What you need to know about radiofrequency energy and safety
RF energy, also referred to as "RF emission," "RF wave" or "RF field," is one form of electromagnetic energy that is part of the electromagnetic spectrum. There are both natural and human-made sources of electromagnetic energy.
Examples of natural sources of electromagnetic energy:
Examples of human-made sources of electromagnetic energy:
Figure 1: Electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum is the range of frequencies produced by all sources of electromagnetic energy. The diagram illustrates where common equipment operates in a specific frequency range starting from a powerline, moving through radiofrequency spectrum to phones and ending with X-rays and gamma rays.
Non-ionizing and ionizing energy
Two types of energy are shown on the electromagnetic spectrum: non-ionizing and ionizing.
What is non-ionizing energy?
Non-ionizing energy is electromagnetic energy that does not break down the bonds between atoms and molecules, which means it does not break down chemical bonds within cells and tissues.
Examples of non-ionizing energy include visible light and RF energy used in wireless communication.
What is ionizing energy?
Ionizing energy is electromagnetic energy that may have enough energy to break down the bonds between atoms and molecules.
Examples of ionizing energy include X-rays and gamma rays, which are both used in some medical treatments under medical supervision.
Why is RF energy important?
Almost every area of your day-to-day life uses RF energy. It delivers your morning news through wireless services such as broadcasting (AM and FM radio, TV); lets you place your coffee order through your cell phone; protects you by providing communication for emergency services (police, fire, ambulance); and keeps you connected through the operation of wireless consumer devices such as Wi-Fi, smart watches, cell phones and tablets.
Can RF energy affect your health?
Scientists have been studying the biological and health effects of RF energy for decades. There are two scientifically-established adverse health effects from exposures to RF energy:
- at frequencies below 10 megahertz (MHz), nerve stimulation (a tingling sensation) can occur
- at frequencies above 100 kilohertz (kHz), tissue heating can occur
Canadian limits for RF energy exposure are set below the level at which these effects could happen.
How does the Government of Canada protect you?
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of Canadians from environmental risks, including those posed by overexposure to RF energy.
Canada's approach to RF exposure safety is among the most stringent in the world. The Government of Canada continuously monitors the research and scientific literature on the health effects of RF exposure to ensure that Canadian limits are consistent with the current scientific consensus to prevent potential adverse health effects.
Health Canada's role
Health Canada’s mandate regarding human exposure to RF energy is to carry out research into possible health effects, monitor the scientific literature related to such effects, and to develop recommended human exposure guidelines known as Safety Code 6.
These guidelines contain limits that are set well below the levels of all established adverse health effects and provide protection for all age groups, including children, on a continuous basis (24 hours a day, seven days a week). This means that if anyone, including a small child, was exposed to RF energy from multiple sources within the recommended limits, there would be no adverse health effects.
Misinformation and health concerns
Misinformation and opinions on the health risks from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields are increasing on social media and on the Internet. Refer to Health Canada’s website for reliable information about Health effects of cell phones, cell towers, antennas and 5G.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's role
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) has adopted Health Canada's Safety Code 6 as the Canadian RF exposure limits for wireless devices and their associated infrastructure. ISED's regulatory framework, including market surveillance, compliance audits and enforcement procedures, provides safeguards to protect Canadians against overexposure from wireless devices and antenna installations.
Wireless devices must meet the RF exposure requirements at all times and be certified before they can be sold in Canada. Anyone who manufactures, imports, distributes, sells or leases wireless devices in Canada must comply with ISED's regulations.
ISED also maintains a market surveillance program, which audits and evaluates a sampling of wireless devices currently on the Canadian market on an ongoing basis. The market surveillance program helps to ensure that wireless devices available to Canadians continue to meet the RF exposure requirements. Detailed information regarding ISED's market surveillance program is available at the Equipment market surveillance page.
ISED also routinely audits antenna installations to make sure they meet the RF exposure requirements.
What are the recommended limits?
Figure 2: Safety Margin
Canada’s limits are consistent with the science-based limits used in other parts of the world and provide protection against all known adverse health effects resulting from RF exposure.
Exposure to RF energy below the Safety Code 6 limits are safe. The limits are set far below the threshold for all known established adverse health effects. Health Canada has incorporated several tiers of precaution into the limits to ensure safety, including a conservative threshold for the occurrence of adverse health effects, the use of worst-case exposure scenarios and an additional safety margin beyond the threshold.
