Value chain · CLM-1171
In plain terms
In the 2020 international guidelines, the lower public limit exists because the public includes children, the sick and the unaware, and anyone pregnant counts as public even at work; you may show compliance by either the external field number or the absorbed-power number, and need not show both; and ICNIRP admits that its public limits between 1 and 4 GHz, which include 10 W/m2 at 2.45 GHz, can over-expose a small child by up to 40 per cent, and has chosen not to lower them.
The claim as recorded
ICNIRP 2020 defines the two exposure classes its limits divide by five: "Occupationally-exposed individuals are defined as adults who are exposed under controlled conditions associated with their occupational duties, trained to be aware of potential radiofrequency EMF risks and to employ appropriate harm-mitigation measures", while "The general public is defined as individuals of all ages and of differing health statuses, which includes more vulnerable groups or individuals, and who may have no knowledge of or control over their exposure to EMFs", with "a fetus is here defined as a member of the general public, regardless of exposure scenario" and "a pregnant woman is treated as a member of the general public"; compliance is with "either the basic restriction or corresponding reference level", "compliance with both is not required"; and the guideline states that its whole-body reference levels "from 1 to 4 GHz, can potentially lead to whole-body average SARs that exceed the basic restrictions" by 15-40 per cent for a small child standing extended for 30 min, and that "ICNIRP has thus not altered the reference levels to account for this situation".
Evidence behind this: T1-the normative instrument's own definitions and compliance rule, quoted at the page.
Scope and limits
THE 1-4 GHz CHILD SCENARIO COVERS 2.45 GHz BUT EXCLUDES 5.8 GHz, and ICNIRP's reason for not lowering the level is stated (small stature dissipates heat faster; the rise is within measurement uncertainty; it does not affect health) - the record carries the admission and the reason together. The definitions are ICNIRP's; who counts as occupationally exposed at a rectenna site is a national and employer matter.
What it assumes
No assumptions are recorded against this claim.
Where it comes from
PDF 3 / printed 484: "Occupationally-exposed individuals are defined as adults who are exposed under controlled conditions associated with their occupational duties, trained to be aware of potential radiofrequency EMF risks and to employ appropriate harm-mitigation measures" (normalised). PDF 4 / printed 485: "The general public is defined as individuals of all ages and of differing health statuses, which includes more vulnerable groups or individuals, and who may have no knowledge of or control over their exposure to EMFs" (normalised); "a fetus is here defined as a member of the general public, regardless of exposure scenario" (normalised); "ICNIRP adopts a conservative approach to each of these steps in order to ensure that its limits would remain protective even if exceeded by a substantial margin" (normalised). PDF 10 / printed 491: "To be compliant with the present guidelines, for each exposure quantity (e.g., E-field, H-field, SAR), and temporal and spatial averaging condition, either the basic restriction or corresponding reference level must be adhered to; compliance with both is not required" (normalised); "a pregnant woman is treated as a member of the general public" (normalised). PDF 14-15 / printed 495-496: "ICNIRP is aware that for some exposure scenarios, radiofrequency EMFs at the reference levels specified below could potentially result in exposure that exceeds basic restrictions" (normalised); "from 1 to 4 GHz, can potentially lead to whole-body average SARs that exceed the basic restrictions (ICNIRP 2009)" (normalised); "requiring a small stature person (such as a 3-years-old child) to be extended (e.g., standing still and straight with arms above the head) for at least 30 min" (normalised); "The resultant SAR elevation is small relative to the basic restriction (15" - 40 per cent) (normalised); "ICNIRP has thus not altered the reference levels to account for this situation" (normalised).
Basis: definitions; per cent of a basic restriction
Cite this
energyaperture.com/c/clm-1171
CLM-1171, Energy Aperture, as of 2020-05.
Connected records
Other published records linked to this one. A list, not a judgement.
- Also from SRC-137
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