New data on Australians’ radiation exposure

July 25, 2025

Australian scientists have revealed critical new data about Australians’ exposure to radiofrequency (wireless) radiation that raises some major concerns.

Physicist Victor Leach and colleagues from the Oceania Radiofrequency Advisory Association (ORSAA) monitored radiation levels at nine locations in the NSW town of Mullumbimby over a 12-month period.

To do this, they used a SensaWeb RF Full spectrum Analyser (RSA) which continuously measured frequencies between 20 MHz and 6.2 GHz. This includes many mobile phone, WiFi, GPS, satellite and 5G technologies.

The study found:

  • ‘Wi-Fi accounts for 56% of exposure in the band frequency 2001-3000 MHz.
  • Short-range communications systems (WiFi, transport communications, military applications) account for 22% of exposure in the frequency band 5001-6000 MHz.
  • GPS, radar, or satellite communications account for 10% of the exposure in the band 1001 – 2000 MHz.’

Data of this sort is not available from other sources.

The authors point out that, while it’s standard practice to monitor emissions from sources of ionising radiation, no such monitoring is taking place for emissions from the non-ionising (radiofrequency) radiation used in communications systems, even though it can harm the body.

‘Research suggests that … pulsed electromagnetic fields can interact with voltage-gated ion channels in cell membranes, leading to their dysfunction,’ they wrote. ‘The resultant imbalance can initiate the production of excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can directly damage DNA and other vital biomolecules such as lipids and proteins.’

The authors also explain that the public has access to only limited information about radiation levels in the environment and how the background radiation is changing as more wireless services are being rolled out.’

‘Current online reports are based on EME Reports and ARPANSA measurements, which only show emissions used for mobile and broadband, local radio, and institutions. They do not give information on the many other sources of RF-EMF exposure in the environment revealed in data from this pilot study.’

‘What sets our study apart from the measurement studies published by ARPANSA is that we have performed continuous monitoring over an extended period of time,’ said Steven Weller, a co-author of the study. ‘Our result show that measurements vary, depending time of day, atmospherics and location. While ARPANSA studies provide a snapshot for a specific short time interval (6 minutes), they might not include the highest peaks or truly represent a typical average exposure.’

Leach, Victor, Weller, Steven & Mccredden, Julie, Bridging the Gaps in radiofrequency exposure assessment: a pilot study using continuous, full spectrum monitoring equipment, (2025). RPiA Journal (2025) Vol 42 No 1 ARPS2024 Conference Paper; https://www.researchgate.net/publication/393443485_RPiA_Journal_2025_Vol_42_No_1_ARPS2024_Conference_Paper

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