Assessment of Personal Occupational Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Libraries and Media Libraries, Using Calibrated On-Body Exposimeters

Amelie Massardier-Pilonchery, Elena Nerrière, Sophie Croidieu, Fabien Ndagijimana, François Gaudaire, Christophe Martinsons, Nicolas Noé and Martine Hours
Additional contact information
Amelie Massardier-Pilonchery: Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, Ifsttar, UMRESTTE, UMR T_9405, 8 avenue Rockefeller 69373 Lyon, France
Elena Nerrière: Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, Ifsttar, UMRESTTE, UMR T_9405, 8 avenue Rockefeller 69373 Lyon, France
Sophie Croidieu: Service de médecine préventive de la Ville Lyon, 69006 Lyon, France
Fabien Ndagijimana: Université Grenoble Alpes, 38400 Saint Martin d’Hères, France
François Gaudaire: Division Eclairage et Champs Electromagnétiques, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment, 24 rue Joseph Fourier, 38400 Saint Martin d’Hères, France
Christophe Martinsons: Division Eclairage et Champs Electromagnétiques, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment, 24 rue Joseph Fourier, 38400 Saint Martin d’Hères, France
Nicolas Noé: Division Eclairage et Champs Electromagnétiques, Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment, 11 rue Henri Picherit, 44300 Nantes, France
Martine Hours: Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon1, Ifsttar, UMRESTTE, UMR T_9405, 8 avenue Rockefeller 69373 Lyon, France

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 12, 1-16

Abstract: Background and Objectives: With the spread of Wifi networks, safety concerns have arisen, with complaints of somatic disorders, notably in traditional libraries and media libraries. The aim of the present study was to describe the conditions and levels of exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields in the real-life occupational conditions of those working in traditional libraries and media libraries. Methods: Dynamic measurements, using an exposimeter, were taken in 20 radiofrequency bands from 88 to 5850 MHz. The activity of 28 library workers was analyzed on a space-time budget. An audit of exposure sources and static measurements enabled the work-places to be mapped. Results: In seven libraries, 78,858 samples were taken over the 20 radiofrequency bands from 88 to 5850 MHz. Exposure was described for 28 working days. The median total field was 0.071 V/m (10th percentile: 0.022 V/m, 90th percentile: 0.534 V/m) and for Wifi the median field was 0.005 V/m (10th percentile: 0.005 V/m, 90th percentile: 0.028 V/m). Median individual exposure to Wifi frequency waves ranged from 0.005 to 0.040 V/m. Conclusions: Overall, the occupational exposure in this sector was close to the exposure in the general population. Peaks were due to the use of walkie-talkies by security staff. Exposure due to external sources depended on geographic location. Exposure in this occupation is well below the general occupational exposure levels, notably as regards Wifi.

Keywords: work; Wifi; radiofrequencies; measurements; libraries (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:12:p:2087-:d:239357

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