Research Proposal

Vineeth Garnepudi
Independent Research

Title: ​The invisible danger: Blocking cell phone radiation

Overview of Research:
The goal of this study is to understand conditions that block majority of radiation coming
from ubiquitous cell phones. I measured the radiation and determined that a household material
can potentially block this cell phone radiation. My next goal is to incorporate the technology of
thin films or likes for blocking the radiation but at the same time keeping the cell phone function
intact.

Background and Rationale:

All of us in this modern world use cell phones. Cell phones emit radiofrequency (RF)
energy, a form of non-ionizing energy. Even though, this energy is not powerful enough to
biologically affect a human, recently there has been many studies that linked cell phone radiation
to adverse health effects. There is one study, for example, which shows that a Child's brain
absorbs RF radiation at higher levels than an adult. This is concerning since cell phones have
become popular with kids as small as one year old. There is no real solution to RF radiation
exposure. Cell phone companies have no tangible regulations on how much radiation a phone
can emit. The regulations are old and outdated due to the technology improving very fast every
year.
Creating films or devices that block the radiation will be beneficial for everyone. Thin
films is a substance that is externally thin ( Micrometer to fractions of nanometers) and is
deposited on a substance. Thin films are used in many technologies and are becoming extremely
popular. To create a thin film it requires specific materials. The act of creating a thin film is
called thin film deposition. By creating a thin film there can be a solution to this problem
without disturbing the appearance of the phone.
Sources:
● Biddle, W. (2012). ​A field guide to radiation​. New York: Penguin Books.
● Burrell. (2010, November 21). How to measure Radio Frequency (RF) radiation In your
home. Retrieved October 19, 2018, from
https://www.electricsense.com/1263/how-to-measure-electromagnetic-radiation-in-your-
home/
● Clinic, C. C. (2016, January 08). Retrieved October 31, 2018, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ_t39kAdi8
● Gandhi, O. P., Morgan, L. L., Salles, A. A., Han, Y., Herberman, R. B., & Davis, D. L.
(2011). Exposure Limits: The underestimation of absorbed cell phone radiation,
 especially in children. ​Electromagnetic Biology and Medicine,​ ​31(​ 1), 34-51.
doi:10.3109/15368378.2011.6228
● German, K. (2016, June 06). Cell phones and cancer: 9 things you should know right
now. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from
https://www.cnet.com/news/9-things-you-should-know-about-that-recent-cell-phone-canc
er-link-study/
● Hughes, M. (2014, November 21). Matt Hughes. Retrieved October 12, 2018, from
http://www.semicore.com/news/81-what-is-thin-film-deposition
● Tsia, C. L. (1991). US5278377A - Electromagnetic radiation susceptor material
employing ferromagnetic amorphous alloy particles. Retrieved December 20, 2018, from
https://patents.google.com/patent/US5278377A/en?q=H05K9/0083
● Iyer, R. (2016). Figure 2f from: Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic revision of
Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: E7720.
https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720. Effects of 5G Radiation on the Human Body, 6(3),
1-2. doi:10.3897/bdj.4.e7720.figure2f
● ​Badavi, F. F., Adams, D. O., & Wilson, J. W. (2010). Validity of the aluminum
equivalent approximation in space radiation shielding. In ​40th International
Conference on Environmental Systems, ICES 2010

Research Methodology:
Research Questions:
Can there be certain elemental materials that can successfully block RF radiation at the
same time allowing useful signals? Is it possible to create a thin film with such elements or
material to make a useful product?
Hypothesis:
Certain metals will be able to block cell phone radiation effectively, because of their
elemental structure that can resonate with RF frequency. Non metals may not be efficient in
blocking the same radiation because of lack of such structure. Different metallic and
non-metallic substances will be evaluated to block RF frequency.

The Research Design Model:

This research will follow an experimental design consisting of RF frequency measuring
device (TF-2 meter) and various materials (metals such as aluminum, Iron, Copper and Silver:
Non-metals such as cotton cloth, plastic and glass) that can potentially block the RF frequency.
Initially, a high RF frequency emitter such as WiFi router will be used. Frequency
emitted from WiFi router against the distance (1 inch to 6 inches and 1 foot to 4 feet) will be
measured. The ideal distance to use in the following experimental measurements will be
evaluated in this experiment. In the next experiment, different materials (metals and non-metals)
will be used between the measuring meter (TF-2) and the emitter (WiFi router) using the ideal
distance, to determine the material that blocks the RF radiation.
Then experiments will be performed using the actual cell phone (iPhone 6 plus). There
will be 4 independent variables in this experiment: The RF radiation emitted in the environment
when the phone is shut down, phone turned on, phone during a call and phone connected to a
Bluetooth device (airpods) . This is will tell the radiation emitted under daily cell phone usage.
Then non-metals and metals will be used again to determine which material between those will
work best at blocking the cell phone radiation. The material will be placed between the phone
and the TF-2 meter. The distance between the meter and phone will be one inch.
Quantitative data will be collected in all the experiments and data graphed to determine
the best material blocking RF radiation.
Data Collection:
A data collection notebook will be used to record the data collected in the experiments.
There will be 3 replicates per experimental condition and average will be derived from the 3
replicates. Line graph and bar graphs will be used to analyze the data.
The data collected will then be compared with the independent tests to show the
effectiveness of the material in blocking radiation.
Product Objectives:
The product will be aimed at all cell phone users. It will help improve the safety of this
ubiquitous device in modern times. The data will be communicated by publishing a paper in a
scientific journal.
Logistic considerations:
A iPhone, TF-2 meter, and Bluetooth headphones will be required for this project and
product. A room where no other electronic devices are present will be needed.

Approval:

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Student Signature G/T Resource Teacher Signature