1. Conduct of a personal radiofrequency electromagnetic field measurement study: proposed study protocol
- Author
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Elisabeth Cardis, Martine Vrijheid, Simon Mann, Roger C Parslow, Katja Radon, Evelyn Mohler, Peter Gajsek, John Bolte, Martin Röösli, Joachim Schüz, Wout Joseph, Luc Martens, Gyoergy Thuroczy, Sabine Heinrich, Patrizia Frei, Aslak Harbo Poulsen, Georg Neubauer, Jean-François Viel, Maria Feychting, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute [Basel], Laboratory for Radiation Research, Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Safety & Security Department, Austrian Institute of Technology [Vienna] (AIT), Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra [Barcelona] (UPF)-Catalunya ministerio de salud, Institute of Environmental Health, Karolinska Institutet [Stockholm], Institute of Non-ionizing Radiation, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Hospital of The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Department of Information Technology (INTEC), Universiteit Gent = Ghent University [Belgium] (UGENT), Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Leeds, Cancer Epidemiology Institute, Danish Cancer Society, Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Department of Non-ionizing Radiation, National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene, Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques (INERIS), Laboratoire Chrono-environnement - CNRS - UBFC (UMR 6249) (LCE), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE] (UBFC), Austrian Institute of Technology [Vienna] ( AIT ), Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology ( CREAL ), Universitat Pompeu Fabra [Barcelona]-Catalunya ministerio de salud, Department of Information Technology ( INTEC ), Ghent University [Belgium] ( UGENT ), Institut National de l'Environnement Industriel et des Risques ( INERIS ), Laboratoire Chrono-environnement ( LCE ), and Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté ( UBFC ) -Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ) -Université de Franche-Comté ( UFC )
- Subjects
Research design ,Radio Waves ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Data management ,Statistics as Topic ,MESH : Statistics as Topic ,MESH: Radiation ,MESH: Radio Waves ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Medical Records ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,Unit of observation ,0302 clinical medicine ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Medicine ,education.field_of_study ,Radiation ,MESH : Radiation ,lcsh:Public aspects of medicine ,MESH: Research Design ,MESH : Questionnaires ,[ SDV.SPEE ] Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie ,Environmental exposure ,MESH : Research Design ,Knowledge base ,Research Design ,lcsh:Industrial medicine. Industrial hygiene ,MESH: Medical Records ,animal structures ,MESH: Environmental Exposure ,Population ,lcsh:RC963-969 ,03 medical and health sciences ,Environmental health ,MESH : Medical Records ,Humans ,MESH: Patient Selection ,MESH: Geographic Information Systems ,education ,MESH: Statistics as Topic ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,MESH : Geographic Information Systems ,Protocol (science) ,MESH: Humans ,Data collection ,business.industry ,Patient Selection ,MESH: Questionnaires ,MESH : Humans ,Methodology ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,lcsh:RA1-1270 ,Environmental Exposure ,MESH : Patient Selection ,Data science ,MESH : Radio Waves ,Geographic Information Systems ,[SDV.SPEE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Santé publique et épidémiologie ,business ,MESH : Environmental Exposure - Abstract
Background The development of new wireless communication technologies that emit radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) is ongoing, but little is known about the RF-EMF exposure distribution in the general population. Previous attempts to measure personal exposure to RF-EMF have used different measurement protocols and analysis methods making comparisons between exposure situations across different study populations very difficult. As a result, observed differences in exposure levels between study populations may not reflect real exposure differences but may be in part, or wholly due to methodological differences. Methods The aim of this paper is to develop a study protocol for future personal RF-EMF exposure studies based on experience drawn from previous research. Using the current knowledge base, we propose procedures for the measurement of personal exposure to RF-EMF, data collection, data management and analysis, and methods for the selection and instruction of study participants. Results We have identified two basic types of personal RF-EMF measurement studies: population surveys and microenvironmental measurements. In the case of a population survey, the unit of observation is the individual and a randomly selected representative sample of the population is needed to obtain reliable results. For microenvironmental measurements, study participants are selected in order to represent typical behaviours in different microenvironments. These two study types require different methods and procedures. Conclusion Applying our proposed common core procedures in future personal measurement studies will allow direct comparisons of personal RF-EMF exposures in different populations and study areas.
- Published
- 2010