tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73733083655343239742024-03-13T07:23:10.602-07:00Mobile & Wireless ForumMobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-82883479221576438922023-12-02T11:32:00.000-08:002023-12-02T11:35:34.907-08:00Device accessibility – progress and next steps<p><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is a good opportunity before the end of the year to look at what we have achieved in device accessibility this past year and where to direct our energies in the next months. </i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">In the first half of 2023, we published the outcomes of the <a href="https://blog.gari.info/2023/08/many-new-accessibility-features-and-big.html" target="_blank">sixth GARI feature review</a> and began implementing the changes. This review process yet again confirmed the collaborative approach inherent within the GARI project, which combines consumer, government and industry views into a list of accessibility features that can be matched against devices - with the objective of helping consumers select devices that best fit their needs. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">Throughout the year, members of the MWF have been involved in the Hearing-Aid Compatibility (HAC) Task Force in the US, contributing to the proposal of a Waiver for an alternative testing methodology for volume control for two years, which was recently granted by the FCC. It also resulted in a draft Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on how to move towards 100% hearing-aid compatibility for wireless devices, likely to be finalized and published in 2024. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">In the second half of the year, the MWF mapped the accessibility features listed in GARI against the requirements in Annex 1 of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and the Web Accessibility Standard EN 301 549. This comparison of accessibility requirements and available features within devices, is the foundation for the MWF’s proposal for an interim solution for compliance reporting under the EAA until the harmonized standards arrive. The intention of this proposal is to provide legal certainty for the manufacturers on one hand and clear, practical information for consumers on the other hand. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">For 2024, the MWF is looking forward to continuing to promote device accessibility, including through our <a href="https://blog.gari.info/2023/06/finding-accessibility-features-in-your.html" target="_blank">video series</a> and continuing our discussions with stakeholders to better understand the diversity of needs and how devices can best address them.</p>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-48828788895583254242022-05-19T06:19:00.001-07:002022-05-19T06:19:07.388-07:00e-labelling – let’s take the step into the digital age with our labels<p><i>21 countries and 60% of consumers – 21 countries around the world have replaced traditional labels with the option to use electronic labelling for mobile phones and other ICT equipment, and 60% of consumer electronic sales revenue worldwide is derived from markets allowing e-labelling. The MWF’s e-labelling initiative explains what Europe can gain from following suit.</i></p><p>In April 2022, the MWF launched the e-labelling initiative. Its purpose is to build alliances and support in Europe for allowing electronic labelling to replace the current requirements for printed labels on the device and packaging as well as compliance, regulatory and safety information in print form. E-labelling on the other hand is a digital depiction of logos, marks and labels within the device that fulfils the same purpose and can go far beyond it, accompanied by a QR code on the packaging that leads to the same information. </p><p><b>A triple-win</b></p><p>A win for the environment: an estimated 48 million sheets of A4 paper could be saved every year from smartphone packaging alone, if required information was allowed in electronic format. This would result in 480 million litres of water and over a 1000 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved. </p><p>A double-win for the consumer: the information can be made more accessible and remains available throughout the lifetime of the device in contrast to the existing system where the information is lost or discarded and is inaccessible to some users with a disability.</p><p><b>Following international best practice</b></p><p>Europe would not be the first to opt for e-labelling. Currently, 21 countries around the world have replaced traditional labelling requirements with the option to use electronic labelling for mobile phones and other ICT equipment, such as tablets, wearables and laptops. These 21 countries represent around 60% of consumer electronic sales revenue worldwide, and include the EU’s major trading partners: the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.</p><p>A 2018 study by VVA furthermore shows that the introduction of e-labelling has no impact on market surveillance authorities and might even result in lowering their operational costs, while quick and easy access to the information is ensured for customs. </p><p>A recently published MWF White Paper finally outlines how the European Commission has already supported e-labelling in other sectors and that a broader implementation of e-labelling in Europe does not need to be complex. Rather, it involves a simple amendment to the relevant directive that would allow for existing requirements to also be met through digital display.</p><p><br /></p><p>For more information, have a look at the MWF video series on e-labelling: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>E-Labelling Overview: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrwgxOoZBr8" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrwgxOoZBr8</a></li><li>MWF E-Labelling Sustainability: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F4FO2FbTRE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_F4FO2FbTRE</a></li><li>MWF E-Labelling Accessibility: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFvdFIklgQQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFvdFIklgQQ</a> </li></ul><p></p><p><br /></p><p>The MWF White Paper on “Why the European Union should adopt e-labelling”: <a href="https://www.elabellinginitiative.org//docs/eng/MWF_E-labelling%20White%20Paper_Mar2022.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.elabellinginitiative.org//docs/eng/MWF_E-labelling%20White%20Paper_Mar2022.pdf </a></p><p><br /></p><p>The website of the MWF’s e-labelling imitative: <a href="https://www.elabellinginitiative.org" target="_blank">https://www.elabellinginitiative.org</a> </p>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-84489857893999946312022-03-30T06:24:00.006-07:002022-04-11T12:54:10.190-07:00mmWaves, 5G network measurements, cumulative exposure from IoT…. MWF research in 2021<p><i>In 2021, the MWF carried out research projects with the Universities of Ghent, l’Aquila and Aalborg, as well as Rohde & Schwarz and Telstra, investigating exposure in 5G networks, simulation of reverberation chambers for animal exposure studies, exploring the behaviour of incident and absorbed power densities in different frequency ranges, and cumulative exposure of IoT devices. </i></p><p>Since its creation in 1998, the funding and promotion of research in view of science-based standards for safety and compliance testing has been one of the core activities of the Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF). Since then, we have moved on to 5G and the practical implementation of this new generation of mobile technology has required data as the basis for safety and compliance standards. </p><p>For this reason, the MWF worked in 2021 with three universities and two companies on five research projects. These include, a project with the Ghent University on “EMF exposure measurements of a 5G commercial network”. In a previous MWF project, the team developed a new method to assess exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by 5G New Radio (NR) base stations (published in December 2019). The objective of the 2021 project was the validation of the measurement procedure in commercial networks and gathering of actual EMF exposure levels in a 5G commercial network. One week of measurements in a commercial 5G network in Switzerland showed that the highest average field value measured was only 0.46 V/m, which corresponds to 0.006% of the ICNIRP exposure limits. Overall, the 5G network was found to have only very limited impact on the environmental RF-EMF exposure levels. The findings were published in a scientific paper: In Situ Assessment of 5G NR Massive MIMO Base Station Exposure in a Commercial Network in Bern, Switzerland (Ghent/IMEC): <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/8/3592" target="_blank">https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/8/3592</a></p><p>With the University of l’Aquila the MWF has a research project on “Simulation of a reverberation chamber exposure with Sim4Life”. The goal is to simulate a large group of animals (96 animals) and to compare the results with those of the NTP Study (120 animals). The team looked at the correlation between the electric field, magnetic field and SAR. It seems that the whole-body SAR is more correlated with the magnetic field than the electric field. This is a new insight. The analysis also looked at different rat models over a whole day of exposure to verify the standard deviation, and reproduced a number of simulations with different positioning and different rat models to investigate possible bias through positioning of the animal cages. The research outcomes were presented at the BioEM Conference 2021 and two research papers are under preparation for publication in scientific journals. </p><p>With Aalborg University, the MWF has started a research project looking at new restriction above 6 GHz for localized exposure as outlined in the ICNIRP 2020 guidelines. This project compares the matrix of the incident power density and absorbed power density and how they behave in different frequency ranges. Insights from this work will feed into the development of simulation and measurement standers for absorbed power density. </p><p>In conjunction with Australian network operator Telstra, the MWF undertook a project on the compliance of Internet of Things (IoT) systems made up of many different devices, which mirror typical use cases. The study focused on EMF measurements of a range of smart home IoT wireless devices with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections with the aim to determine the time-averaged exposure form the IoT devices under typical conditions of use. A wide range of devices was selected, including security and doorbell cameras, kitchen scales, smart Wi-Fi LED globes, smart Wi-Fi power strips, Smart Home hubs, hot spot routers etc. Wi-Fi tended to be the main way of connection between the devices. Based on the outcomes of this work, the MWF is currently developing a “Smart Home Walkthrough” tool, which will allow consumers to understand what kind of exposure they might have in their own homes with multiple RF devices emitting at the same time. The data will also be used as basis for a research paper. </p><p>Finally, the MWF worked with Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG to manufacture antennas according to the specification of IEC 63195-1, to validate the reference values for incident power density and to identify gaps in the antenna design specifications. In future projects, these antennas might also be used to do measurements of absorbed power density. One of the papers coming out of this research: Zhekov et al. “Test Reduction for Power Density Emitted by Handset mmWave Antenna Arrrays”, IEEE Access, Jan 28, 2021 </p><p>Throughout the years, the MWF has developed and worked through a comprehensive research agenda, which resulted in many peer-reviewed publications and contributed substantial data as basis for the technical discussions in the standardisation committees. </p><p>For its 20th anniversary, the MWF summarised these research efforts in a 56-page document: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf</a> </p>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-35405552591362283542021-06-24T20:19:00.005-07:002021-06-24T20:19:46.339-07:00 What is SAR?