Sains Malaysiana 54(11)(2025): 2745-2756

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5411-14

 

Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Field (RF-EMF) Exposure Assessment at a Nuclear Facility: Safety Monitoring and Public

(Penilaian Pendedahan Medan Elektromagnet Frekuensi Radio (RF-EMF) di Kemudahan Nuklear: Pemantauan Keselamatan dan Keselamatan Awam)

 

RATNA SUFFHIYANNI OMAR^1,*, NOR IRWANIE EMEERA MOHD NOR¹, WAN SYAZLIN WAN YUNOH², NORSYAHIDAH MOHD HIDZIR¹, FAIZAL MOHAMED¹, NURUL MUYASSARAH IBRAHIM¹, NUR AFRINA ZAINAL², MUHAMMAD SHAHEIR ABU SAMAH² & ROHA TUKIMIN²

 

¹Department of Applied Physics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

²Department of Radiation Safety, Malaysian Nuclear Agency, 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

 

Received: 13 June 2025/Accepted: 11 October 2025

 

Abstract

The widespread adoption of 5G technology has brought numerous benefits; however, it has also raised public concerns regarding potential health risks associated with exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). To address these concerns, this study evaluated RF-EMF levels at the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia) to ensure compliance with international safety standards. A key standard examined was the guidelines established by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP 2020). To conduct the assessment, a NARDA broadband area monitor was used to measure the RF-EMF electric field strength (E) at eight primary locations within Nuclear Malaysia over 24 h. NARDA is a brand of Narda Safety Test Solutions (Narda STS), a global leader in developing and manufacturing measurement technology for RF-EMF. Data was gathered at six-minute intervals, resulting in 240 measurement points per site. These measurements were compared to the public exposure limit of 36.38 V/m at the 700 MHz frequency band. The results showed that all recorded RF-EMF levels were below the established safety thresholds. The study found a significant correlation between location and exposure levels; laboratory blocks (Block 11) recorded the lowest readings, while administrative offices, near the external telecommunication mast (Block 28), had the highest readings. The maximum exposure measured at Block 28 represented only 3.88% of the ICNIRP (2020) guidelines limit at 1.41 V/m. Additionally, these findings indicated that workers and the public faced minimal risk due to safe RF-EMF exposure levels at Nuclear Malaysia. Consequently, the transparent communication of these results can help improve public confidence in 5G technology within sensitive environments. This study also effectively presented the inaugural empirical mapping of RF-EMF exposure in a Malaysian nuclear research facility through real-time monitoring and public safety assessments. The overall process offers several benefits, including safeguarding public health, promoting responsible growth of digital infrastructure, and providing a scalable model for environmental safety.

Keywords: Electromagnetic field; public health; radiation safety; RF-EMF; 5G

 

Abstrak

Penggunaan teknologi 5G secara meluas telah membawa banyak manfaat; walau bagaimanapun, ia juga telah menimbulkan kebimbangan orang ramai mengenai potensi risiko kesihatan yang berkaitan dengan pendedahan kepada medan elektromagnet frekuensi radio (RF-EMF). Bagi menangani kebimbangan ini, kajian ini menilai tahap RF-EMF di Agensi Nuklear Malaysia (Nuklear Malaysia) untuk memastikan pematuhan dengan piawaian keselamatan antarabangsa. Piawaian utama yang disemak ialah garis panduan yang ditetapkan oleh Suruhanjaya Antarabangsa mengenai Perlindungan Sinaran Tanpa Pengion (ICNIRP 2020). Bagi menjalankan penilaian, monitor kawasan jalur lebar NARDA telah digunakan untuk mengukur kekuatan medan elektrik RF-EMF (E) di lapan lokasi utama di Nuklear Malaysia dalam tempoh 24 jam. NARDA ialah jenama Narda Safety Test Solutions (Narda STS), peneraju global dalam membangun dan mengeluarkan teknologi pengukuran untuk RF-EMF. Data dikumpulkan pada selang enam minit, menghasilkan 240 titik pengukuran setiap tapak. Pengukuran ini dibandingkan dengan had pendedahan awam iaitu 36.38 V/m pada jalur frekuensi 700 MHz. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa semua tahap RF-EMF yang direkodkan adalah di bawah ambang keselamatan yang ditetapkan. Kajian ini mendapati korelasi yang ketara antara lokasi dan tahap pendedahan; blok makmal (Blok 11) mencatatkan bacaan terendah, manakala pejabat pentadbiran, berhampiran tiang telekomunikasi luaran (Blok 28), mempunyai bacaan tertinggi. Pendedahan maksimum yang diukur di Blok 28 hanya mewakili 3.88% daripada had garis panduan ICNIRP (2020) pada 1.41 V/m. Di samping itu, penemuan ini menunjukkan bahawa pekerja dan orang awam menghadapi risiko minimum disebabkan oleh tahap pendedahan RF-EMF yang selamat di Nuklear Malaysia. Oleh itu, komunikasi yang telus tentang keputusan ini dapat membantu meningkatkan keyakinan orang ramai terhadap teknologi 5G dalam persekitaran yang sensitif. Kajian ini juga secara berkesan membentangkan pemetaan empirik sulung pendedahan RF-EMF di kemudahan penyelidikan Nuklear Malaysia melalui pemantauan masa nyata dan penilaian keselamatan awam. Proses keseluruhan menawarkan beberapa faedah, termasuk melindungi kesihatan awam, menggalakkan pertumbuhan infrastruktur digital yang bertanggungjawab dan menyediakan model yang boleh diskala untuk keselamatan alam sekitar.

Kata kunci: Keselamatan radiasi; kesihatan awam; medan elektromagnet; RF-EMF; 5G

 

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*Corresponding author; email: ratna@ukm.edu.my