ANCOM is permanently monitoring the electromagnetic field strength by means of 100 wideband fixed monitoring sensors situated in Bucharest and in other 62 cities and towns in Romania, installed outdoors, in public areas that are close to clusters of electromagnetic field sources.

These permanently active sensors send measurement results to www.monitor-emf.ro every 24 hours. These results are made publicly available, on a map offering details regarding the place, the time interval and the measured level of the electromagnetic field strength. This level is available both as an absolute value and as a percentage in relation to the maximum levels provided by law.

ANCOM performed the measurements in compliance with the European recommendations in the field (ECC Recommendation (02)04 - measuring non-ionising electromagnetic radiation (9 kHz – 300 GHz), and so far the results indicate that the field strength levels are much below the limits provided by law.

 

In addition to the permanent measurement of the electromagnetic field strength using fixed sensors, ANCOM also performs measurements using mobile equipment, according to the Authority’s annual measurement plan, these results being available here. Each of these measurements conducted using mobile equipment are displayed specifying the location, the time interval and the exposure level expressed as a percentage in relation to the reference level. So far, the results of the measurements have shown values within the limits provided by law.

 

Both measurements using fixed sensors and those using mobile equipment are performed exclusively in public areas. For measurements in other locations than those situated in public areas (in apartments, company premises or private areas), requests should be directed to private entities that perform such measurements on demand, for a fee.

 

In Romania, exposure to electromagnetic fields is regulated by law, according to the practices adopted in the European Union. Thus, the Order of the Minister of Public Health no. 1193/2006 approving the Rules on limiting the exposure of population to electromagnetic fields ranging from 0 Hz to 300 GHz is based on Recommendation 1999/519/EC on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0 Hz to 300 GHz), a reference document for all the EU Member States, endorsed by the Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

In this context, institutions under the Ministry of Health, such as The National Institute of Public Health, are the entities enabled to interpret - from a public health perspective - the results in ANCOM’s electromagnetic field measurement reports. According to the legal duties incumbent on ANCOM under Government Emergency Ordinance no.22 / 2009 on the establishment of the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications, the Authority’s activity is limited to technical analysis and expertise on the use of radio frequencies, in order to ensure radio electric compatibility of authorized radiocommunications stations and networks, to prevent harmful interference on the radio spectrum with non-governmental use.

Since January 2018, ANCOM has received more than 60 complaints on exposure to electromagnetic fields. Where requests for measurements on the electromagnetic field strength emerged, these were included in the next annual measurement plan, with measurements to be performed exclusively in public areas.