International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) applications

Base stations are required to enable mobile phone communication, including calls and data transfer. They consist of different electronic components and antennas and can be located on masts, on rooftops, or on the outside or inside of buildings. Base stations emit radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMF) in the range from several hundred MHz to several GHz. The exact frequency bands used differ between technologies (GSM, UMTS, CDMA2000, 4G, 5G) and between countries. RF EMF fields allow the transport of large data volumes through vacuum and air, and to a certain extent through solid matter, at a very fast rate (up to the speed of light). Over large distances, the signals must be relayed by a communication network comprising base stations and often supported by a wired network.

Mobile telecommunication technologies (e.g. mobile phones) transmit and receive radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF EMFs) in defined ways that allow communication to occur. The specific method of utilising the RF EMFs is referred to as a “wireless standard”. For example, the wireless standard used for the First Generation of mobile telecommunication is referred to as “1G”. As technology develops, these standards are updated, and there can be a family of different wireless protocols that are collectively referred to as “1G”. For example, “UMTS” is a well-known protocol within the 3G family, and “LTE” is a well-known protocol within the 4G family. However, where a particularly large or important change is introduced to the standard, the overarching label for the wireless standard is updated accordingly. 

A variety of infrared lamps are used in industry e.g. for heating and drying; in medical settings e.g. treatment of sports and muscular injuries (mostly the more penetrating IR-A); and in office and home settings. Recently, infrared warming cabins, or ‘infrared saunas,’ have also become available for home or spa use. Their radiant heat is believed to have therapeutic benefits ranging from treatment of hypertension and congestive cardiac failure, to alleviating chronic pain and fatigue. Supportive scientific evidence for the alleged health benefits is currently limited, however.

Sunbeds (also known as tanning beds or solaria) are sources of artificial UV exposure that provide an indoor means for people to acquire a tan for cosmetic purposes. Over recent decades the sunbed industry has flourished and sunbeds have become very popular among adolescents and young adults, especially young women, in USA, Canada and Northern and Western Europe. Different types of tanning units have different spectral emissions. The two main categories of units are low-pressure fluorescent tubes, emitting mostly UVA with some UVB and filtered, high-pressure lamps, emitting virtually only UVA or a mixture of UVA and UVB. Evidence of the detrimental health effects to the skin and eye of long-term UVA as well as UVB, has led the sunbed industry to increase the UVB content in the emission spectrum so that it is closer to natural sun exposure (even though this varies by location, season and time of day). 

The Global Solar UV Index (UVI) is a simple numerical indicator of the maximum solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation received on the earth’s surface during the day. It was developed jointly by the World Health Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Meteorological Organization, and ICNIRP. The UV Index can either be calculated using computer models that account for factors such as ozone and the amount of cloud cover that affect daily solar UV radiation or derived from measurements. The UV irradiation is weighted by the sunburn response of human skin (280 to 400 nm wavelength range). Values of the UV Index range from zero to over 20. The higher the UV Index, the greater is the intensity of UV radiation that is damaging to skin and eyes.