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Non-Ionizing Radiation Analysis in Close Proximity to Antenna Tower: A Case Study in Northeast Brazil

André B. F. Diniz, Vicente A. Souza Jr., Marcio E. C. Rodrigues, Halysson B. Mendonça, Gutembregue S. Silva, Fred S. R. Pinheiro

arXiv:2609.36179v1cs.NI

TL;DR

The paper addresses limited evidence on NIR measurements at apartment-building skyline level near antenna towers, alongside the need to assess exposure amid 4G adoption. It combines a bibliometric analysis with 24-hour measurement rounds in Natal, Brazil, and reports that NIR has gained relevance across knowledge areas, reflecting the topic’s multidisciplinarity.

  • Problem

    Evidence is limited for NIR measurements at apartment-building skyline level near antenna towers, a setting relevant to evaluating exposure amid massive 4G adoption.

    Source: A. Related Works · p. 3

  • Method

    The study analyzes NIR publications in Web of Science and Scopus and measures radiation in Natal, Brazil, at skyline-level locations near antenna towers over 24-hour rounds.

    Source: A. Related Works · p. 3

  • Results

    The bibliometric analysis reports that NIR gained relevance across knowledge areas, indicating the topic’s multidisciplinarity.

    Source: D.Areas of Knowledge · p. 6

  • Takeaways & Limitations

    The study’s supported conclusion is that NIR is a multidisciplinary topic whose scientific production can be mapped across knowledge areas.

    Source: A. Related Works · p. 3, D.Areas of Knowledge · p. 6

Abstract

from arXiv · show

While the amount of telecommunications services grows rapidly in the whole world, humans get potentially more exposed to Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) from a number of different sources. This paper has a number of goals, including monitoring radiation levels in an everyday situation, an investigation of how national and international regulations organs address NIR levels and a demonstration of scientific production trends regarding this topic. The work also presents a bibliometric study about the main scientific productions and trends related to NIR measurements, with focus on the field of Telecommunications. Another contribution is a case study in Natal, Brazil, where NIR levels were monitored in four distinct locations over a period of 24 hours each and compared to the current regulations. The result is a quantitative analysis of the amount of radiation that some populations might be exposed to in distinct moments of the day. Measurements were carried out in the proximity of an antenna spot, since it could represent a source of high NIR levels (a worst case of human exposure). This campaign differs from older studies by including a more intense usage of microwaves frequencies due to operating 4G and pre-5G systems in Brazil. Finally, a statistical study involving the measurements is conducted, concluding the analysis of how some population groups might be affected by NIR.

I. INTRODUCTION

Non-ionizing radiation (NIR) comes from natural and artificial sources, and its effects depend on frequency. The introduction motivates monitoring population exposure against current regulations and tracking research trends as telecommunications use grows.

I. INTRODUCTION

  • NIR is electromagnetic radiation that can excite electrons without ionizing atoms, comes from natural and artificial sources, and has effects that depend on frequency.The paper identifies solar radiation and electric discharges as natural sources and antennas and power lines as artificial sources.Source: §I · p. 2
  • Potential human-health effects of NIR exposure have prompted organizations including ICNIRP and Brazil’s ANATEL to establish exposure guidelines.The introduction describes ICNIRP's global context and ANATEL's Brazilian national context.Source: §I · p. 2
  • Growing communication services make it important to monitor potential population exposure against current regulations and map scientific publication trends.The introduction also notes that exposure limits or measurement procedures may change.Source: §I · p. 2
  • The paper highlights 300 MHz–30 GHz because telecommunications services, including incoming 5G networks, operate across this frequency range [5].Table I is identified as nomenclature for different frequency ranges [5].Source: §I · p. 2, Table I · p. 2

A. Related Works

Prior NIR research covers varied exposure scenarios and measurement settings, while reported health-effect findings remain largely inconclusive. The paper identifies a gap in skyline-level measurements near antenna towers and addresses it alongside bibliometric and regulatory analyses.

A. Related Works

  • Studies of NIR exposure and human responses exist, but most reported results are inconclusive, supporting continued interest in monitoring exposure.The passages point to rising sources of potential exposure as a motivation for monitoring.Source: A. Related Works · p. 3
  • Prior contributions lacked measurements at apartment-building skyline level near antenna towers, a situation the authors describe as worst-case but common in verticalized cities.The paper frames this setting as relevant to typical urban telecommunications radiation patterns.Source: A. Related Works · p. 3
  • It compares Brazilian NIR exposure regulations with ICNIRP guidelines, highlighting differences and regulatory changes.Source: A. Related Works · p. 3
  • The Natal case study measures NIR at apartment-building skylines near antenna towers over 24-hour rounds and evaluates outcomes under national and international regulations.The study is presented as addressing the literature need associated with widespread 4G adoption and recent Brazilian regulatory changes.Source: A. Related Works · p. 3
  • The paper analyzes NIR scientific-production trends and their prospective continuity through a bibliometric study.Source: A. Related Works · p. 4

A. Background Research Methodology

The bibliometric study searches Web of Science and Scopus for NIR publications using title-based terms and periods, then applies screening and classification procedures to examine publication trends.

A. Background Research Methodology

B. Time analysis

The bibliometric analysis finds growing publication attention to NIR, led by the United States and spanning medical, engineering, and other fields. It also compares Brazilian and ICNIRP exposure limits, noting differences at lower frequencies and the absence of ANATEL limits for B.

