An Evaluation of Selected Satellite Communication Systems as Sources of Environmental Microwave Radiation
Norbert N. Hankin · 1974
The EPA was evaluating satellite microwave radiation as environmental pollution in 1974, decades before today's satellite internet boom.
Plain English Summary
This 1974 EPA report evaluated satellite communication systems as sources of microwave radiation in the environment. The study examined how these early satellite networks contributed to overall microwave exposure levels across different locations. This represents one of the first government assessments of satellite-based EMF pollution before widespread cellular technology.
Why This Matters
This EPA report from 1974 represents a fascinating piece of EMF history. The agency was already concerned about microwave radiation from satellite communications nearly five decades ago, when our exposure levels were a fraction of what they are today. What makes this particularly significant is the timing: this assessment came before cell phones, WiFi, or the thousands of satellites now orbiting Earth.
The reality is that satellite-based microwave exposure has exploded exponentially since 1974. Today's satellite internet constellations like Starlink beam focused microwave signals directly to Earth-based terminals, creating exposure scenarios the EPA couldn't have imagined. If satellites warranted government evaluation in 1974, our current satellite-saturated environment deserves urgent reassessment with modern health research in mind.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
To determine actual environmental radiation levels (power density) as a function of distance from the system antenna, to determine the applicability of a model using known system characteristics in predicting power density as a function of distance from the source by comparing measured and predicted levels, and to evaluate the potential of a source to produce hazardous environmental radiation levels.
Satellite communication systems were evaluated on the basis of effective isotropic radiated power. M...
The calculated values of on-axis near field power density, near field extent, and on-axis power dens...
Effective isotropic radiated power is not the most directly applicable characteristic to be used in the potential hazard evaluation. Small diameter antennas, having lower gain characteristics, can produce greater on-axis near field power densities, for equal transmitter powers and radiation wavelengths than larger diameter systems. A more realistic hazards evaluation will include other criteria defining the exposure problem in addition to power density; i.e., the population exposed and the exposure duration. A true hazard evaluation will not be possible until effects are identified, thresholds defined, and the relationships between the degree of effect to radiation frequency, power density, and exposure as a function of time are known.
Show BibTeX
@article{an_evaluation_of_selected_satellite_communication_systems_as_sources_of_environm_g92,
author = {Norbert N. Hankin},
title = {An Evaluation of Selected Satellite Communication Systems as Sources of Environmental Microwave Radiation},
year = {1974},
}