An exposure indicator of population classes to the electric field generated by RF telecommunications systems

The so-called electromagnetic pollution generated by high frequency fields (RadioFrequencies RF, 10 kHz - 300 GHz), i.e. non-ionising radiations, is a topic of increasingly current interest given the continuous evolution of mobile network technologies. This master thesis takes place within a ministerial project financed by the MATTM (Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare) with the abbreviated title “Programma ricerca CEM”, the “EXP-1” study aims to “evaluate EMF emissions from various sources, exposure scenarios and levels of exposure from new and emerging technologies and from changes in the use of established technologies”. The work has been possibile through the collaboration between the ARPA (Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale) Piemonte and ARPAE (Agenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione, l’Ambiente e l’Energia) Emilia-Romagna. The thesis, according to the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impacts, Responses) model, realized calculations and validation of an indicator of population exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by cellular telephone systems (BTS – Base Transceiver Stations) and the consequent estimate of the population exposed to different levels of electric field. BTS simulated electric field values from some areas of Torino, population data and building height data were analyzed. Python scripts, R scripts, QGIS and other ARPA inhouse softwares were used for this purpose. The evaluation height of the simulations and the value of the electric field used, the resulting indicator calculation and the presentation of the results were justified. Finally, an experimental validation was carried out using existing measurements to validate the results obtained and to identify possible correction factors to be applied to make the indicator estimates closer to the real exposure.