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Fifth Report on Program for Control of Electromagnetic Pollution of the Environment: The Assessment of Biological Hazards of Nonionizing Electromagnetic Radiation

Bioeffects Seen

NTIA · 1979

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Government agencies recognized electromagnetic pollution as a biological hazard concern over 40 years ago.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration compiled a comprehensive bibliography of research on electromagnetic pollution and biological hazards from nonionizing radiation in 1979. This government report cataloged scientific literature examining potential health effects from various electromagnetic field sources, providing an early official recognition of EMF as an environmental concern.

Why This Matters

This 1979 NTIA bibliography represents a watershed moment in government acknowledgment of electromagnetic pollution as a legitimate health concern. The fact that a federal agency was compiling research on 'biological hazards' from nonionizing radiation over four decades ago demonstrates that EMF health effects were on the regulatory radar long before smartphones and WiFi became ubiquitous. The science demonstrates that concerns about electromagnetic pollution aren't new or fringe - they've been documented in government reports for generations. What this means for you is that today's exponentially higher EMF exposures from wireless devices, smart meters, and 5G infrastructure represent an unprecedented experiment on human health, building upon decades of documented biological effects.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
NTIA (1979). Fifth Report on Program for Control of Electromagnetic Pollution of the Environment: The Assessment of Biological Hazards of Nonionizing Electromagnetic Radiation.
Show BibTeX
@article{fifth_report_on_program_for_control_of_electromagnetic_pollution_of_the_environm_g4945,
  author = {NTIA},
  title = {Fifth Report on Program for Control of Electromagnetic Pollution of the Environment: The Assessment of Biological Hazards of Nonionizing Electromagnetic Radiation},
  year = {1979},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) compiled this bibliography. NTIA is the federal agency responsible for managing spectrum allocation and telecommunications policy, making their recognition of EMF biological hazards particularly significant for regulatory implications.
The term 'electromagnetic pollution' reflects early recognition that artificial electromagnetic fields represent environmental contamination similar to chemical pollution. This language suggests government awareness that man-made EMF exposures could pose environmental and health risks requiring assessment and potential regulation.
Nonionizing electromagnetic radiation includes radio waves, microwaves, and other EMF frequencies that don't have enough energy to directly break chemical bonds. This encompasses radiation from power lines, radio transmitters, early wireless devices, and other sources that were proliferating in the late 1970s.
This bibliography shows that EMF health concerns have deep scientific roots predating modern wireless technology. Today's exposures from cell phones, WiFi, and 5G represent exponentially higher levels than what prompted government concern in 1979, suggesting current risks may be substantially greater.
While specific findings aren't detailed, the bibliography's focus on 'biological hazards' suggests researchers were documenting various health effects from electromagnetic field exposure. This early government compilation indicates scientific evidence of EMF biological impacts existed well before widespread wireless adoption.