Measurements of background electromagnetic fields in human environment

Abstract

An extensive measurement campaign was carried in Slovenia to evaluate background electromagnetic field intensity in different living environments. As electromagnetic field meter personal exposure meter Antennessa DSP 090 with analysis software for data processing and analysis was upgraded with commercial GPS receiver and custom made data logger unit to save geographical data of the measurements. Using this measuring system, mounted on a car roof or bicicle, eight locations across Slovenia were measured: cities Ljubljana and Maribor, part of city Kranj, part of city Koper with nearby villages Labor, Hrvatini and Tinjan and village Čelje near Ilirska Bistrica. The measured frequency spectrum was limited to GSM, DCS, UMTS, FM and TV signals. From the results it is clear that typical electromagnetic field exposure is low. Maximum values merely reach 3 % of reference levels for I. region of Slovenian legislation, which is 0,3 % of ICNIRP reference levels for general public. The only exception is Tinjan, where radio tower is located. Measurements done in the vicinity of this radio tower exceeded 5 V/m, which is upper detection limit of measuring system. The results of this measurement campaign will be presented on interactive map, open to general public through internet, where everyone will be able to obtain the measured values of every single measurement.