Athermic and Thermic Absorption Processes with Microwaves from 1 mm to 30 cm
D. A. Copson · 1967
This 1967 review established microwave safety limits based on heating effects that still influence today's standards.
Plain English Summary
This 1967 review examined microwave absorption in biological systems, covering wavelengths from 1 millimeter to 30 centimeters. The study focused on thermal effects like diathermy while acknowledging the growing need to understand biological hazards from microwave communications. It established early safety standards including a maximum exposure limit of 0.01 watts per square centimeter.
Why This Matters
This historical review represents one of the earliest comprehensive examinations of microwave biological effects, published during the dawn of our modern wireless age. What's striking is how the 0.01 watts per square centimeter exposure limit mentioned here translates to 10 milliwatts per square centimeter - a standard that remains influential in today's safety guidelines, despite being based primarily on thermal effects rather than the biological mechanisms we now understand. The study's focus on thermal absorption reflects the limited scientific understanding of that era, before research revealed non-thermal biological effects at much lower power levels. Today's smartphones, WiFi routers, and 5G networks operate within these decades-old thermal-based limits, yet we now have thousands of studies showing biological responses at exposure levels far below what causes measurable heating.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{athermic_and_thermic_absorption_processes_with_microwaves_from_1_mm_to_30_cm_g5989,
author = {D. A. Copson},
title = {Athermic and Thermic Absorption Processes with Microwaves from 1 mm to 30 cm},
year = {1967},
}