Glossary

The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout this site and therefore you may find the following definitions helpful.

2G; second generation
2G stands for the Second Generation of mobile communications systems.  Examples of 2G technologies include CDMA and TDMA. GSM is a 2G communications system.

3G; third generation
3G or Third Generation is the generic term used for new generation mobile communications systems, which make available enhanced communication services such as Internet access and the ability to view video footage.  Examples of 3G technologies include WCDMA and CDMA2000. UMTS is a 3G communication system.

Base station
Radio transmitter and receiver used for transmitting and receiving voice and data to and from mobile phones in a particular cell.

Basic restriction
Restrictions on exposure to electromagnetic fields that are based on established health effects and biological considerations.

CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access, a 2G technology.

CDMA2000
Code Division Multiple Access 2000, a 3G technology.

Cell
A geographic area covered by a particular base station.

Dosimetry
Determination by measurements or calculations of the amount and distribution of radio frequency energy absorbed in a human body exposed to electromagnetic fields.

Electromagnetic spectrum
The complete range of stored or propagating electric and magnetic field energies.  The lower part of the spectrum is known as non-ionising energy and includes power line frequencies, radio frequencies, infrared, visible light and ultra violet.  The upper part of the spectrum is known as ionising energy and includes x-rays and gamma rays.

EMF or electromagnetic fields or electromagnetic waves
Emitted by many natural and man-made sources.  Used to transmit and receive signals from mobile phones and base stations.

Emission
Fields generated from a radio frequency source.  Unlike exposure, emission is not dependent on the presence of a person.

Epidemiology
Study of the cause and distribution of diseases in human populations.

Exposure
External electromagnetic fields incident to a person.  The quantity of an exposure depends on the duration and strengths of the fields.

Field strength
The amplitude of the electric or magnetic fields.  Related to power density through the impedance of free space.

Frequency
The number of times per second at which an electromagnetic wave oscillates.  Determines the wave’s properties and usage. 

General public exposure
All exposure to electromagnetic fields experiences by members of the general public, excluding occupational exposure or exposure during medical treatment.

GSM
Global System for Mobile Communications, a 2G communications system using TDMA technology

Hz; kHz; MHz; GHz
Hertz - unit of measurement for frequencies; one thousand Hz; one million Hz; one billion Hz.

IARC
International Agency for Research on Cancer, the WHO’s specialist cancer agency.  See www.iarc.fr.

ICNIRP
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, an independent scientific body that has produced an international set of guidelines for public and occupational exposure to radio frequency fields.  ICNIRP’s guidelines have been adopted by many countries worldwide.  See www.icnirp.de.

IEC
International Electrotechnical Commission, a global organization that prepares and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies, which serve as a basis for national standardisation and as references when drafting international tenders and contracts. See www.iec.ch.

IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a source of technical and professional information, resources and services.  See www.ieee.org.

In vitro
Studies using isolated cells or similar preparations that can provide important insights into fundamental mechanisms.  However, such studies cannot generally provide convincing evidence of adverse health consequences due to their isolated and artificial nature.

In vivo
Studies using animals that are more informative for risk assessment than in vivo studies.  However, uncertainties remain as a result of biological differences from humans and aspects of RF energy absorption.

Ionising fields
See electromagnetic spectrum.

Occupational exposure
Exposure to electromagnetic fields during work that are experiences by people having appropriate knowledge about EMF.

Non-ionising fields
See electromagnetic spectrum.

Power density
The energy flowing from an antenna through a unit area normal to the direction of propagation in a unit time.  Measured in watts per square metre.

RF or radio frequency
That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between about 3 kHz and 300 GHz that is generally used for communications purposes, including broadcast radio and television and mobile communications.

SAR
Specific Absorption Rate, a measure of the amount of RF power absorbed.  The units are watts per kilogram.

TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access, a 2G technology.

UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, a 3G communication system using WCDMA technology.

Wavelength
The distance in metres between any two ‘similar’ points on a radio wave.  The lower the frequency of a wave, the longer the wavelength.

WCDMA
Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, a 3G technology.

WHO
World Health Organization, the United Nations’ specialised agency for health.  In 1996, the WHO established the International EMF Project to assess the scientific evidence of possible health effects of EMF in the frequency range from 0 Hz to 300 GHz.  See www.who.int/peh-emf/en/.