B. Time analysis

  • NIR publications grew over time, reflecting progressive attention to NIR effects and exposure protection.The databases’ first records date to 1945 in WOS and 1940 in Scopus.Source: Figure 1 · p. 4, B. Time analysis · pp. 4–5
  • The United States leads NIR scientific production, while China and India grew significantly in the last 10 years, especially in Scopus.Other covered countries remained practically constant in both databases.Source: C.Investment regions · p. 5, Figure 2 · p. 5
  • WOS publications are concentrated in engineering, radiology, physics, biophysics, public health, and instrumentation, reflecting the topic’s varied applications.Among the 50 most-cited articles, medical applications—especially radiology and oncology—had the most publications in both periods; physics and chemistry gained relevance more recently.Source: D.Areas of Knowledge · pp. 5–6, Figure 3 · p. 6, Table II · p. 6
  • The two periods showed the same sequence of most frequent keywords, while topic affinity and predominance in comparison with Tables III and II pointed to concern for conserving human quality of life.Source: D.Areas of Knowledge · p. 7
  • ICNIRP and ANATEL exposure limits differ significantly at lower frequencies, and ANATEL does not provide limits for magnetic flux density B.The comparison covers occupational and general-population exposure limits.Source: D.Areas of Knowledge · p. 8, Table IV · p. 8, Table V · p. 8

A. Brazilian NIR Measurement Recommendations

The Brazilian recommendations specify measurement conditions and locations for assessing NIR exposure. They define the assessment domain and distinguish recommended measurement points for occupational and general populations.

A. Brazilian NIR Measurement Recommendations

  • The assessment focuses on electric and magnetic fields, with measurement equipment expected to cover the full frequency range of emitted waves.Quasi-isotropic probes with polarization switching are described as more suitable, though directional antennas can also be used; measurements are conducted in the stations’ Fraunhofer region.Source: A. Brazilian NIR Measurement… · p. 9
  • For general-population exposure, recommended measurement situations include the point of maximum exposure from a transmitting station.The procedure also identifies a high-circulation area and points at specified distances from the antenna support structure, plus a point at the Assessment Domain Boundary (ADB).Source: A. Brazilian NIR Measurement… · p. 9
  • For omnidirectional antennas above 30 MHz, the ADB is a cylinder with radius D and height 3.5 + Hb.The cited expressions use effective isotropically radiated power, the power-density limit, and the highest antenna tilt; below 30 MHz, the ADB is a circle of radius r.Source: A. Brazilian NIR Measurement… · p. 9
  • Occupational measurements are recommended at maximum-radiation exposure and at a point with greater worker flow.When the maximum electric field exceeds 50% of the applicable limit, compliance is demonstrated using a time average, such as 6 minutes, of at least three vertical measurements.Source: A. Brazilian NIR Measurement… · p. 10
  • Brazil’s 2018 NIR rules replaced the 2002 regulations and were amended in 2019; these updates motivated the measurement study.The surrounding service environment includes 4G, pre-5G, digital TV, and some Wi-Fi operating at 5 GHz.Source: A. Brazilian NIR Measurement… · p. 10

IV. MEASUREMENTS IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL

The study measures NIR at four locations in Northeast Brazil for 24 hours per location. It compares recorded electric-field intensities with Brazilian and international limits and theoretical calculations to determine whether exposure is below or above the limits.

IV. MEASUREMENTS IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL

  • The measurement rounds covered four locations, with 24 hours of monitoring at each spot.The section investigates NIR levels in Northeast Brazil.Source: §IV · p. 11
  • Recorded electric-field intensities are compared with international and Brazilian regulations and theoretical field-intensity calculations.The regulations establish the same exposure limit for the analyzed frequencies.Source: §IV · p. 11
  • The analysis determines whether exposure in the considered environments is below or above regulatory limits.Source: §IV · p. 11

A. Measurement Setup

The study used calibrated, wideband equipment to monitor electric-field intensity over time at sites near an antenna. The instrument captured three-axis measurements but could not isolate each frequency’s contribution.

A. Measurement Setup

B. Measurement Points

Measurements near the antenna showed the strongest and most variable field intensity at Portal do Tirol, while conservative theoretical estimates exceeded measured averages. The section also describes the sites and assumptions underlying those measurements and estimates.

B. Measurement Points

  • The four sites were Portal do Tirol (153 m), Alto do Tirol (197 m), Casablanca (290 m), and AABB (265 m) from the antenna spot.Source: B. Measurement Points · p. 12
  • The antenna spot was used for digital TV broadcasting from 470 MHz, and the analysis identified 29.81 V/m as the strictest exposure limit.The paper says its wideband measurements were compared against the limit corresponding to 470 MHz as the worst case.Source: B. Measurement Points · pp. 12–13
  • Portal do Tirol reached the strongest electric-field intensities and highest percentage of the national exposure limit, with the greatest variability; the other buildings varied much less.The paper attributes the strongest readings to Portal do Tirol’s proximity to the transmitting antenna.Source: Figure 7 · p. 13, B. Measurement Points · p. 13
  • The theoretical estimate used public antenna operating parameters to calculate contributions from 16 antennas at the spot using free-space propagation.The free-space urban model omits scattering and attenuation, and the calculations used maximum gain for all antennas because their radiation patterns were unavailable.Source: B. Measurement Points · pp. 14–15
  • The conservative theoretical contributions exceeded the average measured field intensity at each point under the strictest Brazilian-regulation scenario.The calculation used the maximum antenna gain for all antennas where their radiation patterns were unavailable.Source: Table XIII · p. 15, B. Measurement Points · p. 15

V.FINAL REMARKS AND FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS

The paper reports growth in NIR-related scientific production, with China and India gaining relevance, alongside measurements in four Natal buildings that remained below recommended exposure levels. It suggests broader future studies in denser urban settings and at millimeter-wave frequencies.

V.FINAL REMARKS AND FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS

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