Two Systems for Collection, Storage, and Analysis of Measurements Made with RF Field Survey Instruments

Abstract The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, the American National Standards Institute, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration limits for workers exposed to radiofrequency (RF) radiation specify a time-weighted average over any 6-minute period within the workday. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are conducting epidemiologic studies of male and female workers exposed to RF radiation at or near a frequency of 27.12 MHz. These studies require the characterization of the workers' exposure to RF radiation. Exposure data need to be collected over at least 6-minute periods and analyzed to make valid comparisons with present and past exposure standards. Field survey instruments used to measure RF radiation in the near field usually have a volt meter-type output, e.g., 1 volt is a full scale reading. These instruments can record a single maximum reading during a measurement period, but they are not capable of repeated data storage ov...