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ARIB Activities

on EMC and Human Health Effects

ARIB, Japan2005

Global Standards CollaborationGSC#10

28 August – 2 September 2005Sophia Antipolis, France

Agenda Item: 5.2 GSC10_grsc3(05)26

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GSCBasic Activities

1. Promotion of researches concerning the impact of RF exposure on human health

2. Public Information concerning EMC and electromagnetic environment

3. Development and maintenance of ARIB standards and technical papers

4. Contribution to the domestic and international standards

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Purposes of Research To obtain scientific data to answer

public unease toward human exposure to RF-EMF, from the industrial standpoint

To contribute to the government initiated research programs

To develop a consistent recognition among ARIB members for the relevant subject

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Researches in 2004 fiscal year 3 studies to confirm the safety of

cellular phone RF exposure

1. EMF estimation study in semi-echoic environments: (NICT, Hokkaido University and ARIB members)

2. Replication study of the in-vivo experiment on BBB (Blood Brain Barrier) damage due to RF exposure: (National Institute of Public Health, Dept. of Pathology,

Tokyo Medical University, and Nagoya Institute of Technology ) 3. Volunteer study for brain activity effects caused by digital

cellular phone use: (University of Tokyo)

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GSCA study on implantable cardiac pacemaker EMI from cellular radios

in semi-echoic environments (e.g. train carriage and elevator)

There is a concern that the simultaneous use of several cellular phones in a train carriage might cause unexpectedly high exposure levels due to the reflection and accumulation of RF waves inside the carriage (semi-echoic environment). We have conducted both precise numerical simulations and experiments to examine this concern in an actual environment. Cardiac pacemaker EMI is the most important issue to investigate from the standpoint of responsibility to the public.

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GSCA possibility of accumulated EMF excitation

in semi-echoic environment

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antenna1,270

600

330

y = 0

Ceiling

Floor

-70 -60 -50 -40 -300

2

4

6

8

10

Electric field intensity (dB)

Ra

tio (

%)

y = -600mm

y=0y=600mm

Histogram (f=800MHz)14 cellular radios, 120 passengers

standing : 84(height) 150cm : 24 160cm : 36 170cm : 15 180cm : 9

sitting : 36

standing : 84(height) 150cm : 24 160cm : 36 170cm : 15 180cm : 9

sitting : 36

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Public areas have very low Q factors and so high spot levels of EMF are not seen due to the considerable absorption by the humans inside these areas. Pacemaker malfunction due to cellular radio EMF will not occur at all in a train carriage even if several cellular radios are transmitting RF power at the maximum level simultaneously except for the vicinity of the radios. Radios can be safely used, provided the separation guideline of 22cm is kept. Farther investigations on the elevators are required (ongoing).

Conclusions

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GSCReplication study to Salford’s research on brain damage induced by 915 MHz electromagnetic

field using a TEM-cell exposure system

• 1979 Preston 2.45GHz Negative • 1982 Gruenau 2.8GHz Negative• 1982 Ward 2.45GHz Negative• 1994 Salford 915MHz Positive• 1997 Fritze 900MHz Positive• 1998 Tsurita, Nagawa 1.5GHz Negative• 2001 Aubineau 900MHz Negative• 2003 Salford 915MHz Positive • 2003 Masuda 1.5GHz Negative• 2002~3 Shirai (ARIB) 1.5GHz Negative• 2005 Ohkubo(ARIB) 915MHz Negative

Although many studies have been conducted, the scientific discussion still remains to judge the BBB damage. Therefore the replication study is required to reach conclusion.

Prof. Salford claims that the use of cellularphone by children should be avoided because of the possibility of the BBB damage due to EMF irradiation.

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Objectives and method

1 To confirm whether or not the same positive ef1 To confirm whether or not the same positive effects as Salford’s group reported occur. fects as Salford’s group reported occur.

2 If negative, then to make the artifacts of Salfor2 If negative, then to make the artifacts of Salford’s experiments clear. d’s experiments clear.

The same exposure system and experimental prot

ocol were adopted as Salford did.

Endpoints: BBB disraption and neural degeneratio

n

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Exposure system and dosimetry estimation

A computational (FDTD)result for SAR

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GSCConclusion

There were no positive effects observed

regarding BBB (Blood-Brain Barrier) and Neuron

disruptions in Rat Brain.

The artifacts of the experiments which reported

positive effects were revealed by the pathologist

analysis.

The obtained results of this study will be

submitted to the peer reviewed journal soon.

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Volunteer study on brain activity effects caused by digital cellular phone use

(University of Tokyo)

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Public Information

Internet Web-pages Leaflets and booklets; Published a scientific book on the safety of RF-EMF for the general public (distributed junior high schools and bookshops) Seminars; for the public, several times a year

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ARIB Standard and Technical Report Related to Human Exposure

ARIB STD-T56 v.2 /1998 “Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) Estimation for Cellular Phone ” established in January, 2002 is under revision to harmonize with the relevant IEC standard of Pt. 62209 finalized in February, 2005. This will give the technical supports to the Japanese SAR regulation that has been put into practice since June 2002.

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Future schedule Continuous promotion of research on health

issues of public concern: Regarding, (a) EMF estimations in semi-echoic

environments, (b) volunteer study for RF-EMF effect on regional cerebral blood flow

Reinforcement of public information on website, and publication of leaflets for the general public

Maintenance of ARIB standards and technical papers