The limits for wireless devices and antenna installations on towers are different, as the limits depend on which part of the body is exposed to the RF energy.
Some wireless devices are intended to be used close to the body (within a few millimetres) or directly on the body. They result in only a localized portion of the body (head, torso, limbs) to be exposed to the RF energy.
Some wireless devices are intended to be used away from the body (at a distance from a person’s body). They result in the whole body being exposed to RF energy.
Antenna installations on towers are also found at a distance from a person’s body. They also result in the whole body being exposed to RF energy.
The limits are defined in terms of nerve stimulation (NS), Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and power density.
What is nerve stimulation (NS)?
NS is a tingling sensation which can result from exposure to RF energy levels well above the Canadian limits.
What is Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)?
SAR is the rate of RF energy absorbed in the body (in a volume of tissue); SAR is expressed in units of watts per kilogram (W/kg).
What is power density?
Power density is the amount of electromagnetic energy in a given area. Power density can further be defined as being incident or absorbed. Both incident and absorbed power density are typically expressed in units of watts per square metre (W/m2).
- Incident Power Density (IPD) is the amount of electromagnetic energy over a specific area (in free space)
- Absorbed Power Density (APD) is the amount of electromagnetic energy absorbed in a specific area of tissue
What are the limits that protect against NS?
Canada’s limits are specified in Safety Code 6 (Tables 1, 3 and 4).
What are the localized SAR limits?
Canada’s SAR limits are specified in Safety Code 6 (Table 2).
This figure shows Canada’s localized SAR limits for different parts of the human body. The head and torso have a SAR limit of 1.6 W/kg in 1g of tissue and the limbs have a SAR limit of 4 W/kg in 10 g of tissue.
What are the localized power density limits?
Canada’s IPD and APD limits are respectively specified in Tables 1 and 2 of the Notice: Localized human exposure limits for radiofrequency fields in the range of 6 GHz to 300 GHz.
What are the limits for antenna installations?
Canada’s limits for antenna installations are whole body limits. These limits are specified in Safety Code 6 (Tables 5 and 6).
There are two main categories of wireless devices:
Wireless devices used close to the body
(cell phones, tablets and wearables)
Wireless devices used away from the body
(Wi-Fi routers, home monitoring systems and smart meters)
Wireless devices used close to the body
Wireless devices used close to the body are referred to as portables or wearables. These devices are tested against different limits depending on their operating frequency, which may include more than one type of evaluation.
Below 10 MHz: devices are tested against electric and magnetic field strength limits to avoid nerve stimulation.
Examples of devices that fall under this category are wireless charging devices, metal detectors, electronic cards/tag readers and anti-shoplifting detector panels installed at doors of stores.
Between 100 kHz and 6 GHz: devices are tested against SAR limits.
Most portables and wearables currently available in Canada, such as cell phones, tablets and smart watches, fall under this category.
Above 6 GHz: devices are tested against the power density limits to avoid tissue heating.
Examples of devices that fall under this category include cell phones and millimetre wave devices such as augmented reality (AR) headsets, virtual reality (VR) headsets and portable dongles.
RF exposure compliance testing for these devices is performed against the localized Health Canada limits which were incorporated by reference in ISED’s RSS-102, Radio Frequency (RF) Exposure Compliance of Radiocommunication Apparatus (All Frequency Bands) as the Canadian limits.
How are compliance testing measurements conducted?
A specialized laboratory measurement system is required to perform compliance testing measurements.
For instance, for SAR compliance assessment, the measurement system includes a precision robot, device positioner, probe, sensor, specialized computer software and phantoms. Phantoms are specially designed containers, which are filled with a liquid that simulates the properties of the human body. Different phantoms are used to test the impact on each type of body part: head, torso and limbs for which SAR limits are defined.
The following measurement procedures are described in ISED’s technical standards (RSS-102):
- the wireless device is positioned directly against a simulated human head or at a separation distance (compliance distance) of a simulated human body (torso)
- the wireless device is switched on to transmit continuously at full power
- the precision robot moves a probe inside the simulated head or torso to find the spot with the highest RF energy produced by the wireless device
- the data is collected and converted into a SAR (W/kg) value
- the test is repeated for different orientations, configurations, operating frequencies and technologies featured by the wireless device
- the maximum level measured is recorded as the SAR value for the head, torso or limb
A similar measurement setup and procedure is used for other types of measurements.
