 3 or 10 GHz is the transition frequency at which the metric of the basic restriction is changed from the specific absorption rate to the power density. Rationales for the metrics above 3 or 10 GHz were not well established when the current guidelines/standards were published. In this review, we focused on three issues to be considered in the next revision of the exposure guidelines: (i) the averaging area of the power density, (ii) the transition frequency at which the metric is changed from the specific absorption rate to the power density, and (iii) the exposure averaging time. In addition, some remarks and trends on related product safety will also be reviewed and discussed briefly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. ICNIRP (1998) Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up to 300 GHz). Health Phys 74:494–521

    Google Scholar 

  2. IEEE-C95.1 (2005) IEEE standard for safety levels with respect to human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz. In: Ed. NY, USA: IEEE

    Google Scholar 

  3. Colombi D, Thors B, and Tornevik C (2015) "Implications of EMF exposure limits on output power levels for 5G devices above 6 GHz" IEEE Antennas & Wireless Propagat. Lett.14:1247–1249

  4. Foster KR, Ziskin MC, Balzano Q (2016) Thermal response of human skin to microwave energy: a critical review. Health Phy 111:528–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Morimoto R, Laakso I, De Santis V, Hirata A (2016) Relationship between peak spatial-averaged specific absorption rate and peak temperature elevation in human head in frequency range of 1-30 GHz. Phys Med Biol 61:5406–5425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Thors B, Colombi D, Ying Z, Bolin T, Törnevik C (2016) Exposure to RF EMF from array antennas in 5G mobile communication equipment. IEEE Access 4:7469–7478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. He W, Xu B, Gustafsson M, Ying Z, He S (2018) RF compliance study of temperature elevation in human head model around 28 GHz for 5G user equipment application: simulation analysis. IEEE Access 6:830–838

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Foster KR, Colombi D (2017) Thermal response of tissue to RF exposure from canonical dipoles at frequencies for future mobile communication systems. Electron Lett 53:360–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Foster KR, Ziskin MC, Balzano Q (2017) Thermal modeling for the next generation of radiofrequency exposure limits: commentary. Health Phys 113:41–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Kojima M, Hanazawa M, Yamashiro Y, Sasaki H, Watanabe S, Taki M, Suzuki Y, Hirata A, Kamimura Y, Sasaki K (2009) Acute ocular injuries caused by 60-ghz millimeter-wave exposure. Health Phys 97:212–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Sasaki K, Sakai T, Nagaoka T, Wake K, Watanabe S, Kojima M, Hasanova N, Sasaki H, Sasaki K, Suzuki Y (2014) Dosimetry using a localized exposure system in the millimeter-wave band for in vivo studies on ocular effects. IEEE Trans Microwave Theory & Tech 62:1554–1564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Kojima M, Suzuki Y, Tsai C-Y, Sasaki K, Wake K, Watanabe S, Taki M, Kamimura Y, Hirata A, Sasaki K (2015) Characteristics of ocular temperature elevations after exposure to quasi-and millimeter waves (18-40 GHz). J Infrared Millimeter Terahertz Waves 36:390–399

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Alekseev S, Radzievsky A, Szabo I, Ziskin M (2005) Local heating of human skin by millimeter waves: effect of blood flow. Bioelectromagnetics 26:489–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Alekseev S, Ziskin M (2003) "local heating of human skin by millimeter waves: a kinetics study". Bioelectromagnetics: Journal of the Bioelectromagnetics Society, The Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine. Eur Bioelectromagnetics Assoc 24:571–581

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Walters TJ, Blick DW, Johnson LR, Adair ER, Foster KR (2000) Heating and pain sensation produced in human skin by millimeter waves: comparison to a simple thermal model. Health Phys 78:259–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. "Resolution COM6/20 " in World Radiocommunication Conference, 2015

  17. Drossos A, Santomaa V, Kuster N (2000) The dependence of electromagnetic energy absorption upon human head tissue composition in the frequency range of 300-3000 MHz. IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory Tech 48:1988–1995

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. A. Taflove and S. Hagness, "Computational electrodynamics: the finite-difference time-domain method. 3rd Ed.," 2003