<p>The SAR value is often mentioned in regard to mobile phones and exposure of users to electromagnetic fields emitted from wireless devices.</p><p>SAR stands for Specific Absorption Rate, where “specific” indicates the quantity of tissue mass, “absorption” the amount of electromagnetic energy absorbed into that mass and “rate” indicates the rate of time at which this is happening.</p><p>The use of SAR as a value to assess exposure from electromagnetic fields was first discussed in 1975 and was officially adopted in the ANSI C95.1-1982 standard.</p><p>This standard established the whole-body SAR of 4 W/kg as a threshold - which was then divided by 10 for a whole-body exposure limit for workers (0.4W/kg) and divided by a further factor of 5 to create a whole-body limit for the general public (0.08 W/kg). </p><p>These reduction factors - also commonly referred to as ‘safety margins’ - have been maintained in subsequent updates to the standard and are also reflected in the ICNIPR guidelines, which the majority of countries in the world base their exposure limits on. </p><p><br /></p>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-53292565028754363222020-08-18T06:32:00.008-07:002020-08-18T06:36:47.398-07:00“Not enough research on 5G, “ they say<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><i><span lang=""><span style="font-family: inherit;">Is it true that 5G is the big unknown? That there is no research we can build our risk assessment on? That we are facing a completely new type of technology never seen or heard of before? The short answer: no, it’s not true. We have a wealth of research we can build on. In the following a short overview. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang=""><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang=""><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, there is always room for more research and as our knowledge evolves, we come up with more refined approaches in exploring any given subject. In regard to 5G though, we do already know a lot. We have used the frequency ranges the new technology will use for a long time and know how they interact with the human body. And whilst 5G is starting to be rolled out, the research efforts also continue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang=""><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span lang=""><span style="font-family: inherit;">Research up to now <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span lang=""><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="">Initially, 5G will use parts of the radiofrequency spectrum that has already been used for other applications (e.g. the </span>700 MHz band and the 3.4-3.8 GHz band were used earlier for terrestrial broadcasting in different countries). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Therefore, rather than starting anew, we have more than 60 years of research upon which to rely on. Starting back in the 1950’s with studies into military radar, TV and radio we now have more than 28,000 published scientific articles on the biological and health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF). These include 2,500 studies on mobile communications.<a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Among these 2,500 studies, about 350 studies look at higher frequency bands in the range of 24 GHz, often called mmWaves<a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a>, which is another part of the radiofrequency spectrum that 5G is going to be using.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In regard to radiofrequencies and technological use of it, the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated: <br /> <br /><i>“In the area of biological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation approximately 25,000 articles have been published… Despite the feeling of some people that more research needs to be done, scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals.”</i><sup> <a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[3]</span></sup></a></sup><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, as the the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) has stated recently<a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><sup><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[4]</span></sup></sup></a> it “<i>is important to note that higher frequencies does not mean higher or more intense exposure. Higher frequency radio waves are already used in security screening units at airports, police radar guns to check speed, remote sensors and in medicine and these uses have been thoroughly tested and found to have no negative impacts on human health".</i><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As an international association of the wireless industry, the Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF) has actively contributed to this research effort since its creation in 1998. A summary of these research activities can be found in the <span lang="">2019 publication </span>’20 Years of Research’. The booklet gives a glimpse at the intensive ongoing research in this area and shows that the mobile and wireless industry continues to build on the solid foundation of scientific knowledge built over decades. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Resources: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">MWF’s “20 Years of Research’ booklet: </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018%5F05%5FMWF%5F20YearsofResearch%2Epdf" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018%5F05%5FMWF%5F20YearsofResearch%2Epdf</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br clear="all" /></span><hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a> EMF Portal: <a href="https://www.emf-portal.org/en" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.emf-portal.org/en</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn2"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a> Although strictly speaking mmWaves begin at 30GHz. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn3"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> WHO “What are Electromagnetic Fields” <span style="color: #333333;">Key Point 6</span><span style="color: #333333;">:</span> </span><a href="https://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html" style="color: #954f72;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">https://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div id="ftn4"><p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="font-size: 10pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="applewebdata://3B1EA325-D718-4AEA-8898-FF52F571B63F#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[4]</span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/misinformation-about-australias-5g-network" style="color: #954f72;">https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/misinformation-about-australias-5g-network</a></span><span face="" style="font-family: "helvetica neue";"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-77461949401228723152020-07-17T07:13:00.001-07:002020-07-17T07:13:17.529-07:00Some facts about 5G – short, concise, in 4 languagesA lot of information circulates about 5G – from wild rumors and hear-say to detailed technical descriptions. But rare are short, concise and factual explanations about the most discussed aspects of the new generation of mobile communications.<br />
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In our continued effort to provide good and fact-checked information on wireless technologies, the MWF has started a series of short video clips that try to get to the point.<br />
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The first few videos are already online – most of them not only in English but also with German, Spanish and Portuguese translation:<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDNJ2TPx-QE%20" target="_blank">What is 5G? </a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCj6C2-DO6c" target="_blank">5G and Coronavirus: Real Fake News</a><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdT_NE5elZQ" target="_blank">Expert Opinions on 5G Safety </a><br />
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New videos will be added regularly to the MWF’s publication section: <a href="https://www.mwfai.org/publications.cfm?cat=Video" target="_blank">https://www.mwfai.org/publications.cfm?cat=Video</a><br />
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Or you can also directly follow the MWF’s Youtube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvwTMEqvWD3BWx2tmxYGDUA" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvwTMEqvWD3BWx2tmxYGDUA</a>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-86508489275416746982020-06-17T12:23:00.001-07:002020-06-18T05:02:09.794-07:00ICNIRP’s new exposure guidelines for telecommunications – what changes?<i>After a thorough revision of the last 20 years of international research, the safety guidelines for electromagnetic field exposure (EMF) from EM emitting sources such as smartphones, mobile devices and network antennas remain largely unchanged and continue to provide protection for the whole population. While the 1998 guidelines already covered 5G frequencies, changes have been made in the frequencies above 6 GHz which are also relevant for 5G. </i><br />
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In March 2020, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), an independent body of experts, published a revision of their radio-frequency (RF) EMF exposure guidelines. These guidelines set exposure limits for non-ionizing radiation, including electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted from Wi-Fi and telecommunications, which “<i>provide protection against adverse health effects to humans under realistic exposure conditions</i>” (1).<br />
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The review of the research carried out over the last 20 years in this area, confirmed that the guidelines first set in 1998 are still valid and protect the whole population, including more vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant women and the elderly, from established health risks. Changes have been made in the 2020 guidelines to the frequencies above 6 GHz which are also relevant for 5G.<br />
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“<i>We know parts of the community are concerned about the safety of 5G and we hope the updated guidelines will help put people at ease. The guidelines have been developed after a thorough review of all relevant scientific literature, scientific workshops and an extensive public consultation process. They provide protection against all scientifically substantiated adverse health effects due to EMF exposure in the 100 kHz to 300 GHz range,</i>” said Dr Eric van Rongen, Chairman of ICNIRP, when the new guidelines were published.<br />
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ICNIRP was very clear on that there is <i>‘no evidence that RF-EMF causes such diseases as cancer’ </i>and <i>‘no evidence that RF-EMF impairs health beyond effects that are due to established mechanisms of interaction’</i> (2). This statement fits with the large number of statements published over the past months by health authorities and national regulators around the world to stem the wild speculations and conspiracy theories circulated about 5G (3).<br />
