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Infrared and Microwave Effects on Skin Heating and Temperature Sensation

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Hendler E, Hardy JD · 1960

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Human skin detects infrared heating at incredibly sensitive levels, raising questions about thermal effects from today's wireless devices.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers exposed seven people's foreheads to controlled infrared radiation while measuring skin temperature and temperature sensations. They found that warmth sensations correlated with skin temperature rising at just 0.001°C per second, while cooling sensations required faster temperature drops. This early study revealed how sensitive human temperature receptors are to even tiny thermal changes from electromagnetic radiation.

Why This Matters

This 1960 study provides crucial baseline data for understanding how electromagnetic radiation affects human thermal sensation. The researchers discovered that our skin can detect temperature changes as small as 0.001°C per second from infrared exposure - a level of sensitivity that has profound implications for how we respond to EMF heating effects today. What makes this particularly relevant is that modern wireless devices operate at power levels that can produce similar localized heating patterns, especially during extended use against the body. The study's finding that temperature sensations can occur even without measurable skin temperature changes suggests our bodies may be detecting EMF thermal effects at levels below current measurement thresholds. This research underscores why thermal effects from EMF exposure shouldn't be dismissed simply because temperature increases seem minimal - our biological systems are far more sensitive than regulatory agencies typically acknowledge.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Hendler E, Hardy JD (1960). Infrared and Microwave Effects on Skin Heating and Temperature Sensation.
Show BibTeX
@article{infrared_and_microwave_effects_on_skin_heating_and_temperature_sensation_g6354,
  author = {Hendler E and Hardy JD},
  title = {Infrared and Microwave Effects on Skin Heating and Temperature Sensation},
  year = {1960},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Human skin can detect warmth from infrared radiation when temperature rises at just 0.001°C per second. This extremely sensitive threshold shows how even tiny thermal changes from electromagnetic sources can trigger biological responses in our temperature sensing systems.
Cold sensations occur when skin temperature drops at 0.005-0.006°C per second, which is 5-6 times faster than the warming threshold. This asymmetry in thermal sensitivity helps explain why cooling effects from electromagnetic exposure may feel more noticeable than heating.
Yes, subjects reported temperature sensations even when researchers couldn't measure actual skin temperature changes. This suggests our thermal receptors can detect electromagnetic heating effects in the most superficial skin layers below current measurement capabilities.
Small, rapid temperature changes that exceeded the normal sensation thresholds produced no temperature reports. Researchers believe these quick fluctuations only affected the outermost skin layers without reaching the deeper temperature receptors that signal the nervous system.
The forehead area showed consistent temperature sensation responses when exposed to far infrared radiation. This facial region's sensitivity to electromagnetic heating provides important baseline data for understanding how wireless devices might affect similar exposed body areas.