Next Generation Integrated Sensing and Analytical System for Monitoring and Assessing Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure and Health
Overview
While emerging wireless technologies that use radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) are vital for the European way of life, particularly in telecommunications, there is an increasing consideration of their possible adverse effects on human health and the environment, which may be potentially exacerbated by aggregation of different types of EMF signals. Concerned citizen groups perceive the 5G telecommunications network a potentially greater threat to public health than previous systems. The exposure standards issued by the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety of the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, are set to prevent the occurrence of such effects.
NextGEM aims to safeguard EU citizens from the potentially adverse effects of EMF-based telecommunication technologies. It will generate knowledge to guide prevention and control measures for EMF exposure across residential, public, and workplace environments. Findings will be centralised in the European NextGEM Innovation and Knowledge Hub (NIKH), a resource for regulators, scientists, and the public on EMF and health. The project will validate its outcomes through three use cases, focusing on vulnerable populations, reproductive health, cancer awareness linked to 5G planning, and the health impacts of mmWave EMF exposure in both indoor and outdoor settings.
Objectives
Measure and model single and multiple radio frequency sources, in changing EMF exposure patterns, based on innovative monitoring technologies.
Assess health effects and elucidate action mechanisms of different and combined EMF exposure patterns by experimental and human studies.
Identify causal links and perform risk assessment regarding EMF exposure and selected health outcomes while providing FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data.
Develop NextGEM Innovation Knowledge Hub (NIKH) and validate it through real-life case studies.
Maximise NextGEM’s impact through wide dissemination, communication, standardisation, exploitation, capacity building and clustering activities.
eBOS Role in the Project
In NextGEM, eBOS will design the Graphical User Interface (GUI), the Application Programming Interface (API) of NIKH, and the NextGEM Mobile Application, with the primary goal of supporting citizen self-awareness of EMF exposure. Through the GUI, NIKH users will be able to access the project’s Knowledge Base, which will contain the project’s activities and outputs, alongside relevant scientific work.
eBOS will lead the Impact Maximisation through stakeholder engagement and awareness activities. As part of this task, eBOS will be responsible for coordinating with partners to develop and implement the dissemination and communication strategy, as well as plan and execute all related activities. eBOS will also create and regularly update the NextGEM website and its social media channels. Finally, eBOS will be responsible for performing project quality evaluation criteria, continuous monitoring of deliverables, triggering quality assurance project reviews, risk assessment procedures, and evaluating measurement results, as well as producing risk and quality review reports.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
