5G/6G 28 GHz EMF Exposure Levels – A new state-of-the-art (SOTA) numerical method is proposed to enable realistic, large-scale exposure assessment in real-world environments. Citation: Wydaeghe, R., Shikhantsov, S., Vermeeren, G. et al. Hybrid ray-tracing-QuaDRiGa/FDTD method for realistic 28 GHz exposure with 6G CF-MaMIMO in 3D outdoor environments. npj Wirel. Technol. 2, 13 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44459-026-00031-4
Published April 11, 2026 | Article by EMFSA
5G/6G 28 GHz EMF Exposure Levels – Some people worry that newer networks (especially 5G/6G) might affect health. Therefore, the researchers sought a realistic, everyday assessment. The objective of the study was to investigate hotspot effects from MaMIMO base stations on RF-EMF exposure. The authors compared instantaneous exposure metrics with 30-minute ICNIRP limits as a conservative worst-case scenario, referring to these as “exposure limits.”
This work comprehensively studies hotspots in realistic environments at 28 GHz.
Simulated a person walking in cities (like Helsinki and New York).
Used detailed 3D maps (buildings, trees, streets).
Modeled how signals travel and interact with the human body.
Key findings
- Case studies in Helsinki and NYC show the reference and basic exposure metrics along a realistic path, remaining within at most 1% of the ICNIRP guidelines limit for 30-min averaging intervals.
- Using your phone increases exposure compared to not using it (because signals focus on your device).
- Distributed (cell-free) MaMIMO systems spread signals more evenly, avoiding strong peaks.
- Small “hotspots” of higher signal can occur, but they are tiny and short-lived.
In short, according to the authors:
In normal real-world situations, even with advanced 5G/6G systems, exposure to radio waves stays far below safety limits and is not unusually high.
As per the authors, the study introduces several novel contributions:
- A first-of-its-kind end-to-end method for assessing mmWave exposure, combining ray-tracing, QuaDRiGa, and FDTD simulations.
- The use of high-accuracy photogrammetry and semantic classification to model realistic exposure along real-world paths.
- A comparison of collocated and cell-free massive MIMO systems under both user and non-user scenarios at 28 GHz.
- A detailed analysis of realistic exposure “hotspots” and their impact on key metrics such as incident (Sinc) and absorbed (Sab) power density.
What are the limitations of the study?
- Very high computational cost
- Incomplete real-world data (materials & antennas)
- Partly statistical (not fully exact)
- Limited validation with real measurements
- Specific scenarios only
Bottom line:
The study is advanced and realistic, but still depends on simulations, assumptions, and limited real-world data.
5G/6G 28 GHz EMF Exposure Levels – Advantages of the study
Realistic global modelling – Can simulate EMF exposure almost anywhere using detailed 3D environments.
End-to-end “digital twin” – Models the full process: from signal transmission (Tx power) to what the human body absorbs.
Practical usefulness
-Helps policy-makers understand real exposure levels.
-Helps network planners design safer, more efficient systems. –
Advanced accuracy – Combines multiple techniques to better reflect real-world signal behavior.
5G/6G 28 GHz EMF Exposure Levels – Future recommendations by the authors
- Expand testing environments – Apply the method across urban, rural, indoor, and controlled lab settings.
- Validate with real-world measurements – Use wearable dosimeters and city-scale experiments.
- Scale to future 6G systems – Investigate exposure in ultra-massive MIMO networks.
- Improve model realism – Incorporate real device and antenna data.
- Collaborate with industry – Access proprietary antenna designs and configurations.
Source and licensing
This article is based on: Wydaeghe et al. (2026). Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Further reading: Numerical Analysis of Electromagnetic Field Exposure from 5G Mobile Communications at 28 GHZ in Adults and Children Users for Real-World Exposure Scenarios https://www.emfsa.co.za/research-and-studies/numerical-analysis-of-electromagnetic-field-exposure-from-5g-mobile-communications-at-28-ghz-in-adults-and-children-users-for-real-world-exposure-scenarios/