Exposure Levels

Mobile and wireless communications networks use radio signals to provide a range of voice, video and other data services to subscribers.

The strength of the radio signals is greatest near the source and reduces rapidly with distance. Typical exposures in publicly accessible areas are usually thousands of times below international guidelines. As the radio signals are directed outwards from the antennas, exposures directly below the antennas are typically very low.

Note: Plot of sixty-four base station measurements versus distance from Austrian study showing the distance is a power estimate of exposure. For example, at 100m, the measured levels differ by more than 1,000 times. Adapted from Neubauer et al, Study on the Feasibility of Epidemiological Studies on Health Effects of Mobile Telephone Base Stations, ARC-IT-0124, March 2005

Some non-scientific policies have been adopted on the basis of a 'precautionary approach', such as distance based exclusions zones around community facilities, such as schools, hospitals or childcare facilities. The European Commission has said of such policies:

'The distance between a residential area and an antenna is not a proper indicator of its effect on the overall exposure of the public and scientific evidence does not support the assumption according to which an antenna within 300 metres would have adverse effects on public health. As long as factual exposure remains below the recommended levels, the health of the citizens is to our best knowledge well protected.'