The required tests for modern wireless devices such as smartphones can take between several weeks and several months.
Are wireless devices with lower RF energy levels considered safer?
No. Regardless of the RF energy level, all wireless devices are considered safe as long as their energy levels are below the Canadian limits. Different portable/wearable devices will have different RF energy levels based on their design; however, all must meet Canada’s limits, which are well below any level that could cause adverse health effects.
Does the RF energy level of a cell phone change when in use?
Yes. When cell phones or similar wireless devices are tested, they are switched on to transmit at full power for the duration of the test. In reality, cell phones operate at much lower power levels, to preserve battery life, maximize call time and optimize network performance. In normal day-to-day use, a cell phone produces much lower RF energy levels than those measured during laboratory testing.
How should I be using my cell phone or other wireless devices? What does compliance distance mean?
ISED requires cell phone and other wireless device manufacturers to provide information to users on the minimum compliance distance to maintain between the cell phone or wireless product and the body (torso). This distance is usually between 0 mm and 10 mm. This compliance distance often represents the distance created by a phone holder or clothing. This compliance distance allows for better signal reception because the cell phone is used away from the body and meets the SAR requirements.
If the specified compliance distance is not respected by the user, it is possible that the cell phone is being used against the manufacturers’ recommendations. However, this does not compromise safety as the Canadian limits have large safety margins. Further, during compliance testing, cell phones are switched on to transmit at full power, which represents a worst-case scenario in terms of exposure to RF energy.
Cell phones can always be used directly against the ear without any compliance distance. This is because the cell phone is designed to keep the antenna far enough away from the head to meet exposure limits and to operate most efficiently.
How can I maintain the recommended minimum compliance distance?
You can choose an accessory such as a case, belt clip, or holster approved by the manufacturer of the wireless device.
Am I at risk if I place my cell phone directly in my pocket and forget about the recommended compliance distance?
Clothing, cell phone covers, belt clips or holsters provide a separation for wireless devices. However, it is important to check the user manual for the minimum compliance distance. ISED's technical standards for wireless device safety testing are among the most stringent in the world. For example, cell phones are tested at full power for the duration of the test, whereas during normal day-to-day use cell phones operate at much lower power levels. As well, the Canadian limits incorporate large safety margins from the threshold for possible adverse health effects. Therefore, cell phones are still considered safe when carried in your pocket.
Where can I find RF energy values and compliance distance for my wireless devices?
Information regarding exposure values and compliance distance for your wireless device can be found in the following locations:
- the user manual
- device settings
- on the manufacturer's website (or by directly contacting the manufacturer)
- on ISED's website using the Radio Equipment List search tool
You can find the exposure value or the compliance distance of your cell phone or other portable/wearable wireless product by entering the IC Certification Number in the Government of Canada Radio Equipment List search tool. The IC certification number is an alphanumeric code assigned to wireless products certified for use in Canada and is typically:
- printed on a label or embossed somewhere on the case or behind the battery compartment of the device
- printed on the packaging box of the product
- identified in the wireless device's settings option
When you select the model number of your product in the Radio Equipment List search tool, the applicable exposure value or compliance distance for your certified wireless product will be displayed in the appropriate section under RF Exposure Results.
Do wireless chargers pose a health risk?
No, wireless chargers on the Canadian market must comply with Canada's limits and do not pose a risk to human health and safety.
Wireless devices used away from the body
Devices such as Wi-Fi routers, wireless cameras and smart meters are not evaluated against localized limits for SAR, since they are intended to be used away from the body (more than 20 cm). The RF energy levels generated by these devices are determined and compared to the Canadian whole body limits.
RF exposure compliance testing for these devices is performed against the whole body Health Canada’s Safety Code 6 limits which were incorporated by reference in ISED’s RSS-102.
ISED conducted an extensive study to measure RF exposure levels from multiple Wi-Fi routers and Wi-Fi-enabled laptops in a simulated classroom setting. The study confirmed that in environments such as schools, workplaces, and public and private spaces, the RF exposure levels from these wireless devices was significantly below the Canadian limits.
What do I need to know when using a device that is used far from the body? What is compliance distance?
ISED requires manufacturers of wireless devices to provide information to users on the minimum compliance distance to maintain between the wireless product and individuals.
