Assessment of Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway (GSM-R) electromagnetic fields exposure along the railway lines in Lanzhou, China

Abstract

The rapid development of high-speed railways, coupled with the swift advancement of related wireless services, has raised public concerns about electromagnetic exposure, particularly for residents along railway lines. While numerous studies have examined radio exposure from mobile operators, broadcasting, and WLAN services, the electromagnetic exposure associated with railway communication services has primarily focused on occupational exposure for relevant personnel, with insufficient attention given to public exposure near railway lines.

In this study, electromagnetic exposure levels along two railways in Lanzhou, China were assessed at two different dates using both vehicle-mounted data measurement and fixed-location measurement methods.It was observed that the maximum electromagnetic exposure caused by GSM-R occurs at distances of 1200 to 1500 m from the base station. The maximum values, 95 % values and mean values of the electromagnetic exposure for GSM-R were recorded respectively: 0.5755 V/m, 0.2265 V/m and 0.02483 V/m (Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway);0.1376 V/m, 0.1107 V/m and 0.01722 V/m(Lanzhou-Lanzhou New District railway). The data collected at fixed locations during the same time period were 0.0313 V/m, 0.0303 V/m and 0.02517 V/m, respectively. The measurements also exhibited significant spatial variability, yet those taken on different dates showed high reproducibility. Additionally, a phenomenon of channel switching of GSM-R service was noted during the measurements.

The vehicle-mounted data measurement method is highly efficient for assessing electromagnetic exposure levels over large areas. Integrating additional data, such as GIS(Geographic Information System) and base station information, allows for multi-dimensional analysis, uncovering more exposure-related insights. Our study, utilizing this approach, found that the variability of GSM-R exposure along the railway may be related to the vertical directionality of the antennas. Furthermore, the electromagnetic exposure levels from the GSM-R service were found to comply with ICNIRP guidelines, indicating that these communication services present no significant health risks to the surrounding public.