Radio frequency nonionizing radiation in a community exposed to radio and television broadcasting.
Burch JB, Clark M, Yost MG, Fitzpatrick CT, Bachand AM, Ramaprasad J, Reif JS. · 2006
View Original AbstractRF radiation from broadcast towers varies up to 30-fold based on visibility and changes significantly over time at most locations.
Plain English Summary
Researchers measured radio frequency radiation levels at 280 homes near Denver's broadcasting towers over 2.5 days, then repeated measurements 1-2 years later. They found that RF exposure varied dramatically based on distance, elevation, and line-of-sight visibility to transmitters, with homes having clear views of towers experiencing 13-30 times higher radiation levels. Most importantly, RF levels changed significantly over time, with only 25% of outdoor and 38% of indoor measurements remaining stable after 1-2 years.
Why This Matters
This study reveals a critical flaw in how we assess RF exposure from broadcasting infrastructure. The finding that RF levels changed dramatically over time at most locations challenges the common assumption that living near broadcast towers means consistent exposure. The 13-30 times difference in radiation levels between homes with clear views versus obstructed views of transmitters demonstrates how dramatically geography affects your daily RF dose. What this means for you is that proximity alone doesn't determine your exposure. The reality is that your home's specific location, elevation, and what's blocking the signal path to nearby towers can make an enormous difference in your RF exposure levels. This research also highlights why single-point-in-time measurements used in many health studies may miss the full picture of long-term exposure patterns.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
This study quantified RF exposures among 280 residents living near the broadcasting transmitters for Denver, Colorado.
RF power densities outside and inside each residence were obtained, and a global positioning system ...
The greatest differences appeared among homes within 1 km of the transmitters. Overall, there were n...
This study demonstrated that both spatial and temporal factors contribute to residential RF exposure and that GPS/GIS technologies can improve RF exposure assessment and reduce exposure misclassification.
Show BibTeX
@article{jb_2006_radio_frequency_nonionizing_radiation_1935,
author = {Burch JB and Clark M and Yost MG and Fitzpatrick CT and Bachand AM and Ramaprasad J and Reif JS.},
title = {Radio frequency nonionizing radiation in a community exposed to radio and television broadcasting.},
year = {2006},
url = {https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16451862/},
}