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The only established hazards from RF EMF exposures relate to increases in local or whole-body temperature. The exposure limits are therefore set with substantial reduction factors to ensure that heating is within normal body ranges. This means that the limits are highly conservative and set in a way that they will remain protective unless they are exceeded by a substantial margin.<br />
<br />
ICNIRP’s guidelines include different categories of exposure restrictions depending on the body region that is exposed to EMF – either the whole body or only parts of the body (Head, Trunk, Limbs), as well as on the duration of exposure – from instantaneous to long-term (24/7) exposure.<br />
<br />
<b>What has changed in the guidelines?</b><br />
<br />
The guidelines were updated to also refine the limits for frequencies above 6 GHz which will be relevant for 5G. The main changes include:<br />
<ul>
<li>the addition of a restriction for exposure to the whole body </li>
<li>the addition of a restriction for brief (less than 6‐minute) exposures to small </li>
<li>regions of the body (e.g. through mobile devices)</li>
<li>the reduction of the maximum exposure permitted over a small region of the </li>
<li>body</li>
</ul>
<br />
Overall improvements to the guidelines include:<br />
<ul>
<li>greater transparency to make the logic and scientific basis of the guidelines easier for the health protection community to engage with</li>
<li>additional means of assessing compliance with the guidelines; and</li>
<li>greater specification of how to assess complicated exposure scenarios</li>
</ul>
<br />
The SAR limits for mobile phones operating in frequencies below 6 GHz remain unchanged, only above 6 GHz a new absorbed power density limit is introduced that will apply to exposures close to the body (e.g. from mobile phones). The reason is that at higher frequencies the energy absorption occurs primarily at the body surface.<br />
<br />
<b>A timely publication </b><br />
<br />
The MWF welcomes the publication of the revised ICNIRP guidelines as they are based on an additional 20 years of research knowledge, improve scientific accuracy, accommodate changes in the frequencies above 6 GHz which are also relevant for 5G and still ensure a high level of protection for all.<br />
<br />
<b>Resources: </b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>(1) ACEBR’s Science & Wireless December 2nd, 2019, Rodney Croft: ICNIRP Radiofrequency Guidelines, Public Consultation version,: <a href="https://documents.uow.edu.au/content/groups/public/@web/@socs/@psyc/documents/doc/uow262922.pdf" target="_blank">https://documents.uow.edu.au/content/groups/public/@web/@socs/@psyc/documents/doc/uow262922.pdf</a></li>
<li>(2) Media Release, New Guidelines Released by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), 11 March 2020: <a href="https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/presentations/ICNIRP_Media_Release_110320.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/presentations/ICNIRP_Media_Release_110320.pdf </a></li>
<li>5G conspiracy: Hundreds of articles now debunking it: <a href="http://mobile-wireless-forum.blogspot.com/2020/05/5g-conspiracy-hundreds-of-articles-now.html" target="_blank">http://mobile-wireless-forum.blogspot.com/2020/05/5g-conspiracy-hundreds-of-articles-now.html</a></li>
<li>Media Release, New Guidelines Released by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), 11 March 2020: <a href="https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/presentations/ICNIRP_Media_Release_110320.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/presentations/ICNIRP_Media_Release_110320.pdf </a></li>
<li>More information about ICNIRP: <a href="https://www.icnirp.org/" target="_blank">https://www.icnirp.org </a></li>
</ul>
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-77054949799017986732020-05-26T05:23:00.000-07:002020-05-26T05:27:20.594-07:005G conspiracy: Hundreds of articles now debunking it<br />
<div>
The current public health threat of Covid-19 coincided with an underlying unease about the advent of 5G. As with every introduction of seemingly new technology, many people are worried about its safety. We say seemingly new because 5G is not fundamentally different from earlier mobile technologies in terms of its use of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF). 5G operates with both existing as well as higher frequencies but that doesn’t mean that we don’t know anything about those frequencies and the safety of RF energy.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
While 5G has been receiving a lot of attention on social media, the claims linking 5G to the spread of coronavirus are not only baseless - they have actually resulted in real harm. Mobile telecommunications companies have already had base stations or cell towers set on fire, and workers deploying the networks are being verbally abused and harassed. But experts have been very clear - the pandemic is not caused by 5G, as has been explained in </div>
<div>
an overwhelming number of statements from subject matter experts, scientists, health authorities and government representatives around the world. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
If you do have questions or doubts in regard to 5G, or would just like to better understand how such conspiracy theories can get traction in today’s modern world, there are a wealth of great articles to explore. Out of the several hundred articles published in March and April on this topic, we selected a few of the well-researched articles by respected media. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
If you wanted to have a good explanation about 5G and commonly discussed worries, have a look at these articles: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/5g-mobile-networks-and-health" target="_blank">WHO: 5G mobile networks and health</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdT_NE5elZQ" target="_blank">MWF: Expert Opinions on 5G Safety</a> (video)</li>
<li><a href="https://laminute.info/2020/04/14/truth-tracker-non-covid-19-na-rien-a-voir-avec-la-technologie-5g" target="_blank">LaMinute Truth Tracker: Non, COVID-19 n'a rien à voir avec la technologie 5G</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/04/09/5g-networks-and-covid-19-coronavirus-here-are-the-latest-conspiracy-theories/#5c8c616d4151" target="_blank">Forbes: 5G Networks And COVID-19 Coronavirus: Here Are The Latest Conspiracy Theories</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you would like to understand the origins and background to this particular conspiracy theory: </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/10/technology/coronavirus-5g-uk.html" target="_blank">New York Times: Burning Cell Towers, Out of Baseless Fear They Spread the Virus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://theconversation.com/no-5g-radiation-doesnt-cause-or-spread-the-coronavirus-saying-it-does-is-destructive-135695" target="_blank">The Conversation: No, 5G radiation doesn’t cause or spread the coronavirus. Saying it does is destructive</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lefigaro.fr/secteur/high-tech/coronavirus-au-royaume-uni-une-theorie-du-complot-mene-a-l-incendie-d-antennes-5g-20200406" target="_blank">Le Figaro: Coronavirus: au Royaume-Uni, une théorie du complot mène à l’incendie d’antennes 5G</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-09/covid-19-link-to-5g-technology-fueled-by-coordinated-effort" target="_blank">Bloomberg: 5G Virus Conspiracy Theory Fueled by Coordinated Effort</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.vox.com/recode/2020/4/24/21231085/coronavirus-5g-conspiracy-theory-covid-facebook-youtube" target="_blank">Vox: How the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theory went from fringe to mainstream</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/9/21214750/5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories-radio-waves-virus-internet" target="_blank">The Verge: Why the 5G coronavirus conspiracy theories don’t make sense</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you want to know what official health agencies, government representatives, the World Health Organisation, the European Commission and others, have said about 5G and Covid19, have a look here: </div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters" target="_blank">WHO myth busters: 5G mobile networks DO NOT spread COVID-19</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/health/coronavirus-response/fighting-disinformation_en" target="_blank">European Commission: There is no link between the coronavirus and 5G technology</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fema.gov/coronavirus/rumor-control" target="_blank">FEMA: Rumor: Is 5G Cell Phone Technology Linked To The Cause Of Coronavirus?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/5g-and-other-telecommunications-do-not-affect-immune-system" target="_blank">ARPANSA publishes statement on "5G and other telecommunications do not affect the immune system"</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And two great podcasts exploring 5G and the recent excitement: </div>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interview-david-robert-grimes-on-5g/id980972442?i=1000472684186" target="_blank">The Body of Evidence: Interview - David Robert Grimes on 5G</a></li>
<li><a href="https://play.acast.com/s/fullfactpodcast/75f435d3-8da4-4588-ab62-070716d6e167" target="_blank">The Full Fact Podcast - 5G and the coronavirus</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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Enjoy the reading and listening! </div>
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<br /></div>
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We share even more articles via the <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mobile-&-wireless-forum-mwf-" target="_blank">MWF LinkedIn page</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/MWFupdates" target="_blank">@MWFupdates</a> Twitter account. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
And if you do come across additional good sources and great explanations, do share with us. </div>
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-33674793778113889402020-03-18T11:46:00.003-07:002020-03-18T11:46:40.664-07:00Worry versus reality: Low EMF levels from telecom infrastructureWith the rollout of new network infrastructure, questions often arise about what this means for general levels of electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the community. This was the case with earlier generations as it is now with 5G.<br />
<br />
Several countries have published the results of national measurement and monitoring campaigns that assessed the current public exposure levels from telecommunications network infrastructure. Each of the reports have found that overall EMF levels remain far below the safety limits, with most results being around 1% of the international limits.<br />
<br />
Ofcom, the United Kingdom Office of Communications, for example released a set of testing carried out in 2020 that found EMF levels around Britain to be between 0.0052% and 1.4960% of the ICNIRP reference levels for general public exposure. This is in line with the results obtained by French regulator ANFR as part of their yearly measurement program.<br />
<br />
<b>Will exposure levels rise with 5G? </b><br />
<br />
With the introduction of new technologies, there may be a small increase in the overall level of EMF due to the fact that new transmitters are active. In some countries, deployment of 5G may occur as part of closure of earlier wireless networks. Based on the transition from previous wireless technologies we can expect that the overall exposure levels will remain relatively constant and a small fraction of the international exposure guidelines (1).<br />
<br />
For example, EMF measurements carried out by Australian network provider Telstra within their commercial 5G network with 5G devices found that EMF levels remained at around 1000 times below the safety limits and were similar in exposure levels to those of 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi.<br />
