Background The fifth generation of mobile phone technology (5G) is being extensively deployed worldwide, potentially reshaping the population’s exposure to ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). Objective This study aims to characterise the changes in ambient exposure to RF-EMF during the rollout of 5G in Switzerland. Methods First, the ambient RF-EMF levels were characterised between July 2021 and May 2024 in 300 outdoor areas, 244 public spaces, and on 332 public transport rides. Two ExpoM-RF4 were used to measure the electric field strengths from 80 MHz to 6 GHz and recorded the root-mean-square (RMS) signals and the instantaneous highest signals (Peak). Second, we conducted a temporal comparison with the RF-EMF median levels measured at baseline (2021/22) and follow-up (2023/24) in the same microenvironments and at the same time (±one hour, ±one week). Thirdly, we compared the ambient RF-EMF exposure in a subset of 49 outdoor areas that were measured in 2014, 2021, and 2023. Results Total RF-EMF median levels (RMS signals) remained constant or slightly increased between 2021/22 and 2023/24 in 150 outdoor areas (0.16 V/m to 0.17 V/m), 91 public spaces (0.24 V/m to 0.25 V/m), and in 101 public transport rides (0.20 V/m to 0.24 V/m). Minor but significant increases in median Time Division Duplexing (TDD) exposure levels, related to 5G, were observed in all areas from virtually 0 V/m to 0.04 V/m during that period. Peak signals followed a comparable trend. Significance Between 2014 and 2023, the overall ambient RF-EMF levels from mobile phone communication technology have not increased following the introduction of 5G in Switzerland. The extensive RF-EMF exposure measurements conducted by the same person during the rollout of 5G makes our study one of the most comprehensive time trend exposure analyses to date, which is highly valuable for future epidemiological research and public communication. Impact <UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> The presented RF-EMF measurements conducted in numerous environments during the rollout of 5G provide a baseline to which the population is unavoidably exposed to RF-EMF. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Despite the substantial growth in mobile data traffic, the deployment of 5G has not drastically changed the exposure to ambient RF-EMF from mobile phone communication technology between 2021/22 and 2023/24. </ItemContent> </UnorderedList>

Spatiotemporal trends of ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) during the 5G rollout in Switzerland

期刊论文
发表日期：

2026年5月7日

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Nicolas Loizeau,
Dominik Haas,
Marco Zahner,
Jürg Fröhlich,
Christa Stephan,
Markus Gugler,
Toni Ziegler,
Martin Röösli

摘要

Background

The fifth generation of mobile phone technology (5G) is being extensively deployed worldwide, potentially reshaping the population’s exposure to ambient radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).

Objective

This study aims to characterise the changes in ambient exposure to RF-EMF during the rollout of 5G in Switzerland.

Methods

First, the ambient RF-EMF levels were characterised between July 2021 and May 2024 in 300 outdoor areas, 244 public spaces, and on 332 public transport rides. Two ExpoM-RF4 were used to measure the electric field strengths from 80 MHz to 6 GHz and recorded the root-mean-square (RMS) signals and the instantaneous highest signals (Peak). Second, we conducted a temporal comparison with the RF-EMF median levels measured at baseline (2021/22) and follow-up (2023/24) in the same microenvironments and at the same time (±one hour, ±one week). Thirdly, we compared the ambient RF-EMF exposure in a subset of 49 outdoor areas that were measured in 2014, 2021, and 2023.

Results

Total RF-EMF median levels (RMS signals) remained constant or slightly increased between 2021/22 and 2023/24 in 150 outdoor areas (0.16 V/m to 0.17 V/m), 91 public spaces (0.24 V/m to 0.25 V/m), and in 101 public transport rides (0.20 V/m to 0.24 V/m). Minor but significant increases in median Time Division Duplexing (TDD) exposure levels, related to 5G, were observed in all areas from virtually 0 V/m to 0.04 V/m during that period. Peak signals followed a comparable trend.

Significance

Between 2014 and 2023, the overall ambient RF-EMF levels from mobile phone communication technology have not increased following the introduction of 5G in Switzerland. The extensive RF-EMF exposure measurements conducted by the same person during the rollout of 5G makes our study one of the most comprehensive time trend exposure analyses to date, which is highly valuable for future epidemiological research and public communication.

Impact

The presented RF-EMF measurements conducted in numerous environments during the rollout of 5G provide a baseline to which the population is unavoidably exposed to RF-EMF.

Despite the substantial growth in mobile data traffic, the deployment of 5G has not drastically changed the exposure to ambient RF-EMF from mobile phone communication technology between 2021/22 and 2023/24.