Electromagnetic interference from GSM and TETRA phones with life-support medical devices
Hietanen, M.; Sibakov, V.
Annali Dell'istituto Superiore di Sanita 43(3): 204-207
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2571 PMID: 17938449 Document Number: 607373
Disturbances in hospital devices caused by cellular telephone signals were investigated. The interference sources were GSM900, GSM1800, and TETRA380 phones. The number of medical appliances tested was 23. Most measurements were taken in a semi-anechoic laboratory. To simulate the worst situation, the phones were adjusted to emit at their maximum power levels. No interference was observed if the distance from GSM1800 phone was over 5 cm. Corresponding safety distance for GSM900 phone was 70 cm, and for TETRA phones over 3 m. Hence, the use of GSM1800 type mobile phones can be considered safe, whereas GSM 900 and TETRA phones may cause considerable interference in hospital devices, which can result in life-endangering situations.