<br />
This is consistent with the results from several studies (2) that have looked at measurements of base station RF emissions over time, and they found that irrespective of the country, the year and the mobile technology, RF fields at a ground level were only a small fraction of the international human RF exposure recommendations. Importantly, environmental levels have remained essentially constant despite the increasing number of base stations and deployment of additional mobile technologies.<br />
<br />
<b>Further information: </b><br />
<br />
Ofcom 2020 set of measurements:<br />
<a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/information/mobile-operational-enquiries/mobile-base-station-audits/2020" target="_blank">https://www.ofcom.org.uk/spectrum/information/mobile-operational-enquiries/mobile-base-station-audits/2020</a><br />
<br />
ICNIRP RF EMF Guidelines 2020<br />
<a href="https://www.icnirp.org/en/activities/news/news-article/rf-guidelines-2020-published.html" target="_blank">https://www.icnirp.org/en/activities/news/news-article/rf-guidelines-2020-published.html</a><br />
<br />
5 surveys of 5G show EME levels well below safety limits:<br />
<a href="https://exchange.telstra.com.au/5-surveys-of-5g-show-eme-levels-well-below-safety-limits/" target="_blank">https://exchange.telstra.com.au/5-surveys-of-5g-show-eme-levels-well-below-safety-limits/</a><br />
<br />
(1) See 5G and EMF Explained: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_5G-EMF%20Explained%20final.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_5G-EMF%20Explained%20final.pdf</a><br />
<br />
(2) Rowley and Joyner, Comparative international analysis of radiofrequency exposure surveys of mobile communication radio base stations, Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology (2012) 1 – 12., Joyner, Van Wyk and Rowley National Surveys of Radiofrequency Field Strengths from Radio Base Stations in Africa, Radiation Protection Dosimetry (2013) 1–12 and Rowley JT, Joyner KH, Observations from national Italian fixed radiofrequency monitoring network, Bioelectromagnetics. 2016 Feb;37(2):136-9.Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-37601522890702781922020-02-27T02:56:00.003-08:002020-02-27T02:56:53.190-08:00MWF Research Outcomes: In-Situ Measurement Methodology for 5G Base StationsDeployment of 5G networks is already well underway around the world and one of the areas that the MWF identified for further research work was the need for updated exposure assessment methodologies to demonstrate compliance of the base stations. 5G base stations make use of beam forming and massive MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) to direct the signal where is needed rather than spreading the energy over a large angular beam. Beam forming and massive MIMO result in greater efficiency and better use of spectrum, but using traditional compliance assessment methodologies results in unrealistic overestimation of EMF exposure. This overestimation comes about since it assumes all the power of the base station is allocated within the same beam for several minutes.<br />
<br />
This project therefore had two objectives:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>to develop a measurement method to assess exposure from 5G NR base stations on-site; and </li>
<li>to develop a measurement methodology applicable to assess exposure for massive MIMO products. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTHvCXkefvY/XlegJP5x6tI/AAAAAAAAAJs/UXb5JgyduuwKOhnIbNCFFHYo0PIeGS3HACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/measurement-site.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="372" data-original-width="474" height="251" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nTHvCXkefvY/XlegJP5x6tI/AAAAAAAAAJs/UXb5JgyduuwKOhnIbNCFFHYo0PIeGS3HACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/measurement-site.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: start;"><span lang="EN-AU" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 8pt;">Measurements being undertaken on a base station with a number of different services. The small 5G antennas are located in the middle of the head of the tower.</span></i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Measurements being undertaken on a base station with a number of different services. The small 5G antennas are located in the middle of the head of the tower.<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The MWF supported a research project at the University of Ghent to undertake the identified work. The results involve a five-step methodology consisting of: (1) a spectrum overview to identify the 5G NR channels; (2) the identification of the synchronization signal block (SSB) which contains the ‘always on’ signals; (3) the measurement of electric field strength per resource element of the SSB; (4) the measurement of the of the time-averaged instantaneous exposure level; and (5) the extrapolation of the resource element electric-field strength to the theoretical maximum level as well as the actual maximum level taking into account a variety of factors outlined in existing standards.<br />
<br />
The methodology has now been presented to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards committee overseeing work on a new standard in this area and has been published in the journal IEEE Access.<br />
<br />
The publication details are as follows:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.emf-portal.org/en/article/41370" target="_blank">In-situ Measurement Methodology for the Assessment of 5G NR Massive MIMO Base Station Exposure at Sub-6 GHz Frequencies</a>, Aerts S, Verloock L, Van Den Bossche M, Colombi D, Martens L, Törnevik C, Joseph W, IEEE Access 2019; 7: 184658-184667</li>
</ul>
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<div>
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-20744991909810651912019-09-03T05:56:00.001-07:002019-09-03T05:58:14.551-07:00Getting Reliable Information on 5G<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
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There has been a lot of inaccurate and misinformation circulated about 5G recently. Finding accurate and reliable information is more important than ever and to help in that regard we have put together a collection of recent statements by health authorities that provide authoritative information on 5G and health as well as factsheets by trade organizations that explain how the technology actually operates.</div>
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Have a look at the following resources:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA): <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) safety standard sets limits for exposure to RF EME. These limits are set well below levels at which harm to people may occur. […] At exposure levels below the limits set within the ARPANSA safety standard, it is the assessment of ARPANSA and international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation (ICNIRP) that there is no established scientific evidence to support any adverse health effects from very low RF EME exposures to populations or individuals.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Link: <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/misinformation-about-australias-5g-network" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-AU">https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/misinformation-about-australias-5g-network</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">ARPANSA on recent misinformation: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>"Contrary to some claims, there are no established health effects from the radio waves that the 5G network uses. This network currently runs on radio waves similar to those used in the current 4G network, and in the future will use radio waves with higher frequencies. It is important to note that higher frequencies does not mean higher or more intense exposure. Higher frequency radio waves are already used in security screening units at airports, police radar guns to check speed, remote sensors and in medicine and these uses have been thoroughly tested and found to have no negative impacts on human health."</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Link: <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/5g-new-generation-mobile-phone-network-and-health" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-AU">https://www.arpansa.gov.au/news/5g-new-generation-mobile-phone-network-and-health</span></a><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">World Health Organization (WHO): <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>“From all evidence accumulated so far, no adverse short- or long-term health effects have been shown to occur from the RF signals produced by base stations. Since wireless networks produce generally lower RF signals than base stations, no adverse health effects are expected from exposure to them.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Link: <a href="https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU"><u>Other Useful Resources:</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">EMFexplained on “How 5G works”:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25916" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-AU">http://www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25916</span></a><span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">GSM Association (GSMA) on the “</span>Safety of 5G Mobile Networks”: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/resources/safety-of-5g-mobile-networks" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/resources/safety-of-5g-mobile-networks</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="EN-AU">GSM Association (GSMA) on “</span>5G, the IoT and Wearable Devices: What do the new uses of wireless technologies mean for radio frequency exposure?”: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/resources/5g-internet-things-iot-wearable-devices" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/resources/5g-internet-things-iot-wearable-devices</a><o:p></o:p></div>
Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-60696037429225397162019-08-26T21:21:00.002-07:002019-08-26T21:21:13.147-07:00MWF Research Outcomes: Updating the Dosimetric Models used for SAR Compliance in the ExtremitiesAs part of the MWF’s ongoing support for research, we recently completed a project to support an update to the dosimetric human body models used to assess SAR compliance in the extremities. Currently, Radio Frequency (RF) exposure standards as well as government regulations define different limits for the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) induced in the body and in the extremities (or limbs). However, the numerical human body models standardised for RF exposure compliance evaluation in the IEC/IEEE 62704-2:2017 standard lack details of the body tissue definition that allow discriminating between the body and extremities, while many simulation tools allow for this evaluation provided corresponding tissue definitions are available.<br />
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Therefore, as part of the routine ‘maintenance’ update of IEC/IEEE 62704-2:2017, we decided to develop and propose an updated model with the relevant body and extremity tissue definitions. The MWF engaged electromagnetic modelling experts Remcom to review the relevant standards and to produce updated models that can now be made available as part of the next revision of the standard.<br />
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The work resulted in detailed updates to the existing standard models, which included 14 tissue types present in the voxel meshes in the regions classified as extremity. The tissues in these extremities included: blood, blood vessel, body fluid, bone marrow, cancellous bone, cartilage, cortical bone, fat, ligament, muscle, nerve/spine, skin, toe and finger nails, and lymph and each was mapped and information provided on the relevant standard that they applied to.<br />
