Review of the ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Non-Ionizing Radiation from 100 kHz to 300 GHz

This report provides a review of the revised guidance.

In 1998 the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) issued guidance for frequencies from 0–300 GHz. ICNIRP 2020 is the third instalment of the updates to that guidance, and it covers frequencies from 100 kHz to 300 GHz. The ICNIRP has also previously published updates covering frequencies in the lower ranges but that led to confusion and inconsistencies in the guidance for frequencies in the range 100 kHz–10 MHz. One of the objectives of ICNIRP 2020 was to clarify the guidance in that range.

ICNIRP 2020 provides more detail and, overall, Demonstration of Compliance could be considered a simpler process. The main area where this is not the case is in the reactive Near-Field.

This Report nevertheless concludes that in general, the ICNIRP has aimed for ‘stability’ in its guidance and therefore, there are no major changes to the basic restrictions.

This document has been developed by Ms Karina Beeke from Cellnex telecom, as a member of the Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility (EIC) project group, which is a part of the EBU’s Spectrum Strategic Programme.

Keywords: ICNIRP, Non-Ionizing Radiation, Exposure, Safety Guidelines.