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Environmental Aspects of Microwave Radiation

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Donald I. McRee, Ph. D. · 1972

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This 1972 environmental health review established early scientific foundation for understanding microwave radiation's biological effects.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1972 research by Dr. Donald McRee examined the environmental health implications of microwave radiation exposure. The study reviewed biological effects across different frequency bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. This early environmental health assessment helped establish foundational understanding of microwave radiation's potential impacts on living systems.

Why This Matters

This 1972 research represents a pivotal moment in EMF health science, when researchers first began systematically examining microwave radiation as an environmental health concern. Dr. McRee's work came at a time when microwave technology was rapidly expanding beyond military applications into civilian use, including the early development of microwave ovens and communication systems. What makes this study particularly significant is its environmental health perspective, recognizing that microwave radiation wasn't just a laboratory curiosity but a growing presence in our daily environment.

The timing of this research is crucial. In 1972, we were still decades away from cell phones, WiFi, and the microwave-saturated environment we live in today. Yet researchers like McRee were already asking the right questions about biological effects and frequency-dependent responses. Today, we're exposed to microwave radiation at levels and durations that would have been unimaginable in 1972, making this foundational environmental health research more relevant than ever.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

chartPage 1 - AI-described figure: Figure 1. Electromagnetic spectrum showing frequency (Hz), wavelength (cm and A), energy (eV Approx.), and corresponding radiation types.
p. 1 of the original PDF
graphPage 6 - AI-described figure: Figure 2. Power density and time thresholds for the induction of opacities in the eyes of rabbits.
p. 6 of the original PDF

Exposure Details

Power Density
10 mW/cm2

Exposure Context

This study used 10 mW/cm2 for radio frequency:

Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.

Where This Falls on the Concern Scale

Study Exposure Level in ContextStudy Exposure Level in ContextThis study: 10 mW/cm2Extreme Concern - 1,000 µW/m²FCC Limit - 10M µW/m²Effects observed in the Extreme Concern range (Building Biology)This level is 10 times the FCC limit
A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 30 MHz to 300 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 30 MHz to 300 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Study Details

To analyze the biological effects of microwave radiation and evaluate the potential hazards of low-level microwave fields, particularly focusing on nonthermal effects and mechanisms of interaction with biological systems.

Review of existing literature on biological effects of microwave radiation, including thermal and no...

The document presents findings on thermal effects (skin heating, eye damage, testicular damage) and ...

The document concludes that while thermal effects are well understood, nonthermal effects of low-level microwave exposure are not fully explained by current mechanisms. There is evidence of neurological and behavioral effects at power levels below current safety standards. More research is needed to determine the potential hazards of low-level microwave fields and to explain the mechanisms of interaction with complex biological systems.

Cite This Study
Donald I. McRee, Ph. D. (1972). Environmental Aspects of Microwave Radiation.
Show BibTeX
@article{environmental_aspects_of_microwave_radiation_g4664,
  author = {Donald I. McRee and Ph. D.},
  title = {Environmental Aspects of Microwave Radiation},
  year = {1972},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

Dr. McRee examined microwave radiation as an emerging environmental health concern, reviewing biological effects across different electromagnetic spectrum frequency bands and establishing foundational understanding of microwave exposure impacts on living systems.
1972 marked early recognition of microwave radiation as an environmental health issue, coinciding with expanding civilian microwave technology use beyond military applications, including early microwave ovens and communication systems development.
This foundational research examined microwave radiation when exposures were minimal compared to today's WiFi, cell phone, and wireless device saturation, making the early environmental health concerns even more relevant for current exposure levels.
McRee took an environmental health perspective, recognizing microwave radiation as a growing presence in daily life rather than just laboratory equipment, helping establish the field of electromagnetic environmental health assessment.
Early researchers like McRee identified microwave radiation as an emerging environmental concern, though they couldn't have predicted the ubiquitous wireless technology exposures we experience today through smartphones, WiFi, and IoT devices.