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The figure below shows an overview of the outcome for one of the models - with extremities defined according to the FCC, IEEE C95.1-2005, and ICNIRP standards in a different colour (although it is important to note that the IEEE C95.1-2005 extremities also include the FCC extremities and ICNIRP extremities encompass the entire arms and legs which include all the IEEE and FCC extremities).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JGneavkJ9o/XWSvf0iB6II/AAAAAAAAAIg/-fJRG6gptKArVI6vX21_NRnRKgrlINk6ACLcBGAs/s1600/Figure_15_bystander_all_extremities_v2_C.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="348" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JGneavkJ9o/XWSvf0iB6II/AAAAAAAAAIg/-fJRG6gptKArVI6vX21_NRnRKgrlINk6ACLcBGAs/s320/Figure_15_bystander_all_extremities_v2_C.png" width="174" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The figure below shows an overview of the outcome for one of the models - with extremities defined according to the FCC, IEEE C95.1-2005, and ICNIRP standards in a different colour.</span></span></td></tr>
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-4219014553965365052019-05-12T09:45:00.002-07:002019-05-12T09:48:20.849-07:005G: Political vs science-based decisions<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
Early on, the region of Brussels in Belgium decided to introduce arbitrarily low EMF exposure limits from base stations, despite the overall consensus in the scientific community that the international guidelines for exposure limits proposed by ICNIRP are sufficiently safe. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In time however, the Brussels government was confronted with the consequences of this decision. In 2013, when the 4G network came to be deployed – the government faced fierce discussions in the parliament on whether or not to increase the very low limits to a point where 4G could be introduced. The political majority finally succeeded in doing so, but only increased the limits to the bare minimum needed to introduce 4G. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, the Brussels government finds itself in the same position again. Given the current use of the mobile network in Brussels, with the high demand for faster data connections and greater capacity there is no room left to introduce 5G. Hence, the discussions among politicians recommence on whether or not limits should be increased. Having departed from a scientific rational long ago, the argument for changing the limits becomes more and more difficult.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the meantime, the countries who have adopted the science based ICNIRP limits, move ahead in introducing the newest generation of mobile technology and when confronted with questions can rely on advice of the World Health Organization which states: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>“Considering the very low exposure levels and research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.” (</i><a href="https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank"><i>https://www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/</i></a><i>)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>More information: </b></div>
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<li>MWF Viewpoint on Brussels and 5G: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF%5FVIEWPOINT%5FBrussels%20and%205G%5FA%2Epdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF%5FVIEWPOINT%5FBrussels%20and%205G%5FA%2Epdf</a></li>
<li>Implications for Mobile Communications Infrastructure of Arbitrary Radio Frequency Exposure Limits: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_Implications%20of%20Lower%20RF%20Limits_2019.pdf" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_Implications%20of%20Lower%20RF%20Limits_2019.pdf</a></li>
<li>5G and EMF Explained: <a href="http://www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25916" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">http://www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25916</a></li>
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-50540027545734453142019-03-23T00:06:00.000-07:002019-03-23T00:06:03.377-07:00Measurement of EMF exposure around small cell base station sitesWith the ever-increasing demand for data on mobile devices, network operators are looking at a range of options to increase their network capacity. One of these options is through the use of ‘small cell’ sites, an umbrella term for operator-controlled, low-powered radio access nodes.<br />
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While the radio-frequency exposure from small cells is equivalent to other low-powered equipment, there has been interest in a practical study of the devices in real world settings. For this reason, the MWF and the Small Cell Forum commissioned in 2017 a measurement program, the results of which were published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.<br />
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The graph summarises the study set up and conclusions.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2llrXK9fqSc/XJXayvtZv6I/AAAAAAAAAHo/d5Xxhh9IMYkx5YUcpiNcxqHON_HbOqkWQCLcBGAs/s1600/Measurement%2Bof%2BEMF%2Bexposure%2Baround%2Bsmall%2Bcell%2Bbase%2Bstation%2Bsites.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1007" height="223" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2llrXK9fqSc/XJXayvtZv6I/AAAAAAAAAHo/d5Xxhh9IMYkx5YUcpiNcxqHON_HbOqkWQCLcBGAs/s320/Measurement%2Bof%2BEMF%2Bexposure%2Baround%2Bsmall%2Bcell%2Bbase%2Bstation%2Bsites.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-9196838558534551462019-01-28T21:05:00.002-08:002019-01-28T21:05:16.246-08:00The Importance of Quality Control Measures in Scientific StudiesIn a paper by Vijayalaxmia and Prihodab TJ, the authors looked at the influence of four quality control measures ideally associated with studies of exposure to radio-frequency (RF) energy. In this particular analysis, they assessed 225 published papers from the period 1990-2017, involving 110 animal studies and 115 studies of human cells exposed in vitro and in vivo to RF energy (involving 2,160 actual test results) for the inclusion of four specific quality control measures. The bottom line is that the inclusion of any, some or all quality measures saw fewer reported effects – or no effects at all - associated with exposure to RF energy, highlighting the importance of these measures in quality studies and publications in this area. Our Viewpoint provides a summary of the study and details the quality control measures and their importance in studies in this area.<br />
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Read the full viewpoint on the MWF website: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF%5FViewpoint%5FQualityControlMeasures%2Epdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF%5FViewpoint%5FQualityControlMeasures%2Epdf</a>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-46822815286486738702018-09-29T00:00:00.003-07:002018-09-29T00:21:30.196-07:00Exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) – Biological effects vs health effects<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
We often see media articles that claim new research has found health effects from human exposure of some chemical or physical agent. In the case of electromagnetic fields (EMF), we have seen such studies claiming effects of exposure to EMF. But what is rarely discussed is whether the claimed ‘effect’ is a biological effect or indeed a health effect. What’s the difference you ask? </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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In the recent MWF publication “20 years of research<a href="applewebdata://5EAD3AD4-02B6-46EA-A17A-A5549D68970A#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a>”, we tried to explain this difference: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Biological effects are a response to stimulus or to a change in the environment around you and are not necessarily bad for your health. Health effects are changes in health resulting from exposure to an agent or source. Eating a freezing cold ice cream can give you a ‘brain-freeze’ (ice-cream headache), a sensation which goes away a short time after you stop eating it. Going for a run or sitting in a sauna will cause your body temperature to rise. These biological effects are not considered health effects because the result is temporary and not detrimental to your health.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Further explanations on the difference between “biological effects” and “health effects” in particular in regards to exposure to EMF, can be found in the factsheet of the World Health Organization<a href="applewebdata://5EAD3AD4-02B6-46EA-A17A-A5549D68970A#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a>(WHO) on electromagnetic fields. There the WHO states: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Biological effects are measurable responses to a stimulus or to a change in the environment. These changes are not necessarily harmful to your health. For example, listening to music, reading a book, eating an apple or playing tennis will produce a range of biological effects. Nevertheless, none of these activities is expected to cause health effects. The body has sophisticated mechanisms to adjust to the many and varied influences we encounter in our environment. Ongoing change forms a normal part of our lives. But, of course, the body does not possess adequate compensation mechanisms for all biological effects. Changes that are irreversible and stress the system for long periods of time may constitute a health hazard.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>An adverse health effect causes detectable impairment of the health of the exposed individual or of his or her offspring; a biological effect, on the other hand, may or may not result in an adverse health effect.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It is not disputed that electromagnetic fields above certain levels can trigger biological effects. Experiments with healthy volunteers indicate that short-term exposure at the levels present in the environment or in the home do not cause any apparent detrimental effects. Exposures to higher levels that might be harmful are restricted by national and international guidelines. The current debate is centred on whether long-term low level exposure can evoke biological responses and influence people's well being.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The definition by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)<a href="applewebdata://5EAD3AD4-02B6-46EA-A17A-A5549D68970A#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[3]</span></span></span></a>, although a little more technical is also useful: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>"Established adverse health effect: A biological effect characterized by a harmful change in health that is supported by consistent findings of that effect in studies published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, with evidence of the effect being demonstrated by independent laboratories, and where there is consensus</i></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"><i>in the scientific community that the effect occurs for the specified exposure condition."</i> versus the</span><span style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;"> biological effect as </span><i style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">“alterations of the structure, metabolism, or functions of a whole organism, its organs, tissues, and cells. Biological effects can occur without harming health and can be beneficial. Biological effects also can include adaptive responses."</i><br />
