Studies of the Electromagnetic Background at the Antarctic Vostok Station

Abstract

Studies of the Electromagnetic Background at the Antarctic Vostok Station Shurshakov VA, Belov EV, Ilyin EA, et al. Studies of the Electromagnetic Background at the Antarctic Vostok Station. Hum Physiol 49, 906–909 (2023). doi: 10.1134/S0362119723070216. Abstract The electromagnetic background was measured in the living quarters of the Vostok Station located on the Antarctic plateau distant from the potential sources of technogenic electromagnetic fields. The level of E-radiation in the range from 0.8 to 8 GHz was determined using a MERA integral dosimeter. Based on the results of long-term continuous (one to 4 months) measurements, the mean flux density was equal to 1.5 ± 0.8 nWt/cm, which is nearly 7000 times lower than the admissible level for population adopted in Russia. The Antarctic Vostok Station can be considered as a plausible location for biomedical investigations into the effects of low-frequency electromagnetic radiation. Conclusions (1) The EFD values of technogenic EMR in the living quarters of the Vostok Station are 7 thousand times below the regulatory standards for EMR in the Russian Federation. This fact indicates that the long-term stay of people at the Vostok Station is safe as regards the sanitary standards for EMR. [The Russian regulatory standards for EMR 0.3–300 GHz are 1000 μW/cm2 for personnel and 10 μW/cm2 for the population.] (2) The daily dynamics of the main frequencies in EMR EFD variability and its dependence on solar activity have been revealed. (3) Since the members of polar expeditions at the Vostok Station perform daily outdoor work (up to 1.5 h), it would be reasonable for future expeditions to measure the EFD of EMR in an open area, which will allow estimating the natural (background) level of EMR EFD in the vicinity of the station. The Antarctic Vostok Station can be considered as one of the possible places for conducting biomedical research under the conditions of reduced electromagnetic radiation flux. Open access paper: link.springer.com

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In living quarters at Antarctic Vostok Station, RF E-radiation in the 0.8–8 GHz range measured over 1–4 months had a mean flux density of 1.5 ± 0.8 nWt/cm, reported as ~7000 times lower than the admissible level for the population adopted in Russia. The authors report daily dynamics in the main frequencies of EMR EFD variability and a dependence on solar activity.

Outcomes measured

• Electric radiation level / energy flux density (EFD) / flux density in 0.8–8 GHz range
• Daily dynamics of main frequencies in EMR EFD variability
• Dependence of EMR EFD variability on solar activity

Limitations

• Measurements were reported for living quarters; outdoor/open-area measurements were suggested for future work.
• Only the 0.8–8 GHz range is explicitly reported for the dosimeter measurements in the abstract.
• No health or biomedical outcomes were measured; conclusions about safety are framed relative to sanitary/regulatory standards.

Suggested hubs

• who-icnirp (0.28)
  Discusses exposure levels relative to regulatory standards (Russian sanitary standards) for RF EMR.

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    "exposure": {
        "band": "RF",
        "source": "environmental background (technogenic EMR) in living quarters at Antarctic Vostok Station",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
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    },
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        "Dependence of EMR EFD variability on solar activity"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In living quarters at Antarctic Vostok Station, RF E-radiation in the 0.8–8 GHz range measured over 1–4 months had a mean flux density of 1.5 ± 0.8 nWt/cm, reported as ~7000 times lower than the admissible level for the population adopted in Russia. The authors report daily dynamics in the main frequencies of EMR EFD variability and a dependence on solar activity.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
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        "Only the 0.8–8 GHz range is explicitly reported for the dosimeter measurements in the abstract.",
        "No health or biomedical outcomes were measured; conclusions about safety are framed relative to sanitary/regulatory standards."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
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    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic background",
        "RF exposure",
        "energy flux density",
        "EFD",
        "0.8–8 GHz",
        "Antarctic",
        "Vostok Station",
        "MERA integral dosimeter",
        "solar activity",
        "technogenic EMR",
        "exposure measurement"
    ],
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