Table 5.
Variable | Category | n | Coefficient | 95%-CI | p-value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age | young adults (20-34 y) | 56 | reference | - | - |
adults (35-64) | 69 | 0.77 | 0.59;1.01 | 0.06 | |
retired people (>64) | 6 | 0.75 | 0.39;1.42 | 0.37 | |
Gender | Female | 74 | reference | - | - |
Male | 57 | 0.93 | 0.72;1.20 | 0.58 | |
Place of residence | Urban | 76 | reference | - | - |
Suburban | 55 | 1.27 | 0.97;1.66 | 0.08 | |
Ownership of mobile phone | Yes | 119 | reference | - | - |
No | 12 | 0.70 | 0.44;1.11 | 0.13 | |
Ownership of cordless phone | Yes | 79 | reference | - | - |
No | 52 | 0.91 | 0.68;1.21 | 0.51 | |
Ownership of W-LAN | Yes | 50 | reference | - | - |
No | 81 | 0.95 | 0.72;1.25 | 0.72 | |
Socio economic status | Low | 21 | reference | - | - |
Middle | 17 | 0.87 | 0.54;1.39 | 0.55 | |
High | 93 | 1.10 | 0.77;1.58 | 0.59 |
Coefficients of a multiple loglinear regression model using data from a Swiss RF-EMF population survey [15]. This model allows predicting average RF-EMF exposure in different population strata
Intercept of the model: 0.11 mW/m2 (95%-CI: 0.08-0.17) (exposure during the day of a female person aged 20-34 living in an urban environment, owning a mobile phone, a cordless phone and wireless LAN at home, with the lowest socioeconomic status).
To calculate total exposure of a woman with the same characteristics but who does not own a mobile phone, the value has to be multiplied by 0.70 resulting in an exposure of 0.08 mW/m2. Note that this is only an example to demonstrate the principle of an exposure prediction model. Lack of significance of coefficients for potentially relevant parameters may indicate that a larger sample size is needed for this type of exposure prediction model.