Understanding the ETAIN Dose Calculator: A Tool for Measuring RF-EMF Exposure
In today's world, we are constantly surrounded by devices that use radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) for wireless communication. Common sources of RF-EMF include mobile phones, cordless phones, laptops, tablets, and wireless headsets, as well as the antennas that surround us such as mobile phone base stations and WiFi access points. Understanding our exposure to RF-EMF and its potential impact on our health is crucial. This is where the ETAIN Dose Calculator comes into play.
When we use wirelessly connected digital devices, our bodies absorb energy from these RF-EMFs. This energy absorption is measured depending on the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which indicates the amount of energy deposited in our tissues. The ETAIN Dose Calculator estimates the SAR for the brain and the whole body under various typical exposure situations. By multiplying the SAR with the daily exposure duration, we can calculate our RF-EMF dose, similar to a time-weighted average of our RF-EMF exposure. In summary, the ETAIN Dose Calculator allows you to understand your daily exposure to and absorption of RF-EMF from your own habits when it comes to use of digital devices.
How Does the Dose Calculator Work?
To provide a complete assessment of RF-EMF exposure, the Dose Calculator uses detailed information about source-specific exposure duration and output power. The tool analyzes various factors such as the duration and usage of phone calls (e.g., use of speaker, phone next to the ear), daily interactions with the phone (e.g., social media, internet browsing, watching videos), use of WiFi or phone data, daily cordless phone usage, and usage of devices like laptops, tablets, smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart home devices, mobile hotspots, virtual reality devices, and wireless headphones. The Dose Calculator also considers environmental RF-EMF sources, including the area where you live, your daily indoor work time, and WiFi access.
The tool developed by ETAIN combines energy absorbed from various RF-EMF sources and applies it to a sample of the general population. This model uses specific absorption rate transfer algorithms to estimate daily RF-EMF doses (measured in millijoules per kilogram per day, mJ/kg/day) based on source-specific attributes, personal characteristics, and usage patterns.
To provide users with an average estimation of their daily exposure, the Dose Calculator incorporates data from an international survey conducted in four European countries (France, Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland). The results showed median whole-body and whole-brain doses of 183.7 and 204.4 mJ/kg/day, respectively. Mobile phones near the head for calling (especially on 2G networks) and far-field sources were significant contributors to the whole-brain dose, while a variety of RF-EMF sources contributed to the whole-body dose.
The ETAIN Dose Calculator particularly focuses on brain exposure because many devices are used close to the head (e.g. during phone calls), and the brain is central to the body's functioning. Our dose measurement, expressed in mJ/kg/day, cannot be directly interpreted in terms of health effects. RF-EMF exposure guidelines, which correspond to legal limits in many European countries, are based on SAR values, and health effects have not been observed below these guideline values. While RF-EMF cannot accumulate in the body, the ETAIN Dose Calculator provides valuable insights into the contributions of different RF-EMF sources to your daily brain dose and body exposure.
In conclusion, the ETAIN Dose Calculator is a valuable tool for understanding and managing your RF-EMF exposure. By providing detailed insights into the sources and levels of exposure, it helps you make informed decisions to efficiently reduce your RF-EMF dose, even if your current exposure is below guideline values. To learn more about common recommendations to lower exposure to RF-EMF, visit the FAQs of the project.
