[Edaily Kim Hyun-A IT specialist] While meeting the human protection standards, it was found that there is a lot of exposure to electromagnetic waves during rapid charging of electric cars. Also, among the measured products, air conditioners used intensively in the summer had the lowest level of exposure to electromagnetic waves.
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong-Ho) announced on the 4th that the results of measuring the electromagnetic wave exposure levels of 38 products in 13 categories of daily life products conducted in the first half of 24 met all the human protection standards.
South Korea adopts the recommended standards of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) by the World Health Organization (WHO) (30㎐(1,666mG↓), 60㎐(833mG↓), 200㎐(250mG↓)) as its domestic standards.
The measurement method?
Through the “Committee on Electromagnetic Waves in Daily Life” operated by the Ministry of Science and ICT, a total of 13 products including 7 products requested by citizens, 2 summer products, and 4 self-selected products were measured.
According to the results of electromagnetic wave exposure measurements, the exposure to electromagnetic waves in the citizen-requested product category was measured to be in the range of 0.69% to 9.97% relative to the human protection standards. Motors such as those in hair dryers and doll picking machines showed relatively higher exposure levels when in operation or using thermal functions (hair dryers, bidets).
The exposure levels of air conditioners and outdoor units were measured to be in the range of 0.06% to 0.90% relative to the human protection standards, with the lowest measured results among the products tested.
Electric vehicles and wired/wireless charging facilities were measured to be in the range of 0.33% to 9.56% relative to the human protection standards. Wired rapid charging facilities for electric cars, which use high output, were confirmed to expose 9.56% of electromagnetic waves during operation.
All the measured products satisfied the human protection standards, with the levels of electromagnetic wave exposure confirmed to be 10% or less of the international standard (ICNIRP standard), indicating that they are managed safely at levels that do not pose a risk to public health, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT.
In the latter half of this year, various consumer products, including those requested by citizens and winter products, will be selected for measurement of electromagnetic wave exposure, and the levels will be disclosed for major facilities and areas where electromagnetic wave exposure is of concern, such as digital integrated facilities in citizens’ living spaces and multi-use facilities.
Choi Byung-Taek, Director of the Radio Policy Division of the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “We will systematically and meticulously formulate and implement relevant policies to create a safe radio wave environment until all citizens can use digital technology safely and conveniently.”
Detailed results of the electromagnetic wave exposure levels of the products measured this time can be found on the website of the National Radio Research Institute’s Electromagnetic Waves in Daily Life.