Measurement and Evaluation of Electric Field Strength Levels in Primary and Secondary Schools in a Pilot Region

Abstract

In this study, in order to evaluate the exposed radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) levels, and to control their compliance with the limits determined by International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), extensive short-term/band-selective and long-term RF-EMF measurements were conducted at 92 primary and secondary schools in the Ilkadim district of Samsun/Turkey. The measurements were performed once each in May, June, October and December in 2016, using the PMM-8053 EMF meter. It was seen from the measurement results that the maximum average electric field strength (E<inf>avg</inf>) was recorded, 2.34 V/m, in October, when students were at school. It was concluded from the measurement results that the measured E<inf>avg</inf> levels recorded at 92 schools were below the limits determined by ICNIRP. According to the band-selective measurement results performed using a Narda SRM-3006 EMF meter, the five main electric field strength (E) sources that had the most contribution in total E were LTE800, GSM900, GSM1800, UMTS2100 and WLAN services. With the use of these main E sources, an empirical model was then proposed that helps to determine the total E with 99.6% accuracy. It was also concluded from the long-term broadband measurement result that the number of active users affected the total E in the medium directly, and that the measured E levels were significantly higher in daytime than those of recorded in night-time. In the final stage of the study, all measurement results were transferred on scaled color maps. The use of these maps helped to determine and maintain control on the levels of RF-EMF exposure at schools using, or intending to install, such systems, and also to take measures for future precautions. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.