Information regarding the compliance distance can be found:
- in the user manual
- device settings
- on the manufacturer's website (or by directly contacting the manufacturer)
- on ISED's website using the Radio Equipment List search tool
What if I forget about the minimum separation listed in the user guide? Am I at risk?
The compliance distance provided for typical wireless devices is usually very low compared to real-life installations. For instance, a compliance distance of a few hundred millimetres may be reported for a wireless (Wi-Fi) router; however, for home installation a person is typically located further away from the router.
The compliance distance for wireless devices far from the body is determined by having the device turned on at maximum power for continuous transmission. During normal day-to-day use, they operate at much lower power levels. This compliance distance represents the worst-case scenario. As well, the Canadian limits provide large safety margins against the occurrence of all established adverse health effects associated with exposure to RF energy. Therefore, wireless devices used far from the body would still be safe when a person is closer than the minimum compliance distance found in the user manual.
Canadians want faster and more accessible service so they can reliably use their wireless devices to keep in touch with loved ones and stay informed. Businesses, emergency services and air navigation systems also depend on radiocommunication and wireless services 24 hours a day. Newer technological advancements are being designed to meet current and future demands including the very large growth in data and connectivity of today's modern society, the Internet of things (IoT) with its ubiquity of connected devices, and tomorrow's innovations. All these services require towers and antenna installations located in the right places.
For more information about towers, visit Facts about towers.
How is safety ensured for antenna installations?
ISED requires that all antenna installations meet Canadian limits on the amount of RF energy that can be present in areas to which the public has access. This means complying with the regulatory requirements and process established in the antenna siting procedures, CPC-2-0-03, Radiocommunication and Broadcasting Antenna Systems before an installation is approved. Once antenna installations are built, operators need to ensure their installations comply with the Canadian limits at all times as a condition of their authorization.
To monitor ongoing compliance, ISED conducts various antenna installation audit programs.
How is the safety of antenna installations evaluated?
To ensure ongoing regulatory compliance with the Canadian limits, ISED has developed many tools to help operators evaluate their sites:
- a tool to assess compliance of simple antenna installation is provided in TN-261, Safety Code 6 (SC6) Radio Frequency Exposure Compliance Evaluation Template (Uncontrolled Environment Exposure Limits)
- measurements procedures are provided in GL-01, Guidelines for the Measurement of Radio Frequency Fields at Frequencies From 3 kHz to 300 GHz
- requirements for proper signage and access controls around antenna installations are provided in CPC-2-0-20, Radio Frequency (RF) Fields — Signs and Access Control
Specialized software can also perform analyses (theoretical predictions) of the RF energy at antenna installations. These analyses performed by the antenna installations operators are provided to ISED to demonstrate compliance with the Canadian limits.
Which factors influence exposure levels?
Many factors determine the total RF levels a person may be exposed to near an antenna installation. The most important factors are:
- power
- distance from the antenna
The signal power plays a significant role on the RF exposure levels generated by the antenna installation. The lower the operating power of an antenna installation, the lower the RF exposure levels will be.
Furthermore, as the distance increases from the antenna installation, the RF energy diminishes very quickly. In other words, RF exposure levels will be lower farther away from an antenna installation.
What do I need to know to ensure RF exposure safety near antenna installations?
Certain high-power antenna installations, typically found away from populated areas or in areas difficult to access, require signage and physical barriers such as fences. The presence of these access control mechanisms is to restrict access and inform the public.
What are small cells?
Small cells are physically smaller radio installations that can complement larger radio installations to improve coverage, add capacity, and support new services and user experiences.
There are various types of small cell with varying power ranges. The smallest are for indoor use (sometimes referred to as femtocells) operating on power levels similar to Wi-Fi routers. The largest are for outdoor use and typically consist of a small equipment cabinet and small antennas. The largest are often located on existing facilities like street lights, power utility poles and buildings.
Small cells must comply with the same limits that apply to other antenna installations.
What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology, an evolution of 4G LTE wireless networks. 5G operates in both the lower frequency spectrum (below 6 GHz) as well as at higher frequencies called millimetre wave spectrum.
RF safety requirements for 5G
All wireless devices and installations, including those supporting 5G, need to meet RF exposure requirements before they can be sold in Canada.
Antenna installations operators using 5G technology have the same RF exposure compliance obligations.
Furthermore, compliance with RF exposure requirements continue to be an ongoing obligation.
