EMF stands for electromagnetic fields. Every electrical or electronic device produces electromagnetic fields. Common EMF sources are computers, televisions, microwave ovens, wireless devices such as cell phones and Wi-Fi devices, power and transmission lines, internal building wiring systems, electrical panels, transformers, motors, and all forms of broadcasting, including AM and FM radio. Radio waves and ordinary light are forms of EMF. In addition to ordinary visible light, invisible light forms such as infrared, and ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma rays are forms of EMF.

RF stands for radio frequency, which is a type of electromagnetic field produced at a high frequency through use of large-scale wireless equipment and data transmission. Common RF sources are radio and television transmission lines, cell towers and antennas, portable phones, cell phones, wireless computer networks (WLAN), radar equipment. Wireless network installations in our homes and buildings are also sources of RF.

RF EMF stands for radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, and is a term used to describe the part of the electromagnetic spectrum comprising the frequency range from 100 kilo hertz (kHz) to 300 Giga hertz (GHz). RF EMF is used in a variety of technologies, most widely for communication purposes (e.g. mobile phones, base stations, Wi-Fi, 5G, radio, TV, security devices). RF EMF is also used in medicine (e.g. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment), for heating purposes (e.g. microwave ovens), and for wireless power transfer (e.g. Qi).

Countries set their own national standards for exposure to electromagnetic fields. However, the majority of these national standards draw on the guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). This non-governmental organization, in formal relations with the WHO, evaluates scientific results from all over the world.

Based on an in-depth review of the literature, the ICNIRP produces guidelines recommending limits on exposure. These guidelines are reviewed periodically and updated if necessary.

Yes. A safety margin is built into the limits recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The ICNIRP applies a safety factor of 10 to derive EMF worker exposure limits, and a factor of 50 to obtain the guideline value for the general public.

Yes. ICNIRP EMF exposure guidelines are based on careful analysis of the scientific literature and are designed to offer protection for all ages including children and pregnant women against identified health effects of EMF with a large in-built safety margin. The ICNIRP (2020) guidelines say that a pregnant RF Worker should not exceed the public limits to ensure that the fetus complies with the public limits.

Not in all cases. Electronic implants usually come with safety information on the risk of potential interference from electrical and electronic equipment including mobile phones and radio transmitters.

Specific radio frequency interference and immunity standards have been developed to provide protection against interference to electronic implants.

People with implants should consult their medical specialist on the risk of interference if they are concerned. The ICNIRP human exposure guidelines are not designed to protect against interference into electronic equipment.

Specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure of the amount of RF energy that is absorbed by the tissues in the human body and expressed in watts per kg (W/ Kg). This measurement is used to determine whether a mobile phone complies with the safety standards or guidelines

This is a question which WHO takes very seriously. Given the immense number of people who use mobile phones, even a small increase in the incidence of adverse effects on health could have major public health implications.

Because exposure to the radiofrequency (RF) fields emitted by mobile phones is generally more than a 1000 times higher than from base stations and the likelihood is greater of any adverse effect being due to handsets, research has almost exclusively been conducted on possible effects of mobile phone exposure.

Research has concentrated on the following areas:

• Cancer
• other health effects
• electromagnetic interference
• traffic accidents

Cancer

Based on mixed epidemiological evidence on humans regarding an association between exposure to RF radiation from wireless phones and head cancers (glioma and acoustic neuroma), RF fields have been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). Studies to date provide no indication that environmental exposure to RF fields, such as from base stations, increases the risk of cancer or any other disease.

Other health effects

Scientists have reported other health effects of using mobile phones including changes in brain activity, reaction times, and sleep patterns. These effects are minor and have no apparent health significance. More studies are underway to try to confirm these findings.

Electromagnetic interference

When mobile phones are used very close to some medical devices (including pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and certain hearing aids) there is the possibility of causing interference with their operation. The risk is much reduced for 3G phones and newer equipment. There is also the potential of interference between mobile phones signals and aircraft electronics. Some countries have licensed mobile phone use on aircraft during flight using systems that control the phone output power.

Traffic accidents

Research has shown an increased risk of traffic accidents, some 3-4 times greater chance of an accident, when mobile phones (either handheld or with a "hands-free" kit) are used while driving due to distraction.

Conclusions

While an increased risk of brain tumours from the use of mobile phones is not established, the increasing use of mobile phones and the lack of data for mobile phone use over time periods longer than 15 years warrant further research of mobile phone use and brain cancer risk. In particular, with the recent popularity of mobile phone use among younger people, and therefore a potentially longer lifetime of exposure, WHO has promoted further research on this group and is currently assessing the health impact of RF fields on all studied endpoints.

5G, or fifth generation, is the latest wireless mobile phone technology, first widely deployed in 2019. 5G is expected to increase performance and a wide range of new applications, including strengthening e-Health (telemedicine, remote surveillance, telesurgery)

5G represents an evolution in telecommunication standards. To enable increased performance, 5G will extend into higher frequencies around 3.5 GHz and up to a few tens of GHz. The higher frequencies are new to mobile phone networks, but are commonly used in other applications, such as point-to-point radio links and body-scanners for security checks.

At these higher frequencies, 5G networks will use a greater number of base stations and of connected objects. 5G will further employ beam-forming antennas to focus signals more efficiently towards the device in use, rather than having the signal spread in broad directions as in current base station antennas.

Exposure Levels

Currently, exposure from 5G infrastructures at around 3.5 GHz is similar to that from existing mobile phone base stations. With the use of multiple beams from 5G antennas, exposure could be more variable as a function of location of the users and their usage. Given that the 5G technology is currently at an early stage of deployment, the extent of any change in exposure to radiofrequency fields is still under investigation.

To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies. Health-related conclusions are drawn from studies performed across the entire radio spectrum but, so far, only a few studies have been carried out at the frequencies to be used by 5G. (Note: this only refers to some specific frequencies).

Tissue heating is the main mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency fields and the human body. Radiofrequency exposure levels from current technologies result in negligible temperature rise in the human body.

As the frequency increases, there is less penetration into the body tissues and absorption of the energy becomes more confined to the surface of the body (skin and eye). Provided that the overall exposure remains below international guidelines, no consequences for public health are anticipated.

Two international bodies produce exposure guidelines on electromagnetic fields. Many countries currently adhere to the guidelines recommended by:

• The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and,
• The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), through the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety

These guidelines are not technology-specific. They cover radiofrequencies up to 300 GHz, including the frequencies under discussion for 5G.

WHO established the International Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project in 1996. The project investigates the health impact of exposure to electric and magnetic fields in the frequency range 0-300 GHz and advises national authorities on EMF radiation protection.

Yes, mobile phones transmit radio frequency fields usually referred to as a radio frequency signal

Mobile phones use low power transmitters that are less than 2 watts peak. Mobile phones are designed to automatically transmit at the lowest possible power to maintain a quality connection. This is a feature known as adaptive power control.