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A REVIEW OF SELECTED BIOEFFECTS THRESHOLDS FOR VARIOUS SPECTRAL RANGES OF LIGHT

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W. F. VAN PELT, W. R. PAYNE, R. W. PETERSON · 1973

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This 1973 review established early bioeffects thresholds for optical radiation, creating foundational safety standards still relevant today.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1973 government review examined bioeffects thresholds across different wavelengths of light and optical radiation. The research compiled safety limits for various types of light exposure, establishing foundational guidelines for optical radiation protection. This work helped define early standards for light-based technologies and their biological impacts.

Why This Matters

This early government review represents crucial foundational work in understanding how different wavelengths of light affect human biology. While focused on optical radiation rather than radiofrequency EMF, the research methodology and threshold approach established important precedents for EMF safety standards. The science demonstrates that biological effects vary dramatically across different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, from visible light through radio waves. What this means for you is that this type of systematic review work laid the groundwork for how we assess EMF safety today. The reality is that comprehensive reviews like this one helped establish the scientific framework we still use to evaluate electromagnetic exposures, though our understanding has evolved significantly since 1973.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
W. F. VAN PELT, W. R. PAYNE, R. W. PETERSON (1973). A REVIEW OF SELECTED BIOEFFECTS THRESHOLDS FOR VARIOUS SPECTRAL RANGES OF LIGHT.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_review_of_selected_bioeffects_thresholds_for_various_spectral_ranges_of_light_g5044,
  author = {W. F. VAN PELT and W. R. PAYNE and R. W. PETERSON},
  title = {A REVIEW OF SELECTED BIOEFFECTS THRESHOLDS FOR VARIOUS SPECTRAL RANGES OF LIGHT},
  year = {1973},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The study examined bioeffects thresholds across various wavelengths of light and optical radiation, though specific spectral ranges aren't detailed in available information. This comprehensive review approach helped establish safety guidelines for different types of light exposure.
Government agencies needed scientific guidance on safe exposure limits for emerging light-based technologies in the 1970s. This review compiled existing research to establish protective thresholds for workers and the public exposed to various forms of optical radiation.
Bioeffects thresholds identify exposure levels where biological changes begin to occur. Scientists establish these limits by studying various frequencies and intensities to determine safe exposure levels below which harmful effects are unlikely to occur.
This early work established systematic approaches for evaluating electromagnetic radiation safety that still influence modern EMF research. The threshold methodology and comprehensive review format became templates for assessing safety across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, including radiofrequency radiation.
This foundational review helped establish the scientific basis for modern optical radiation protection guidelines. Many current safety standards for lasers, UV light, and other optical devices trace their origins to systematic reviews like this one from the early 1970s.