Preliminary background indoor EMF measurements in Greece

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Electromagnetism
• Public Health

Background:

• Growing concerns regarding potential health risks of electromagnetic fields (EMF), particularly radiofrequency (RF) and extremely low-frequency (ELF) bands.
• The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) has identified these bands as possibly carcinogenic.
• Need for localized data on indoor EMF exposure levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate fluctuations and identify peaks in indoor electromagnetic field (EMF) intensity in Greece.
• To measure extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields and radiofrequency (RF) electric fields.
• To compare measured EMF values against established domestic and European limits.

Main Methods:

• Conducted extensive electromagnetic radiation (EMR) measurements across various indoor dwellings in Attica, Zakynthos, and Lesvos.
• Collected a total of 4540 measurements within a broad frequency range (50 Hz–2100 MHz).
• Performed statistical analysis to identify significant differences in field strengths based on distance from source, frequency bands, and geographic location.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences were found in electric field (ELF and RF) strengths at varying distances from EMF sources.
• Significant variations were noted in mean RF electric field values across different frequency bands and geographic locations.
• Maximum RF electric field values occasionally exceeded 1 V/m (up to 5.6 V/m), while ELF magnetic field values remained below 1 μT.

Conclusions:

• Overall indoor EMF intensity values in Greece were found to be well below established domestic and European safety limits.
• While some variations exist, the measured EMF levels do not indicate a widespread risk based on current guidelines.
• Further research may be warranted to understand long-term exposure effects and specific peak value implications.