Effect of High Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on Homogenous
and Inhomogeneous Human Head Models
Ossama E. Gouda
1
, Adel Zein E. M.
2
, and Ghada Amer
3
1
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Giza Egypt
2
Higher Institute of Energy, South Valley University, Aswan, Egypt
3
Higher Institute of Technology, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
Abstract—This paper describes the research work done
by using the method of moment in investigating the effects of
high frequency electromagnetic field (EM) on a
homogeneous and inhomogeneous human head at various
frequencies. The behavior of the human head under EM
radiation is modeled as a homogenous model and a
multilayer model in order to assess biological effects on the
human head. The specific absorption rate (SAR) in the
human head model is calculated, where the SAR is the main
parameter used for indicating the effects of EM field.
Index Terms—EMF, SAR, Human head, Method of
moments.
1- INTRODUCTION
HE increasing use of electromagnetic (EM) devices in
our society for a variety of purposes has caused
growing concern about possible health hazards produced
by EM radiation. This concern has led to an increased
intensity of research aimed at identifying possible hazards
due to EM radiation. In particular, a considerable amount
of theoretical work has been devoted to the investigation
of EM effects on human being using various shapes [1].
In this paper, two models of the human head are used; the
first is a homogeneous model and the second is
inhomogeneous model and classified into only three layers
of material (average skin dray/wet properties for first
layer, average skull properties for second layer and
average brain properties for third layer). The tissue
parameters are derived by Gabriel, et al. [2]. This data is
available on Federal Communication Commission's
website in the United States. Table (1) shows the real part
of the dielectric permittivity (εr), conductivity (σ S/m) and
mass density (ρ kg/m3) of tissues used in the simulation
of three layer model and homogenous model at high
frequency electromagnetic field (900MHz and 1800MHz)
[2].
The applied antenna is consisted of a quarter-wavelength
monopole (of radius 0.0025m at 900MHz and 0.0012m at
1800MHz) mounted on a mobile handset (treated as a
metal box of 5cm*8cm*18cm), and radiated power of
0.32 watt.
The purpose of this paper is for the investigation of
interactions between the handset antenna and the human
head. Where the SAR is the main parameter used for
indicating the effects, one gram average SAR on the
above systems is calculated, which is recommended its
limit value 2W/kg in the Federal Communications
Commission, FCC and International Commission on Non-
Ionizing Radiation protection, ICNIRP. In addition to
these results, ten grams average SAR is calculated [3].
Also the results of the three layer model are compared
with those of homogenous model at 900MHz [4].
2-FEKO SIMULATION AND VALIDATION
The FEKO program is based on the Method of Moments.
Electromagnetic fields are obtained by first calculating the
electric surface currents on conducting surfaces and
equivalent electric and magnetic surface currents on the
surface of a dielectric solid. The currents are calculated
using a linear combination of basis functions, where the
coefficients are obtained by solving a system of linear
equations. Once the current distribution is known, further
parameters can be obtained e.g. the near field, the far
field, radar cross sections, directivity or the input
impedance of antennas [5].
The simulation procedure is as follows:
1-Create the human geometry model
2-Define the frequency, human parameters and meshing
parameters,
3-Create the monopole and mobile handset, define
parameters for segmentation, excitation and radiation
power
4-Solving the problem
5-Calculate the near field and SAR.
Table (2) shows the calculation information from FEKO
program.
3- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A. Calculation Position
As it cannot be expected that the user will hold the mobile
phone exactly in one well defined position, therefore there
are different operational conditions. Let a reference line
describing the phone is defined as a line which connects
the center of the ear piece with the center of the bottom of
the case and the human head position is given by means of
a reference plane defined by the following three points:
auditory canal opening of both ears and the center of the
closed mouth [6]. With these definitions the calculation
position is given by:
The telephone line shall lie in the reference plane (40
degrees around x-axis). The angle between the phone line
and the line connecting both auditory canal openings shall
be reduced (10 degrees around y-axis) until the device
touch the human head.
A FEKO simulation of the human head and the handset
antenna interaction is shown in figures (1-a) and (1-b).
B. Specific Absorption Rate
It is generally accepted that the Specific Absorption Rate
T
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2009 6th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals and Devices