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From these different explanations, we can clearly see that there is an important difference between a biological effect and a health effect, even though many articles do not differentiate between the two – whether it is in relation to EMF or in other contexts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So when you are reading the next article, it might be interesting to see whether the authors make the proper distinction between the two, and if they don’t, it may say something important about the quality of the reporting. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<u>Resources: <o:p></o:p></u></div>
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MWF’s “20 years of research” booklet: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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WHO’s factsheet “What are electromagnetic fields?”: <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html</a></span> (accessed 5 September 2018) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc (IEEE) IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields,3 kHz to 300 GHz. IEEE; Piscataway, NJ, USA: 2006.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://5EAD3AD4-02B6-46EA-A17A-A5549D68970A#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[1]</span></span></span></a>MWF’s “20 years of research” booklet: http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://5EAD3AD4-02B6-46EA-A17A-A5549D68970A#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[2]</span></span></span></a>WHO’s factsheet “What are electromagnetic fields?”: http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html (accessed 5 September 2018)<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="applewebdata://5EAD3AD4-02B6-46EA-A17A-A5549D68970A#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="color: #954f72;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference" style="vertical-align: super;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">[3]</span></span></span></a>Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Inc (IEEE) IEEE Standard for Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields,3 kHz to 300 GHz. IEEE; Piscataway, NJ, USA: 2006.<span lang="EN-AU"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-61825754699141729172018-09-19T12:23:00.003-07:002018-09-19T12:23:45.331-07:00EMF Research and the Weight of Scientific EvidenceWe have all seen media articles that claim that a new study has “proven” a chemical or physical agent causes some health effect, usually cancer. While such results might look scary or at least surprising to the reader, scientists usually react differently and point to the “weight of scientific evidence”. What does this term mean and how does it apply to scientific studies related to electromagnetic fields (EMF) research?<br />
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As summarized in the <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf" target="_blank">MWF’s booklet on “20 years of research”</a>,<br />
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<i>The ‘weight of scientific evidence’ approach means that no single study can answer any scientific question, and must not be viewed in isolation but against the backdrop of previous research. Factors such as the quality of the data, consistency of results, nature and severity of effects and relevance of the information are all important considerations for experts to determine appropriate weighting to be given to the evidence. This approach is important to consider in research on radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field (EMF) health effects when individual studies provide different or conflicting results. Individual studies need to be seen in the light of the total research effort into mobile phone health and safety. Scientific investigation is subject to potential errors, personal opinions and uncertainties. This applies as much to research on RF EMF health effects as it does to all other areas of science.</i><br />
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The concept of “weight of scientific evidence” is not exclusive to research on EMF but is a key principle in scientific work. The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) scientific committee has published for example a <a href="https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4971" target="_blank">“Guidance on the use of the weight of evidence approach in scientific assessments”</a>. In this Guidance it states:<br />
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<i>Weight of evidence assessment is a process in which evidence is integrated to determine the relative support for possible answers to a scientific question. The term ‘weight of evidence’ on its own is the extent to which evidence supports possible answers to a scientific question. This is what is assessed by weight of evidence assessment, and can be expressed qualitatively or quantitatively. </i><br />
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The European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) published in June 2018 a revision of their <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/scheer/docs/scheer_o_014.pdf" target="_blank">“Memorandum on weight of evidence and uncertainties”</a>, which defines the weight of evidence as<br />
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<i>A process of weighted integration of lines of evidence to determine the relative support for hypotheses or answers to a question. </i><br />
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All of this does not mean that single studies are ignored or not important. They are integrated into the body of knowledge and put into context with all the other studies and research that have been carried out on the subject in question. As <a href="http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html" target="_blank">the World Health Organization has stated</a>, “(i)n the area of biological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation approximately 25,000 articles have been published over the past 30 years.” And as a result “scientific knowledge in this area is now more extensive than for most chemicals.”<br />
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References:<br />
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MWF’s “20 years of research” booklet (2018): <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf</a><br />
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EFSA’s “Guidance on the use of the weight of evidence approach in scientific assessments” (2017): <a href="https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4971" target="_blank">https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4971</a><br />
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SCHEER’s “Memorandum on weight of evidence and uncertainties” (2018): <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/scheer/docs/scheer_o_014.pdf" target="_blank">https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/scientific_committees/scheer/docs/scheer_o_014.pdf</a><br />
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World Health Organization: What are electromagnetic fields?<br />
<a href="http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html" target="_blank">http://www.who.int/peh-emf/about/WhatisEMF/en/index1.html </a>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-15451058402789962722018-08-27T02:08:00.005-07:002018-08-27T02:08:56.695-07:00The MWF's 20 Years of ResearchPeople around the world have adopted mobile phones like few other products in human history. When mobile phones were first introduced to the market in 1983 no one could have predicted the profound and far-reaching impacts that mobile and wireless communications would have on the world.<br />
<br />
Yet with the technology constantly evolving at such a rapid pace, it is important to acknowledge that not everyone has been entirely happy about these developments. For example, public concern has existed about whether the radio signals from mobile phones and other wireless devices have any impact on our health. For those living near base stations, there are many who have welcomed the greater connectivity and speed that such developments allow, although there are some who have also been concerned about the constant exposure to yet another radiofrequency source in their environment.<br />
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The telecommunications industry takes these concerns seriously and while the benefits of the technology are clear, industry must ensure that any concerns are addressed through open and transparent information, as well as independent quality scientific research that paves the way for health authorities and governments around the world to provide the best available advice to the public.<br />
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The Mobile & Wireless Forum’s role in this area is to support such research and help contribute to the development of standards for the industry to use to ensure compliance of the various products and services, thus allowing people to enjoy the full benefits of the technology. As part of the 20th anniversary of the association, we have summarized our research efforts in a new booklet. In the booklet, you will find an overview of the international research agenda, the main bodies involved in reviewing the scientific evidence, key issues and terms explained and discussed as well as details on the MWF’s research programs. You’ll also get an understanding of the work currently underway on new compliance methodologies for future 5G devices and the development of new technical standards.<br />
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The booklet concludes with a summary of where we are in terms of knowledge and understanding after 20 years of research, and the lessons learned ranging from societal impact to the public understanding of scientific research.<br />
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You can download “<a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018_05_MWF_20YearsofResearch.pdf" target="_blank">20 Years of Research</a>” from the MWF website. Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-1312597116992573462018-08-06T10:29:00.003-07:002018-08-06T10:29:57.534-07:00e-Labeling: Moving compliance into the digital ageRecently, economic and policy consultancy firm Valdani Vicari & Associati (VVA) undertook two studies investigating the introduction of an e-labelling scheme in Europe. These studies showed many benefits for consumers, market surveillance authorities as well as industry – and from the three countries examined as case studies – there are no downsides associated with its introduction. From VVA’s reports, we produced the following infographic summarizing the key findings:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-40qF_vsknKw/W2iE5NARZlI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/p1VXtJfHWYoxycUXqdslSOtf_gLTzVd4gCLcBGAs/s1600/eLabelling_MWF_infographic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="793" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-40qF_vsknKw/W2iE5NARZlI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/p1VXtJfHWYoxycUXqdslSOtf_gLTzVd4gCLcBGAs/s320/eLabelling_MWF_infographic.png" width="225" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(The picture shows the infographic, which can also be downloaded from <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_E-Labelling_Infographic.pdf">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_E-Labelling_Infographic.pdf</a>) </span><br />
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The advantages of e-labelling in terms of cost savings, reduced environmental impact, improved traceability and transparency seem undeniable and three out of four companies active in the EU and questioned on whether they would opt for e-labelling if it was allowed, confirmed that they would welcome it.<br />
