Electromagnetic fields
Electromagnetic fields are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. This extends over the entire range from static electric and magnetic fields to optical radiation and very high-energy gamma radiation. The part of the spectrum between the static electric and magnetic fields and the infrared radiation is usually referred to by the generic term "electromagnetic fields".
The properties of high-frequency electromagneticfields (9 kHz to 300 GHz) are used in particular for modern communication - for example for mobile telephony, television, radio, cordless telephones and wireless computer networks. Radio applications for short distances also use high-frequency electromagnetic fields, for example radio modules according to the Bluetooth standard.
Low-frequency electric and magnetic fields (1 Hz to 9 kHz) occur in everyday life in the power supply (e.g. high-voltage power lines), in household appliancesand electrical installations in the home or in electrified transportation systems such as railroads.
High-frequency systems in Jena
Mobile communications
Mobile internet and "smart" applications are part of our everyday lives. As digitalization has progressed, the volume of wireless data transmission has increased significantly in recent years and continues to grow steadily. Technical progress in telecommunications and its increasingly widespread use have led to Germany's mobile network operators expanding their networks in recent years and continuing to do so in the future.
The locations of radio frequency installations can be viewedin the EMF map of the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway.
New radio technologies
As ever larger amounts of data have to be transported in a shorter time, mobile radio technology is also constantly evolving. In order to meet these requirements, the technologies used are constantly evolving. The latest 5G generation of mobile communications has also been in use in Jena since 2021. The 5G mobile communications standard enables the transmission of large amounts of data via the mobile network. Technically, 5G is based on the standard of the 4th generation of mobile communications (4G); in some cases, the same antennas can be used.
Small cells can also be set up in places with particularly high demand and user density. They are used to supplement the mobile network. In contrast to conventional mobile phone base stations, these small cells have a low transmission power and a small coverage area.
Regulations on the selection of sites for mobile radio installations
When selecting sites, the legal provisions of building law, nature and landscape conservation, monument protection and redevelopment law must be complied with in addition to suitability for transmission technology. According to the Federal Immission Control Act, a mobile radio installation does not require a permit.
A site certificate is issued for fixed radio installations in accordance with Section 4 of the Ordinance on the Verification Procedure for Limiting Electromagnetic Fields (BEMFV). The safety distance specified in the site certificate determines how large the distance around the transmitters must be to ensure that the limit values for the protection of the general population are safely observed. The competent authority for the site certificate procedure is the Federal Network Agency.
Broadcasting
On 01.07.2008, the switchover from analog to digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) took place in Jena.
On 29.03.2017, the changeover from DVB-T to DVB-T2, the new standard for digital terrestrial television, took place. This changeover enables the transmission of high-definition TV images.
The site of the former converter on the Kernberge was expanded for the DVB-T systems and a 60 m high lattice mast was erected. The DVB-T2 antennas installed at a height of 54.85 m have a site certificate from the Federal Network Agency dated 14.02.2017.
Measurement of electromagnetic fields
Since 2008, EMF measurements have been carried out annually at around 11 selected measuring points distributed throughout the city of Jena. In particular, measurements are taken in the immediate vicinity of sensitive locations such as schools and daycare centers. The measurements are carried out by the Federal Network Agency over the frequency ranges from 9 kHz to 3 GHz and include radio (VHF, MW, HF), amateur radio, commercial radio, data radio, mobile radio, police radio and rescue radio.
Evaluation of the measurements
The stimulus and also the thermal effect of electromagnetic fields are determined by summation rules for the quotients between the measured field strength and the limit value for the individual frequencies. The sum of these ratios must be less than or equal to 1 in order to comply with the "sum limit value" recommended by the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation). According to the 26th BImSchV, the limit value for the electric field strength for high-frequency systems depends on the respective frequency ranges.
To calculate the limit value utilization rate, the calculated values for the individual locations are set in relation to the limit value, which is set to 100 %. The degree of utilization of the limit value with irritant effect is shown in the frequency range 9 kHz to 10 MHz and with thermal effect in the frequency range 100 kHz - 300 GHz.
Due to the constant technical progress and the associated introduction of new radio technologies (e.g. switch to DVB-T, introduction of 5G mobile communications), it is to be expected that the EMF exposure for the population will increase. However, the switch to digital television clearly showed that EMF exposure is well below the limit values.
The results of EMF measurements carried out since 2008 can be downloaded here.
Legal basis
The ordinance amending the regulations on electromagnetic fields and the telecommunications verification procedure (Ordinance on Electromagnetic Fields - 26th BImSchV) came into force on 22.08.2013. It regulates the limit values for electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields and serves to protect the general population from harmful environmental effects caused by electromagnetic fields. The national limit values correspond to the limit values recommended by international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). They include high safety margins and are based on the international consensus of scientific findings from experts in interdisciplinary fields (biology, medicine, biophysics and technology).
The 26th BImSchV sets out the requirements for the construction and operation of low-frequency, high-frequency and direct current systems.
The existing ordinance, which had not been amended since it came into force at the beginning of 1997, needed to be adapted to scientific, technical and social developments. In particular, the original version of the Ordinance fell short of the Recommendation of the Council of the European Union of June 12, 1999 on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (1999/519/EC).
In 2010, the ICNIRP revised its limit value recommendation for low-frequency fields on the basis of current scientific findings (Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric and Magnetic Fields (1 Hertz to 100 Kilohertz), Health Physics 99(6): 818 to 836; 2010). The limit values of the 26th BImSchV are based on these scientific findings.