# Electromagnetic Assessment of UHF-RFID Devices in Healthcare Environment
## 1 Introduction
The exposure levels recorded for the UHF-RFID system are subject to examination with the aim of verifying compliance with relevant laws and regulations; for example, the European general public recommendation 1999/519/EC, the European Directive 2013/35/EU on workers EMF exposure, EMC, RED or MED directives, using relevant European Standards or legislation transposing international legislation into legal system in particular countries, that apply to the electromagnetic environmental impact on safety of patients, attending visitors, workers or various electronic devices that have been used in the healthcare environment. In brief, in compliance with the laws and regulations concerning the minimum safety requirements as set forth in by international legislation, it has been assumed that humans should be protected against thermal effects caused in the body by exposure to the RF EMF. Considering the fact that sensitivity to these exposure effects differs in population, vulnerable populations should be protected against such exposure more restrictively (for example, pregnant women or users of medical implants). The laws and regulations on the limitation of the EMF exposure levels are usually divided into those that refer to the so-called limits regarding workers' EMF exposure (which may be applied when the exposed humans are notified of and trained on the results of periodical assessment of exposure, electromagnetic hazards expected at the workplace, as well as any necessary preventive measures that was applied there; additionally, the volume and location of the space affected by EMF at the workplace should be accurately designated, protected against an access by unauthorized individuals, as well as all the actions undertaken by the employer are sufficiently documented in an appropriate manner). Exposure limits applicable to general public exposure are lower than the workers' exposure, as they are applicable to the population that may not be informed of electromagnetic hazards, and include vulnerable individuals; and, no preventive measures are required to be applied to reduce the expected electromagnetic hazards. However, the description of both kinds of exposure limits includes also the information on the exceptions to the rule--for the exposure lower than the specified limits; electromagnetic hazards are not excluded where the EMF affects vulnerable persons or electronic devices. In general, the electronic devices may be almost completely immune to electromagnetic disturbance (even if its effect is as strong as an intentional military electromagnetic attack); but to achieve such immunity, the cost-generating design of the device is required (generating even very expensive production of highly immune devices). Various lower-cost electronic devices, that are at the same time much less immune to electromagnetic disturbances, are used in everyday life and work, depending upon their function and intended use. At the minimum immunity of low-cost electronic devices, they can actually operate in an appropriate manner when affected by EMF of the typical characteristic expected in the environment of their intended use; and, for the case of RF EMF impact on the devices used today, it is the level of exposure at the level of small fraction of general public exposure limits provided by the aforementioned European legislations. Taking into consideration the relevant role that the medical devices play today, including implanted devices such as cardiac stimulators, by applicable technical regulations (like, for example, technical regulations, namely EMC, RED, LVD or MED directives) it is required that they have better electromagnetic immunity than the basic immunity required for various low-cost electronic devices for everyday use. A device manufacturer delivers a relevant declaration on the level of electromagnetic immunity, along with the operating manual, e.g., in a section with the description of environmental conditions, safety, or EMC.