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It is for all the above reasons that we believe that e-labels represent a smart approach for the smart age.<br />
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You can download the infographic from the mwfai.org site: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_E-Labelling_Infographic.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_E-Labelling_Infographic.pdf</a><br />
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For further information, have a look at the press release on the publication of the studies:<br />
<a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_18_06_21_PR_eLabelling_Europe_links.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF_18_06_21_PR_eLabelling_Europe_links.pdf</a><br />
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-77855014484340311662018-08-03T21:54:00.003-07:002018-08-03T21:54:40.138-07:00What is 5G?<br />
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5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks which will be a significant evolution from today’s 4G LTE networks.</div>
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5G is being designed to meet the very large growth in data and connectivity of today’s modern society, the internet of things with billions of connected devices and tomorrow’s innovations. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>How does 5G work? </b></div>
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Like prior generations of telecommunications, 5G uses radio waves or radio frequency (RF) energy to transmit and receive voice and data connecting our communities. 5G will use different frequencies designed to allow greater capacity compared to current mobile technologies. </div>
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5G will first work in combination with existing 4G networks. Base stations will be upgraded and many smaller antennas will supplement the existing network and provide more capacity. The transition for consumers will be seamless. Future devices will be 5G capable and will then connect to 5G networks whenever available, using 4G networks in between. </div>
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<div>
<b>More capacity and faster reaction times – what for? </b></div>
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5G technology provides additional capacity, faster connections and a very fast response time of as little as 1 millisecond. To put that into context, 4G already provides response times of 30 milliseconds while the human mind perceives everything under 100 milliseconds as instantaneous (1).</div>
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These technological advances open the door for ever more refined services: real time information in traffic, remote monitoring of patients, super accurate location services for emergency services and navigation, autonomously driving vehicles, smart homes and cities. </div>
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<b>When will we be able to use 5G? </b></div>
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5G networks are currently being trialed in many pilot projects around the world, with commercial launches expected in 2020 and widespread availability of 5G expected around 2025. </div>
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<b>More information and details about 5G</b></div>
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<div>
If you are interested in more information about 5G or how it will work have a look at the brochure <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018%5F05%5FMWF%5F5G%2DEMF%20Explained%20final%2Epdf" target="_blank">“5G and EMF Explained”</a>. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg57iA30jng/W2UxKgh8DSI/AAAAAAAAAGE/jBh638-wPoU-4d0gPD21lrTwAYdYLQygwCLcBGAs/s1600/EMF%2Bexplained%2Band%2B5G%2Bbrochure.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="487" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yg57iA30jng/W2UxKgh8DSI/AAAAAAAAAGE/jBh638-wPoU-4d0gPD21lrTwAYdYLQygwCLcBGAs/s320/EMF%2Bexplained%2Band%2B5G%2Bbrochure.png" width="226" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(picture of the EMF Explained 5G brochure) </span></div>
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<b>EMF Explained Series</b></div>
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The EMF Explained Series provides information on mobile technology and Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) referencing international health authorities, government, academia and the telecommunications industry.</div>
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The EMF Explained Series has been developed by the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) in association with the GSMA and Mobile and Wireless Forum (MWF).</div>
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The 5G and EMF Explained brochure can be downloaded here:</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018%5F05%5FMWF%5F5G%2DEMF%20Explained%20final%2Epdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/2018%5F05%5FMWF%5F5G%2DEMF%20Explained%20final%2Epdf</a> </div>
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(1) How fast is real time? Human perception and technology. <a href="https://www.pubnub.com/blog/how-fast-is-realtime-human-perception-and-technology" target="_blank">https://www.pubnub.com/blog/how-fast-is-realtime-human-perception-and-technology</a></div>
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-14987179345801733442018-07-20T04:07:00.000-07:002018-07-20T04:07:48.120-07:00MWF 5G Workshop at BioEM 2018: state of the art research and standardizationThe first 5G Workshop organised by the Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF) back in 2016 posed a number of questions related to exposures and compliance assessments above 6GHz. One of the aims of the <b>BioEM 2018 Pre-Conference Workshop: EMF Exposure from 5G equipment – the state of art research and standardization </b>therefore was to follow-up those questions in light of the research work that has been carried out over the intervening period.<br />
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The program for the 2018 Workshop was structured to begin with an overview of EMF exposure standards, discuss skin physiology, thermal responses of the skin and ocular studies moving onto discussions related to averaging times, and absorption mechanisms and finally specific challenges related to compliance standards and compliance assessments of devices and networks.<br />
<br />
The agenda included the following presentations which can be accessed online:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Mike Wood - Chairman IEC TC106 and Telstra Corporation, Melbourne, Australia:<a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/2%5FMWF%205G%5FIECComplianceStandardsFor5G%5FWood%2Epdf" target="_blank"> </a><b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/2%5FMWF%205G%5FIECComplianceStandardsFor5G%5FWood%2Epdf" target="_blank">IEC 5G EMF Compliance Standards Development</a> & <a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/1%5FMWF%205G%5FTelstra%2D5G%2DExposure%2DGold%2DCoast%5FWood%2Epdf" target="_blank">EMF Exposure Assessment of Telstra’s 5G Trial Network</a></b></li>
<li>Prof. Akimasa Hirata, Nagoya Institute of Technology; Nagawa, Japan: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/3%5FMWF%205G%5FExposureLimitsAbove6GHz%5FHirata%2Epdf" target="_blank">EMF Exposure Limits above 6 GHz</a></b></li>
<li>Dr Chung-Kwang Chou, IEEE/ICES TC95 Chairman and C-K. Chou Consulting Dublin, CA, USA: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/4%5FMWF%205G%5FmmW%5FChou%2Epdf" target="_blank">EMF Exposure of the Skin at mmW Frequencies</a></b></li>
<li>Prof. Masami Kojima, Kanazawa Medical University Uchinada, Japan and Prof. Yukihisa Suzuki, Tokyo Metropolitan University: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info/docs/eng/5a%5FThreshold40%5F75%5F95G%2018%2D40GHz%20Temp%5FKojima%2Epdf" target="_blank">Ocular Studies of EMF Exposure at mmW Frequencies</a> & <a href="http://emfhealth.info/docs/eng/5b%5FBioEM2018%5FpreWS0624v2%5Fexcluded%2Epdf" target="_blank">Numerical dosimetry and mathematical model to estimate cornea damage</a></b></li>
<li>Prof. Kenneth R. Foster, University of Pennsylvania; PA, USA: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/6%5FBioEM2018%5FFoster%5FMWFWorkshop%2Epdf" target="_blank">On the Averaging Time of Human Exposure at Frequencies above 6 GHz</a></b></li>
<li>Dr Andreas Christ, Research Consultant, Cabo Frio (RJ), Brazil: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/7%5FmmWave%5FAbsorption%5FV6%2Epdf" target="_blank">EMF Energy Absorption Mechanisms in the mmW Frequency Range</a></b></li>
<li>Davide Colombi, Ericsson Research, Stockholm, Sweden: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/8%5FChallenges%20in%20standardization%20related%20to%20EMF%20compliance%20above%206%20GHz%2Epdf" target="_blank">Challenges in Standardization related to EMF Compliance above 6 GHz</a></b></li>
<li>Dr Niels Kuster, Foundation for Research on Information Technologies in Society (IT’IS), Zurich, Switzerland: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/9%5F5G%5FworkshopBioEM2018V2%2Epdf" target="_blank">EMF Compliance Assessments of 5G Devices</a></b></li>
<li>Dr Walid El Hajj, Intel Corporation, Nice, France: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/10%5F180624%2DBioEM2018%5FIntel%5FFinal%2Epdf" target="_blank">EMF Compliance Assessment based on a Mixed Approach of Measurements and Numerical Simulations</a></b></li>
<li>Dr Kun Li National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Tokyo, Japan: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/11%5FBioEM%5Fworkshop%5FNICT%5FKun%20Li%5FMWF%2Epdf" target="_blank">Human-skin Temperature Elevation by EMF Exposure at MMW and THz Frequencies</a></b> </li>
<li>Prof. Yoshikazu Ugawa, Director, Department of Neuro-regeneration and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan: <b><a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/12%5FUgawa%20et%20al%20data%202018%2Epdf" target="_blank">Thermal Sensation Threshold of Millimeter Waves in Japanese People</a></b></li>
</ul>
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<br />
The MWF sponsored this Workshop to promote an understanding of the research and standards for 5G and as such the presentations from, and the views expressed by, authors do not necessarily represent the views of the MWF. Some of the research projects presented here were sponsored by the MWF and GSMA and again, the views are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of either the MWF or the GSMA.<br />
<br />Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-32977245576162632252018-07-02T03:25:00.001-07:002018-07-19T00:46:50.631-07:00e-Labelling: Moving compliance into the digital ageWireless communication devices such as mobile phones and tablets, like many other electronic products need to comply with a large range of European regulations before they can be put on the market and require a number of markings to show compliance. The traditional requirements for compliance reporting and physical labels affixed to the device cost an enormous amount of money: EU companies in the computing, multimedia & telephony sectors pay €3.9 billion for compliance every year, with compliance information consuming up to 20% of that sum.<br />
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These are the findings of a study by economic and policy consultancy firm Valdani Vicari & Associati (VVA) who carried out a cost-benefits analysis of introducing an e-labelling scheme in Europe. e-Labels are an alternative form of providing compliance information, either electronically through embedding it in the software of devices with a built-in screen (or that can be connected to a screen) or through machine readable-codes, such as QR codes, for other products. e-labels offer greater security, accessibility and longevity of the compliance information (remaining in the device as opposed to a paper report that is stored far away from the device in use) while also streamlining and simplifying the delivery of the required information.<br />