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  19. Gabriel S, Lau RW, Gabriel C (1996) The dielectric properties of biological tissues: III. Parametric models for the dielectric spectrum of tissues. Phys Med Biol 41:2271–2293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Sasaki K, Wake K, Watanabe S (2014) Development of best fit Cole-Cole parameters for measurement data from biological tissues and organs between 1 MHz and 20 GHz. Radio Sci 49:459–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Sasaki K, Wake K, Watanabe S (2014) Measurement of the dielectric properties of the epidermis and dermis at frequencies from 0.5 GHz to 110 GHz. Phys Med Biol 59:4739–4747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ziskin MC, Alekseev SI, Foster KR, and Balzano Q, "Tissue models for RF exposure evaluation at frequencies above 6 GHz". Bioelectromagnetics, pp. n/a-n/a

  23. Kanezaki A, Hirata A, Watanabe S, Shirai H (2009) Effects of dielectric permittivities on skin heating due to millimeter wave exposure. Biomed Eng Online 8:20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kanezaki A, Hirata A, Watanabe S, Shirai H (2010) Parameter variation effects on temperature elevation in a steady-state, one-dimensional thermal model for millimeter wave exposure of one-and three-layer human tissue. Phys Med Biol 55:4647–4659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Pennes HH (1948) Analysis of tissue and arterial blood temperatures in the resting human forearm. J Appl Physiol 1:93–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Hirata A, Shiozawa T (2003) Correlation of maximum temperature increase and peak SAR in the human head due to handset antennas. IEEE Trans Microwave Theory Tech 51:1834–1841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Duck FA (1990) Physical properties of tissues: a comprehensive reference book. Academic Press

  28. Fiala D, Lomas KJ, Stohrer M (2001) Computer prediction of human thermoregulatory and temperature responses to a wide range of environmental conditions. Int J Biometeorol 45:143–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Funahashi D, Ito T, Hirata A, Iyama T, Onishi T (2018) Averaging area of incident power density for human exposure from patch antenna arrays. IEICE Trans Electron 101:644–646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Hashimoto Y, Hirata A, Morimoto R, Aonuma S, Laakso I, Jokela K, Foster KR (2017) On the averaging area for incident power density for human exposure limits at frequencies over 6 GHz. Phys Med Biol 62:3124–3138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Morimoto R, Hirata A, Laakso I, Ziskin MC, Foster KR (2017) Time constants for temperature elevation in human models exposed to dipole antennas and beams in the frequency range from 1 to 30 GHz. Phys Med Biol 62:1676–1699

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. IEC62209–1, "Measurement procedure for the assessment of specific absorption rate of human exposure to radio frequency fields from hand-held and body-mounted wireless communication devices - Part 1: Devices used next to the ear (Frequency range of 300 MHz to 6 GHz)," ed. Geneva, 2016

  33. IEC62209–2, "Human exposure to radio frequency fields from hand-held and body-mounted wireless communication devices - Human models, instrumentation, and procedures - Part 2: Procedure to determine the specific absorption rate (SAR) for wireless communication devices used in close proximity to the human body (frequency range of 30 MHz to 6 GHz)," ed, 2010

  34. IEC TC63170, "Measurement procedure for the evaluation of power density related to human exposure to radio frequency fields from wireless communication devices operating between 6 GHz and 100 GHz," ed, 2018 (to be published)

  35. Hirata A, Fujimoto M, Asano T, Wang J, Fujiwara O, Shiozawa T (2006) Correlation between maximum temperature increase and peak SAR with different average schemes and masses. IEEE Trans. Electromagnet Compat 48:569–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Hirata A, Shirai K, Fujiwara O (2008) On averaging mass of SAR correlating with temperature elevation due to a dipole antenna. Prog Electromagn Res 84:221–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Hirata A, Fujiwara O (2009) The correlation between mass-averaged SAR and temperature elevation in the human head model exposed to RF near-fields from 1 to 6 GHz. Phys Med Biol 54:7227–7238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. McIntosh RL, Anderson V (2010) SAR versus Sinc: what is the appropriate RF exposure metric in the range 1–10 GHz? Part II: using complex human body models. Bioelectromagnetics 31:467–478

