Modeling Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Wearable Distributed (Multi-Location) Measurements System for Evaluating Electromagnetic Hazards in the Work Environment.

The investigations examined a potential reduction in discrepancies between the values of the unperturbed radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) and values of the EMF measured by wearable equipment (personal exposure meters) impacted by the proximity of the human body. This was done by modelling distributed wearable (multi-location, with up to seven simultaneously locations) measurements. The performed numerical simulations mimicked distributed measurements in 24 environmental exposure scenarios (recognized as virtual measurements) covered: the horizontal or vertical propagation of the EMF and electric field vector polarization corresponding to typical conditions of far-field exposure from wireless communication systems (at a frequency of 100-3600 MHz). Physical tests using three EMF probes for simultaneous measurements have been also performed. Studies showed that the discrepancy in assessing EMF exposure by an on-body equipment and the parameters of the unperturbed EMF in the location under inspection (mimicking the contribution to measurement uncertainty from the human body proximity) may be significantly reduced by the appropriate use of a distributed measurement system. The use of averaged values, from at least three simultaneous measurements at relevant locations on the body, may reduce the uncertainty approximately threefold.