Analyst Viewpoint: Take Appropriate RFID PrecautionsManufacturing Insights analyst Bob Parker discusses safety and health issues that pertain to RFID deployment. While the level of electromagnetic exposure caused by RFID is minor, there are still some best practices Parker recommends end users adopt for added precaution.
Mar 28, 2007—This article was originally published by RFID Update.
March 28, 2007—Everything from wireless networks to cell phones to electric shavers has been subjected to media hand wringing about potential dangers from exposure. These stories have generally overstated the risk, but certainly when there is excessive exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) there could be a health risk concern. The key factors are the amount of energy, the proximity to the source, the length of exposure, and the frequency. RFID devices, like the aforementioned consumer products, are deemed safe under recommended implementation approaches, but buyers should take appropriate precautions. EPCglobal, specifically the Health and Science Public Policy Committee, has looked at an exhaustive body of research related to EMF exposure aggregated by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Commission on Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), and others. With the current scientific understanding, the general conclusion that can be drawn is that exposures below the recommended levels pose no health risk. As to RFID specifically, an occupational EMF audit conducted in Australia looked at various warehouse implementation scenarios and demonstrated that when the proximity was near contact (less than one centimeter), the exposure was between 45 and 75 percent of the recommended limit. At 20 centimeters away, that percentage drops to a range of 2 to 25 percent, then drops precipitously to between 1 and 8 percent at 40 centimeters (nearly 16 inches). Some reader manufacturers include advisories in their packaging to keep antennae 22 centimeters from employees and the public. There is a large body of work in this area that has been reviewed by the scientific community, regulatory agencies, and other interested parties. However, there needs to be more study that looks more specifically at RFID technology in typical occupational and public deployments. What concerns us is the possibility that some implementations take measures to improve efficacy. Utilizing higher power levels, continuous power for readers in close proximity, and increasing the density of readers are all techniques for improving performance, and there isn't enough data on how this impacts exposure levels. Many of the existing studies were relative to the effects of mobile phones, which are usually in closer proximity to the user than RFID readers but have lower power and shorter exposure times. A large amount of research was underwritten by Motorola and, despite an obvious vested interest in demonstrating that mobile phones are safe, the work has been vetted and is generally respected by the larger scientific community. Motorola continues to support research on the biological and health effects of RF exposure through the Mobile Manufacturers Forum. Again, what is needed is more study on specific RFID device implementation scenarios. Essential Guidance Reader manufacturers and the implementing businesses must be diligent and pre-emptive as they carry the liability should a hazard become known. The analysis of EMF exposure limits is extremely complex and depends on a large range of variables. Therefore we provide some essential guidance for companies using RF equipment. Until there is more study, we recommend the following:
Login and post your comment!Not a member? Signup for an account now to access all of the features of RFIDJournal.com! |
PREMIUM CONTENT
SEND IT YOUR WAY
RFID JOURNAL EVENTS
ASK THE EXPERTS Simply enter a question for our experts. JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON TWITTER | ||||||||||
ARTICLES
PREMIUM CONTENT
|