ORIGINAL PAPER
Electromagnetic field in the environment − estimation methods and monitoring
More details
Hide details
1
Politechnika Wrocławska / Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland (Wydział Elektroniki / Faculty of Electronics)
2
Wojewódzki Inspektorat Ochrony Środowiska w Łodzi / Voivodeship Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Łódź, Łódź, Poland
Online publication date: 2019-08-23
Corresponding author
Paweł Bieńkowski
Politechnika Wrocławska, Wydział Elektroniki, ul. Wybrzeże Stanisława Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2019;70(5):567-85
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background: The paper describes the current legal status related to electromagnetic field (EMF) measurements in the context of environmental
protection. It also presents the assumptions and exemplary results obtained from the EMF National Monitoring System
which, in the authors’ opinion, could be more reliable and better adapted to the current state of affairs in the radiocommunication industry. Material and Methods: A simplified method of estimating electromagnetic field intensity from various sources, including in
particular cellular base stations, using their basic parameters, was described. The electromagnetic field monitoring system operating
in Poland was described, and alternative monitoring methods were presented. The authors introduced their own concept of mobile
monitoring, whose assumptions perfectly fit into the current realities and can be performed with the use of the current measurement
equipment available to laboratories of the Voivodeship Inspectorates for Environmental Protection. Results: The construction of the
measurement system was presented, and its measurement verification was carried out. Measurement errors resulting from the use
of weather-resistant casing and from placing the device on the roof of the vehicle were estimated, confirming that their impact on
the measurement uncertainty budget tends to be negligible. Auxiliary software for mobile monitoring was presented, with the aid of
which verification was made by carrying out monitoring measurements in the city of Wrocław. Conclusions: The results obtained
during the monitoring measurements in real conditions confirmed that the proposed method provides reliable results, which are not
burdened with significant errors and distortions resulting from the proposed measurement methodology or from the construction
of the measurement system itself. The developed system does not require significant financial outlays and is a perfect complement to
the stationary measurements currently performed within the Environmental Monitoring System. Med Pr. 2019;70(5):567–85