Human Exposure to Radiofrequency Energy above 6 GHz: Review of Computational Dosimetry Studies

TL;DR

This review paper discusses recent updates to international guidelines for human exposure to electromagnetic fields above 6 GHz, focusing on computational dosimetry studies, new physical dose metrics, and the basis for safety limits.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of computational modeling studies related to the recent revision of exposure guidelines above 6 GHz, including comparisons with experimental data.

Findings

New dose metrics like absorbed power density are introduced.

Guidelines are based on electromagnetic and thermal modeling supported by experimental data.

Future research directions for dosimetry studies are discussed.

Abstract

International guidelines/standards for human protection from electromagnetic fields have been revised recently, especially for frequencies above 6 GHz where new wireless communication systems have been deployed. Above this frequency a new physical quantity "absorbed/epithelia power density" has been adopted as a dose metric. Then, the permissible level of external field strength/power density is derived for practical assessment. In addition, a new physical quantity, fluence or absorbed energy density, is introduced for protection from brief pulses (especially for shorter than 10 sec). These limits were explicitly designed to avoid excessive increases in tissue temperature, based on electromagnetic and thermal modeling studies but supported by experimental data where available. This paper reviews the studies on the computational modeling/dosimetry which are related to the revision of the guidelines/standards. The comparisons with experimental data as well as an analytic solution are also been presented. Future research needs and additional comments on the revision will also be mentioned.