Tarmo Koppel
Work Environment and Safety research group, Ergonomics Lab
Speciality: electromagnetic fields, lighting, optical radiation, ionizing radiation
Activity keywords: Environmental health, Public health, Occupational health and safety, Workers' protection, Risk assessment, Risk analysis, Risk communication, Exposure evaluation, Compliance assessment, Health policy, Policy impact, Legislation, Standards, Directives, European Union, Safety limits, Exposure limit values, Action levels, Occupational exposure, Risk agents, Physical agents, Electromagnetics, Electromagnetic fields (EMFs), Electric field (EF), Magnetic field (MF), Millimeter wave (mmW), Microwaves (MW), Radiofrequency (RF), Intermediate frequency (IF), Extremly low frequency (ELF), Static magnetic fields (SMF), Electrostatics, High tension power lines, Power grid, 50 Hz, Voltage transients (dirty eletricity), Mobile phones, Base stations, Cell towers, Mobile networking, Wireless networks, GSM, UMTS, 3G, 4G, LTE, Wi-Fi, WLAN, Earth's magnetic field, Earth's electrostatic field, Lighting, Spectrum, Color temperature (CCT), Flicker, Optical radiation, Ultraviolet radiation (UVA, UVB, UVC), Laser radiation, Infrared radiation (IR), Ergonomics, Noise, Hearing, Radioactivity, Radon, Material testing (electromagnetic and optical characteristics), Dosimetry, Measurements methodology, Root mean square (RMS), Weighted peak method, Non-uniform exposure, Electrical engineering, Electronics, Electromagnetic interference (EMI), Electromagnetic shielding, Screening, Dampening, Earthing, Grounding, Radiation protection, Bioelectromagnetism, Bioelectricity, Biomagnetic field, Medical implants, Electrotherapy, Magnetic therapy, Magnetic stimulation, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Environmental stress, Stress indicators, Adverse health effects, Cognitive and sensory effects, Electric stimulation of nerve tissues, Retinal phosphenes, Changes in brain activity, Thermal effects, Non-thermal effects, Biological effects, Heart rate variability, Electrical skin conductance, Stress management, Cognitive ergonomics, Economics, Business administration, Industry, Manufacturing, Telecommunications, Production management, Cost-benefit analysis, Accounting, Workers' productivity, Data analysis, Data mining, Parametric and Non-parametric statistics, Bayesian statistics, Study design, Mixed methods research, Intervention experiments, Surveys, Questionnaires,
research
Tarmo is an environmental health scientist and has been researching electromagnetic fields for 10 years. The main fields of his research are electromagnetic fields, their induced health effects and their risk management. For the past 3 years Tarmo has been involved in European Union's and Estonian electromagnetic fields' legislation analysis and formulation as a national expert.
His recent years in research have focused on mobile communications (mobile networking) risk management issues. Tarmo's previous research has also included lighting and optical radiation.
Research areas:
- new electromagnetic fields' legislation, EU directive, national legislation, companies' readiness, legislation impact analysis;
- electromagnetic fields in the work environment: static, low, intermediate and radiofrequencies, their propagation and mitigation, risk analysis, measurements;
- electromagnetic characterization of materials: testing materials for their electromagnetic properties: measuring and calculating reflectivity, transmission and absorption; developing microwave absorption materials;
- the effects of electromagnetic fields on human, cognitive and workability, autonomic nervous system (HRV - heart rate variability); inspiring workers to perform better by using specific electromagnetic signature;
- electrotherapy, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF), Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), stimulation current thearpy, shortwave therapy, high frequency therapy, microwave therapy etc.;
- human bioelectrical parameters as stress indicators (skin conductivity, body potential, body currents, biomagnetic and bioelectric field); millimeter waves;
- temporal and spacial fluctuations in Earth's magnetic field; magnetic storms, electro-telluric signals; Schumann resonance;
- ergonomic lighting (spectrum, color temp., flicker and dynamic lighting); improving workers well-being and productivity;
- optical radiation (Ultraviolet, laser- and infrared radiation);
- cognitive ergonomics, the effects of environment and personal traits on environmental sensitivity (including perceived effects from electromagnetic fields); interpreting subconsciousness by endogenous signals; sensitivity of human being to weak external factors.
Tarmo's hobbies include electronics and electrical engineering, which have resulted in several advantageous technical solutions for his research.
List of publications (Estonian research portal)
Research map
consultations
- electromagnetic fields: effects on humans; Shielding and mitigation; assessment of workplaces; measurements; compliance with legislation; legal protection of citizens and workers; risk communication in a company and nationwide; free testing of shielding products;
- lighting: the effect of different light sources on human being; legislation; designing ergonomical lighting systems;
- optical radiation (ultraviolet, infrared, laser): human effects; safety; legislation;
- assessing workers productivity, productivity indexes;
- cognitive ergonomics: assessing cognitive capability, stress measurement; overcoming work-related stress.
cooperation
Tarmo is interested in proposals regarding the research theme. Also, you can contact Tarmo if you want to participate in the research or to contribute to his research in other way.
research inventory
The inventory provides capabilities to measure from static to super high frequencies (ITU bands: TLF, ELF, SLF, ULF, VLF, LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF up to 40GHz). Also visible light characteristics, ultraviolet radiation (UV-A, UV-B, UV-C separately) are measurable. Electromagnetic fields measurements are capable of registering short pulses (e.g. wireless data transmissions), RMS-mode and peak-mode, also time series measurements (time averaging), logging and spectrum measurements.
Some of the instruments most used in research: LF and IF electric and magnetic field detectors; LF and IF EMFs analyzers and meters; RF EMFs analyzer; LF and IF EMFs spectral analyzer; RF EMFs spectral analyzer; electrostatics generator; LF signal generators; LF and IF signal generator; RF signal generator; impulse generator; laboratory power supplies; magnetometers; oscilloscopes; millivoltmeters, microampmeters; milliohmmeters, megaohmmeters, teraohmmeters; electrometer; electrostatic field meters; DAQ and loggers; earth resistance meter; surface resistance meter; lasers; luxmeters, photometers; optical spectrometer, spectroscope; UVA, UVB and UVC meters; UV-spectrometer; UVA, UVB and UVC lamps; light color temperature (CCT) meter; stroboscopes; light flicker meter; radon detectros; PH-, ORP- meters (to measure PH from skin, liquids, solid matters); noise meter; audiometer; REG-random event generators; HRV (heart rate variability) analyzer (Nerve-Express); Holter monitor; EEG analyzer; blood pressure meters; skin moisture and skin electrical conductivity meter; lung volume meter; body fat meter; bioelectricity meter; SpO2 (blood oxygen level) meter; dynamometer; gamma rays detector; and other lab eqipment.
for students
You can also turn to Tarmo if you are looking for a supervisor for your thesis, given that the topic is connected to the research described above.
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