BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MICROWAVE RADIATION, PART 1
Bioeffects Seen
Heering, van Osch · 1971
The report states that the biological effects of microwave radiation can be divided into three categories: thermal, specific thermal, and non-thermal.
Plain English Summary
Summary written for general audiences
The report defines microwave radiation as electromagnetic radiation covering the range between conventional radio waves and far infrared. It explains that microwave absorption in tissues depends on water content and frequency, with fat allowing deeper penetration than muscle. The report classifies biological effects into thermal, specific thermal, and non-thermal categories and notes that harmful thermal effects usually occur at power densities exceeding 100 aW/on.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Cite This Study
Heering, van Osch (1971). BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MICROWAVE RADIATION, PART 1.
Show BibTeX
@article{biological_effects_of_microwave_radiation_part_1_g6004,
author = {Heering and van Osch},
title = {BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MICROWAVE RADIATION, PART 1},
year = {1971},
}No DOI on file for this study.
Quick Questions About This Study
The report divides the biological effects of microwave radiation into thermal, specific thermal, and non-thermal categories.
Harmful thermal effects usually result from exposures to power densities in excess of 100 aW/on, though they may occur at lower levels.
At frequencies below 1000 MHz most energy reaches deep tissues, while above 3000 MHz most is absorbed by the skin.
Penetration depth depends on tissue water content and frequency, with fat allowing deeper penetration than muscle.