A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION LEVELS
John C. H. Wang · 1977
This 1977 FCC study documented baseline environmental EMF levels before the wireless revolution transformed our electromagnetic landscape.
Plain English Summary
This 1977 FCC technical report studied environmental electromagnetic radiation levels from broadcast transmitters, measuring field strength and power density across different locations. The research was part of early efforts to document baseline EMF exposure levels in communities near radio and television broadcasting facilities. This work helped establish measurement protocols that would inform later EMF exposure guidelines.
Why This Matters
This 1977 FCC study represents a critical piece of early EMF exposure documentation, conducted during an era when broadcast transmitters were the dominant source of environmental radiofrequency radiation. What makes this research particularly significant is its timing - it captured baseline exposure levels before the explosion of wireless technologies that would dramatically increase our daily EMF exposure. The reality is that environmental radiation levels measured in 1977 were likely orders of magnitude lower than what we experience today from cell towers, WiFi networks, and countless wireless devices.
The science demonstrates that understanding historical exposure baselines is crucial for assessing how dramatically our electromagnetic environment has changed. While this study focused on broadcast transmitters, today's cumulative exposure from multiple sources creates a fundamentally different radiation landscape than what existed when this research was conducted.
Figures from the Original Paper
Diagrams extracted from the original research document.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
The purpose of this technical memorandum is to summarize some FCC work in evaluation of environmental electromagnetic radiation levels in selected cases and to serve as a contribution to the continuing comprehensive study of the electromagnetic environment. The objectives of this program are to determine what effects electromagnetic radiation has on living organisms under different conditions of exposure, to assess the potential hazards with reference to realistic exposure environments, and to establish a sound scientific basis for appropriate remedial and/or control measures which appear warranted.
Calculations and measurement data are presented. The study includes systematic investigation of biol...
Field strength calculations vs. distance for different radiated power levels are shown for AM broadc...
Exposure of the general public appears to be relatively low. Current safety standards in the U.S. as adopted by OSHA, HEW, and DOD are based on power densities of 10 mW/cm2 and 1 mW/cm2 for short-term and long-term exposures, respectively. Exposure of the general public from even the most powerful television station is several orders of magnitude less than these levels. Biological effects have been observed and reported at scientific meetings and in the literature at levels below 10 mW/cm2, but these findings must be viewed in perspective and subjected to systematic review before they can be meaningfully interpreted.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_study_of_environmental_electromagnetic_radiation_levels_g5663,
author = {John C. H. Wang},
title = {A STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION LEVELS},
year = {1977},
}