Radiofrequency (RF) Radiation

RF Levels in Singapore & 5G

What are the RF Levels in Singapore?

The National Environment Agency (NEA) conducted another round of RF baseline study in 2023.

The study found that the ambient level of RF radiation is very low, and had been below 0.7% of the ICNIRP guidelines for public exposure.

The RF radiation levels from common communication equipment measured in a study conducted by NEA are in the table below.

Device    Average Power Density (W/m2) % of ICNIRP guidelines   
Mobile Phone 0.00320    ~0.07%   
Bluetooth Earpiece 0.00006    ~0.0006%   
Wi-Fi Router 0.00021    ~0.0021%   
Drone Controller 0.00170    ~0.017%   
^Note: measurements were taken at 1.0m away

 

5G

5G uses RF radiation to transmit and receive data, like 3G and 4G mobile technology, as well as TV and radio broadcasting.

WHO’s statement on potential health risks from 5G
  • To date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies. Health-related conclusions are drawn from studies performed across the entire radio spectrum but, so far, only a few studies have been carried out at the frequencies to be used by 5G.
  • Tissue heating is the main mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency fields and the human body. Radiofrequency exposure levels from current technologies result in negligible temperature rise in the human body.
  • As the frequency increases, there is less penetration into the body tissues and absorption of the energy becomes more confined to the surface of the body (skin and eye). Provided that the overall exposure remains below international guidelines, no consequences for public health are anticipated.
IMDA and NEA will ensure that the RF radiation levels remain well within the international ICNIRP guidelines. In this regard, as part of our 5G deployment, we will conduct studies and trials on RF measurements with operators, as well as consult health and radiation experts.