A Study of the Possible Biological Effects of SANGUINE
Leonard L. Libber, Thomas C. Rozzell
Military study examined health effects of SANGUINE's powerful ELF submarine communication system exposing entire populations.
Plain English Summary
This technical report examined potential biological effects of SANGUINE, the U.S. Navy's extremely low frequency (ELF) communication system used to communicate with submarines worldwide. The study investigated whether the powerful ELF transmissions could impact human health or biological systems. This research was part of early efforts to understand health implications of large-scale military ELF installations.
Why This Matters
The SANGUINE system represents one of the most powerful ELF transmission systems ever deployed, operating at frequencies around 76 Hz with transmitter power reaching millions of watts. What makes this research significant is that it examined biological effects from a real-world ELF source that exposed entire populations to extremely low frequency fields. Unlike typical laboratory studies, SANGUINE created measurable ELF exposures across hundreds of miles from its transmission sites in Wisconsin and Michigan. The reality is that this military communication system provided an unprecedented natural experiment in population-level ELF exposure, making studies like this crucial for understanding how large-scale ELF installations might affect human health. The fact that the military commissioned biological effects research suggests they recognized the potential for health impacts from their powerful transmission systems.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{a_study_of_the_possible_biological_effects_of_sanguine_g4147,
author = {Leonard L. Libber and Thomas C. Rozzell},
title = {A Study of the Possible Biological Effects of SANGUINE},
year = {n.d.},
}