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VVA’s study showed that the introduction of e-labelling would reduce the overall cost of indicating compliance by 15% for companies active in the EU, that three out of four companies questioned would opt for e-labelling if it was allowed and that they see a possible positive impact on innovation as well as a reduced environmental footprint of products.<br />
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To date, at least 13 countries in the world, representing 56% of the global economy and 50% of the world population, already allow the indication of regulatory compliance through an electronic label. In a second study, VVA analysed the introduction of e-labelling in three highly digital aware markets: Australia, Singapore and the US.<br />
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Their conclusions were:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>the introduction of e-labelling helps to respond to technological developments</li>
<li>it already covers most electronic products in these countries without any adverse impact on market surveillance authorities, customs agencies or consumers. </li>
<li>it reduces environmental impacts by lowering waste and preventing the need for printing the physical mark on the product, and </li>
<li>e-labelling improves traceability and transparency, as compliance information is more easily available and remains within the product.</li>
</ul>
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So, an easy step towards reducing operational costs, environmental impact, administrative hurdles and furthering innovation? Overall yes, but changing established procedures is never that easy. In this case, it will need the agreement of 28 market surveillance authorities to revise their routine of controlling the compliance of electronic devices and upgrade their internal proceedings to match technological developments, which in and of itself might be a worthwhile exercise.<br />
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Both studies were presented in June at an event hosted by MEP Anneleen van Bossuyt in the European Parliament.<br />
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Links:<br />
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Cost-Benefits analysis on the introduction of an e-labelling scheme in Europe: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/y7w6uphu" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/y7w6uphu</a><br />
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Research into e-labelling schemes outside the EU: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/yckqex38" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/yckqex38</a>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-45931997492316880972018-02-17T00:39:00.003-08:002018-02-17T00:39:31.595-08:00US National Toxicology Program (NTP) publishes 2 year cell phone studyThe National Toxicology Program (NTP) has published the draft results of a 2- year study investigating the effects of high exposure to radiofrequency energy in rodents. The results will be subject to a three-day scientific review meeting in March 2018, after which the final reports on the studies will be completed and released.<br />
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The MWF Viewpoint’s on the study is available from:<br />
<a href="http://emfhealth.info/docs/eng/MWFViewpoint%2DNTPStudy2018%2Epdf" target="_blank">http://emfhealth.info/docs/eng/MWFViewpoint%2DNTPStudy2018%2Epdf</a>Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-56583512144536265772018-01-21T04:27:00.001-08:002018-01-22T13:06:34.002-08:00The Mobile & Wireless Forum - 20 years of research and standards development1998. Market penetration for mobile phones in the UK was 25%. 2G was the standard and in Finland, the first downloadable content - a ring tone - was sold to mobile phones.<br />
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In that year, the major players in the sector also decided that they would need an industry body to coordinate their RF research efforts and that could present a common voice for the mobiles sector: the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF) was born.<br />
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The MMF took on questions related to<br />
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<ul>
<li>research on the biological impact of electromagnetic fields ('EMF')</li>
<li>the development of technical standards and methodologies for product compliance</li>
<li>the promotion and development of accessibility within wireless devices and services</li>
<li>the integrity of wireless devices when operating on networks</li>
</ul>
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20 years and a slight name change later, the Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF) is active in almost 60 countries around the world and has become a respected stakeholder for governments, regulatory authorities, standardisation organisations, civil society organisations and other industry bodies.<br />
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Some of the main achievements include:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>supported an extensive and global research program on behalf of members</li>
<li>promoted the advancement of scientific knowledge and the open discussion of issues through sponsorship of workshops, conferences, collaborative research projects and visits.</li>
<li>initiated several inter-laboratory comparison projects to promote consistency and new methodologies for compliance testing</li>
<li>created an industry-wide SAR Reporting program with information for consumers on the specific absorption rate (SAR) of mobile phones</li>
<li>promoted the widespread adoption of harmonised science-based RF exposure standards </li>
<li>developed more than 50 brochures, booklets and other information resources many of which were co-branded with other national associations, technology specific associations, government agencies, consumer organisations and network operators</li>
<li>continuous engagement around the world with regulatory bodies on technical questions and issues;</li>
<li>production of thoughtful and research-based submissions to government on issues impacting on members</li>
<li>promoted awareness of the threats posed by counterfeit devices and accessories and engaged with governments on the implementation of national responses.</li>
<li>developed the Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI) program and database involving information on the accessibility features of more than 1,100 mobile phones, tablets, apps, Smart TVs and Wearables</li>
</ul>
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<br />
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, the MWF is preparing a new publication that will provide a concise and informative overview of its various research efforts relevant to wireless communication, including our work of new compliance methodologies for future 5G devices.<br />
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We will also have workshops on a number of topics, including 5G, tackling counterfeits and accessibility. Follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/mwfupdates" target="_blank">@MWFupdates </a>Twitter account and the <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/" target="_blank">mwfai.org</a> website for announcements and updates.<br />
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Mobile & Wireless Forumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07911391906128789011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7373308365534323974.post-67017306098221532372017-11-20T00:46:00.003-08:002017-11-20T00:46:48.910-08:00Wi-Fi in SchoolsAccording to a <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/research/surveys/wi-fi-in-schools-measurement-study" target="_blank">recent study of Wi-Fi exposure levels in 23 Australian schools</a>, the average exposure in the classroom was 500,000 times below the international limits. This dropped to an average 100,000,000 (yes, 100 Million) times below the limits in the school yard.<br />
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These levels are actually not unique. Comparable results have been found in other studies in <a href="http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/wifi-in-nz-schools.pdf" target="_blank">New Zealand</a>, <a href="http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10383.html" target="_blank">Canada</a>, the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/electromagnetic-fields" target="_blank">UK</a> and the <a href="http://medfordumc.org/celltower/wifirfexposure.pdf" target="_blank">US</a>. While the resulting numbers vary in the different studies, they were all <u>well</u> below the relevant limits.<br />
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In addition, the advice from leading health and safety agencies around the world has been very clear, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wireless-networks-wi-fi-radio-waves-and-health/wi-fi-radio-waves-and-health" target="_blank">take Public Health England for example</a>:<br />
<br />
<i>“On the basis of the published studies and those carried out in-house, PHE sees no reason why wi-fi should not continue to be used in schools and in other places. However with any new technology a sensible precautionary approach, as happened with mobile phones, is to keep the situation under review so that parents and others can have as much reassurance as possible.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>As part of this approach, the Health Protection Agency (now PHE) carried out a systematic programme of research into wireless networks and their use in schools, including measurements of exposures from networks. The project has now been completed and its results support PHE’s view that exposures from wi-fi are small in relation to the ICNIRP guidelines and in relation to exposures from mobile phones.”</i><br />
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And likewise, <a href="https://www.arpansa.gov.au/research/surveys/wi-fi-in-schools-measurement-study" target="_blank">Australia’s ARPANSA</a>, who conducted the study in Australian schools, says:<br />
<br />
<i>ARPANSA’s current advice is that there is no established scientific evidence that the low exposure to RF EME from Wi-fi adversely affects the health of children or the general population.</i><br />
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So for those parents who are concerned about whether there are any health risks arising from the use of Wi-Fi equipment, the results from the studies carried out as well as the advice of the various health agencies should certainly provide some reassurance.<br />
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<b>More information:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li>Wireless Devices and Children: <a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/MMF%5FVIEWPOINT%5FANSES%5FChildren%2Epdf" target="_blank">http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/MMF%5FVIEWPOINT%5FANSES%5FChildren%2Epdf</a></li>
<li>Wi-Fi in Schools: <a href="http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF%2DViewpoint%2DWiFi%2Din%2DSchools%2Epdf" target="_blank">http://www.mwfai.org/docs/eng/MWF%2DViewpoint%2DWiFi%2Din%2DSchools%2Epdf </a></li>
<li>Wi-Fi and Health/Safety: <a href="http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/Wi%2DFi%5Fand%5FHealth%5FBrochure%5F2015%2Epdf">http://emfhealth.info//docs/eng/Wi%2DFi%5Fand%5FHealth%5FBrochure%5F2015%2Epdf</a> </li>
</ul>
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