RESULTS OF AN INDEPENDENT FIELD SURVEY FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD LEVELS AROUND THE WEST RIDGE WATER STORAGE TANK

The Park Ridge Board of Public Works recently contracted with a qualified company to perform an independent field survey for electromagnetic field levels around the West Ridge Water Storage Tank located on First Street.  EMF Services of Fort Meyers, Florida was hired and performed a thorough evaluation of the site on November 22, 2004.

The following is a summary of the important matters and findings of the survey:

Ø     EMF Services is an independent company, not associated with any private or commercial radio frequency transmitting company.  They have provided independent Radio Frequency (RF) surveys throughout the country.
 

Ø     The survey was performed by Charles Keen EMF Services’ Principal Technical Representative, who is an International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI) certified electrical inspector, a member of the National Electromagnetic Field Testing Association, the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, and the Bioelectromagnetics Society, and holds a B.S. degree from the University of Maryland, trained in the environmental health, occupational safety and risk analysis of electromagnetic fields.
 

Ø     The site survey was implemented utilizing the appropriate electronic monitoring equipment, and was conducted in general accordance with FCC OET Bulletin 65, “Evaluating Compliance with FCC Guidelines for Human Exposure to Radio-frequency Electromagnetic Fields”.
 

Ø     The RF measurements were taken at numerous locations from the base of the water tank to a distance of approximately 1,000 feet away in all directions around the water tank, including samples taken inside West Ridge Elementary School.

Ø     THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT AT ALL LOCATIONS AROUND THE TANK SITE, THE RADIO FREQUENCY LEVELS MEASURED WERE SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATION COMMISSION’S (FCC) MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE (MPE) LIMIT.  THE MPE IS WHAT THE FCC DEFINES AS THE FIELD STRENGTH AT WHICH A PERSON MAY BE EXPOSED WITHOUT HARMFUL EFFECT AND WITH AN ACCEPTABLE SAFETY FACTOR.
 

Ø     The low RF emissions measured in this survey were produced primarily by cellular antennas on the water tank. Other emitters sources were also present but at significantly lower levels.
 

Ø     The highest reading taken was at the base of the water tank and was measured at .046% of the MPE.  This is well below 1% of the FCC’s MPE.
 

Ø     RF levels were measured inside the West Ridge Elementary School.  Measurements were taken, but the RF levels were so low that they were below the sensitivity of the equipment.