How strong are the electromagnetic fields of mobile phone base stations?
In order to protect the public’s health from the effects of electromagnetic fields, German legislation has prescribed protection limits for base stations. These limits are based on recommendations by national and international expert committees and have been embodied in the 26th Ordinance Implementing the Federal Immission Control Act (Ordinance on electromagnetic fields – Verordnung über elektromagnetische Felder zum Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz – 26 BImSchV).
How does the state protect the population from electromagnetic fields?
The German legislature clearly defines the legal framework for mobile communications. It has established exposure limits that control the emissions of mobile network installations and guarantee the public’s safety.
Regular EMF measurements carried out by IZMF since 2003
The IZMF has been measuring mobile phone emissions in cooperation with the environment ministries or agencies of many federal states. These measurements provide data on the strength of electromagnetic fields in the immediate vicinity of GSM or UTMS base stations, the radiation characteristics of mobile phone antennas and how they affect the propagation of electromagnetic fields.
Monitoring shows that mobile communications is safe
It is hard to imagine our lives without television, radio and mobile phones. Legislation controls the safe limits of the high-frequency electromagnetic fields these devices create. Despite the present boom on the mobile phone market, electromagnetic field values remain 1000 times below the legal limit.
What are the exposure limits for mobile communications in other countries?
Many countries have legal provisions similar to Germany’s in order to regulate the maximum strength of high-frequency electromagnetic fields used for mobile communications. Most of these limits are based on the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)
Which exposure limits for mobile communications apply in Germany?
German law circumscribes limits to mobile communications to protect the population from potential danger. These exposure limits have been embodied in the 26th Ordinance Implementing the Federal Immission Control Act (Ordinance on electromagnetic fields – Verordnung über elektromagnetische Felder zum Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz – 26 BImSchV), which came into force on 1 January 1997.
