Modelling the Influence of the Electromagnetic Field on the User of Wearable Internet of Things (IoT) Device for Monitoring Hazards in the Work Environment

The Internet of Things (IoT) is an idea in which each device, building, etc. has a unique identifier and the ability to collect and then transfer data between them via wired or wireless networks. The most developed element of IoT are wearables, use to be located on or in the vicinity of the body or as part of the clothing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the absorption in the user’s head of an electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by wearable IoT device from Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) for monitoring hazards in the work environment, in order to test the hypothesis that they have insignificant influence on humans. The modeled EMF source was the MIFA (Meandered Inverted-F Antenna) antenna emitting EMF of up to 100 mW at 2.45 GHz of radiofrequency module used in the model of wearable device, developed within reported study, using both Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth communication technologies. To quantify the EMF absorption, the specific energy absorption rate (SAR) values were calculated in a multi-layer ellipsoidal model of the human head (involving skin, fat, and skull bones layers) while various scenarios of its use (headband or attached to the side of a helmet required e.g. in an industrial environment). The analysis of results of modelling is ongoing, therefore the results and their discussion will be presented in the manuscript.