Estratégia aprimorada para avaliações da exposição a campos eletromagnéticos de radiofrequência em prédios próximos à infraestrutura de telecomunicações

Abstract

This study proposes to complement the current regulatory agencies’ methodology for evaluating exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) in buildings under the direct incidence of emissions from Base Station (BS) antennas. The key contribution is the refinement of measurement point selection within buildings, ensuring that assessments more accurately capture exposure levels. The approach employs technical criteria for selecting target buildings, considering the location of the BSs and the configuration of the surrounding antenna structures. The proposed approach was applied to measurements in five buildings in Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the Northeastern region of Brazil. The results show electric field intensity peaks up to 30.53 times higher and averages up to 16.51 times higher than values obtained from measurements conducted at ground level, the position where the evaluations are typically conducted. The highest exposure rates reached 39.19% and 20.44% of the limits established by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for the frequency bands used in broadcasting services and mobile telephony, respectively. The proposed approach can improve and complement the normative guidelines for RF-EMF exposure assessment, providing more representative evaluations of exposure in indoor building environments near modern telecommunication infrastructure.