Near-Field Exposure in FM Frequencies: New Methodology and Estimation Formulas

Workers inside transmission pylons with FM antenna arrays are likely to be exposed to near-field radiation exceeding reference levels for occupational exposure. In this study, the near-field behavior of 64 FM pylons was studied using a new methodology. Near-field characterization was done using field metrics without taking into account field sources' size or distance from field source. The specific absorption rate (SAR) was assessed in five hundred different near-field cases using a human phantom. Estimation formulas for both local and whole-body SAR are provided and validated numerically. Local and whole-body SAR are linked to electric field strength. © 2022 Bioelectromagnetics Society.