Computational Assessment of RF Exposure Levels due to 5G Mobile Phones

Abstract

The present work was performed to expand the knowledge on human RF-EMF exposure, considering the use of mm-wave spectrum in mobile communication applications, due to the deployment of 5th generation (5G) networks. The mobile antenna was modelled based on the 5G innovation technologies (i.e., mm-Wave bands, beamforming capability and high gain), resulting in a phased array antenna with 8 elements at the working frequency of 27 GHz. Three different skin layers models were simulated, to spot differences in the peaks of absorbed power density averaged over 4 cm2, following the ICNIRP guidelines. The simulations were implemented using the Sim4Life platform, simulating not only the presence of a mobile phone user, but also of a person passing nearby, who could be hit by the phased array antenna main beam. This work underlined that the absorbed power density peaks were greatly underestimated using the homogeneous skin model, respect to the multi-layers skin models. Moreover, for the person passing nearby, we found slightly higher exposure levels than those assessed for the mobile phone user. Lastly, in all the examined cases, the limits indicated by the ICNIRP guidelines were well respected.