Assessment of Power Density Radiation from Wi-Fi Enabled and Wi-Fi Disabled Laptops

The introduction of Wi-Fi technology on laptops and mobile phones had tremendously solved the problems of communication in Nigeria as the acquisition and use of laptop is rapidly increasing. However, the health implications of radiation from laptop has become a great concern to the general public especially when such laptops are Wi-Fi enabled. There is therefore need to assess the radiofrequency radiation level for a both Wi-Fi enabled as well as Wi-Fi disabled laptops. In this work, 40 laptops of different brands and varying models were investigated and the power densities emanating from them were measured when the laptop were Wi-Fi disabled and when they were Wi-Fi enabled using hand-held Electrosmog RF meter. The RF meter was placed at a distance of 10 cm (4 inches) away from the screen of the laptop so as to capture the highest power density from the laptop. The measured power densities varied from one brand of laptop to another and for different models. The power density values recorded for all the laptops investigated when they were Wi-Fi disabled, ranged from 0.023 mW/m² to 1.369 mW/m² with a mean of 0.418 mW/m². The power density measured ranged from 0.230 mW/m² to 13.57 mW/m² with a mean of 2.593 mW/m² during Wi-Fi enabled mode. Generally, for all the laptops investigated, the values of the power densities recorded were higher during the Wi-Fi enabled mode than during the Wi-Fi disabled mode. There was no significant difference between the power density recorded during the Wi-Fi enabled mode and the Wi-Fi disabled mode. The research also revealed that newer versions of laptops presented lower power densities than older versions of laptops. All values of power density measured in this research work for both Wi-Fi enabled and Wi-Fi disabled laptops were found to lie below the permissible power density of 10 W/m2 recommended by the Federal Communication Commission, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection for the general public. All the brands and models of laptops investigated in these work were emitting radiations at a level that are considered safe for human exposure. Exposure to electromagnetic field radiation from these laptops during Wi-Fi enabled or Wi-Fi disabled mode are within safety guidelines set by regulatory agencies.