    Google Scholar 

  39. Razmadze A, Shoshiashvili L, Kakulia D, Zaridze R, Bit-Babik G, Faraone A (2009) Influence of specific absorption rate averaging schemes on correlation between mass-averaged specific absorption rate and temperature rise. Electromagnetics 29:77–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Sasaki K, Mizuno M, Wake K, Watanabe S (2017) Monte Carlo simulations of skin exposure to electromagnetic field from 10 GHz to 1 THz. Phys Med Biol 62:6993–7010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Wang J, Fujiwara O (1999) FDTD computation of temperature rise in the human head for portable telephones. Microwave Theory Techniques, IEEE Transactions on 47:1528–1534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Van Leeuwen GMJ, Lagendijk JJW, Van Leersum BJAM, Zwamborn A, Hornsleth S, Kotte A (1999) Calculation of change in brain temperatures due to exposure to a mobile phone. Phys Med Biol 44:2367–2379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Bernardi P, Cavagnaro M, Pisa S, Piuzzi E (2000) Specific absorption rate and temperature increases in the head of a cellular-phone user. IEEE Trans Microwave Theory Tech 48:1118–1126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Samaras T, Kalampaliki E, Sahalos JN (2007) Influence of Thermophysiological parameters on the calculations of temperature rise in the head of Mobile phone users. IEEE Trans Electromag Compat 49:936–939

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Ibrahiem A, Dale C, Tabbara W, Wiart J (2005) Analysis of the temperature increase linked to the power induced by RF source. Prog Electromagn Res 52:23–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Hirata A, Morita M, Shiozawa T (2003) Temperature increase in the human head due to a dipole antenna at microwave frequencies. IEEE Trans Electromagnet Compat 45:109–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Wessapan T, Srisawatdhisukul S, Rattanadecho P (2012) Specific absorption rate and temperature distributions in human head subjected to mobile phone radiation at different frequencies. Int J Heat Mass Transf 55:347–359

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  48. Kunter FÇ, Gunduz C, and Seker SS, "Computation of SAR and temperature values in the human head due to 2G, 3G, 4G mobile wireless systems". J. Aeronautics & Space Tech., vol. 11, pp. 1–6, 2018

  49. Cvetković M, Poljak D, Hirata A (2016) The electromagnetic-thermal dosimetry for the homogeneous human brain model. Eng Anal Bound Elem 63:61–73

    Article  MathSciNet  MATH  Google Scholar 

  50. Kodera S, Gomez-Tames J, Hirata A (2018) Temperature elevation in the human brain and skin with thermoregulation during exposure to RF energy. Biomed Eng Online 17(1)

  51. ICNIRP (2006) ICNIRP statement on far infrared radiation exposure. Health Phys 91:630–645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Laakso I, Morimoto R, Heinonen J, Jokela K, Hirata A (2017) Human exposure to pulsed fields in the frequency range from 6 to 100 GHz. Phys Med Biol 62:6980–6992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Laakso I, Hirata A (2012) Reducing the staircasing error in computational dosimetry of low-frequency electromagnetic fields. Phys Med Biol 57:N25–N34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Reilly JP, Hirata A (2016) Low-frequency electrical dosimetry: research agenda of the IEEE international committee on electromagnetic safety. Phys Med Biol 59

  55. Gomez-Tames J, Laakso I, Haba Y, Hirata A, Poljak D, Yamazaki K (2018) Computational artifacts of the in situ electric field in anatomical models exposed to low-frequency magnetic field. IEEE Trans Electromagn Compat 60:589–597

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr. Teruo Onishi (NTT DOCOMO. Inc) for his helpful comments on product safety.

Funding

This study was partly supported by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8555, Japan

    Akimasa Hirata, Daisuke Funahashi & Sachiko Kodera

Authors
  1. Akimasa Hirata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daisuke Funahashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Sachiko Kodera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Akimasa Hirata.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hirata, A., Funahashi, D. & Kodera, S. Setting exposure guidelines and product safety standards for radio-frequency exposure at frequencies above 6 GHz: brief review. Ann. Telecommun. 74, 17–24 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-018-0683-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12243-018-0683-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation