8,700 Studies Reviewed. 87.0% Found Biological Effects. The Evidence is Clear.
Shield Your Body
Whole Body / General

MEASURED INTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD IN PHANTOM HUMAN HEADS EXPOSED TO LEAKAGE RADIATION FROM MICROWAVE OVENS

Bioeffects Seen

Henry S. Ho, William P. Edwards, Howard Bassen · 1979

Share:

Microwave oven leakage creates measurable internal electric fields in human brain tissue, with children potentially more vulnerable than adults.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Researchers measured electromagnetic fields inside realistic human head models (using actual skulls) when exposed to radiation leaking from microwave ovens operating at 2450 MHz and 915 MHz. They found that microwave oven leakage creates measurable internal electric fields in brain tissue, which they converted to radiation dose rates for health assessment purposes.

Why This Matters

This 1979 study represents pioneering work in understanding how microwave oven leakage affects the human body, using remarkably sophisticated methods for its time. The researchers used actual human skulls filled with brain-equivalent materials to measure internal electric fields from both adult and child-sized heads. What makes this particularly relevant today is that microwave ovens remain one of the most powerful EMF sources in our homes, operating at the same 2.45 GHz frequency as WiFi routers and Bluetooth devices, though at much higher power levels. The study's focus on leakage radiation is crucial because even small amounts of microwave energy escaping these appliances can create measurable effects in nearby tissue. While modern ovens have better shielding than 1979 models, this research demonstrates that proximity to any microwave source creates internal electric fields in our bodies, with children potentially more vulnerable due to their smaller head size and thinner skulls.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Henry S. Ho, William P. Edwards, Howard Bassen (1979). MEASURED INTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD IN PHANTOM HUMAN HEADS EXPOSED TO LEAKAGE RADIATION FROM MICROWAVE OVENS.
Show BibTeX
@article{measured_internal_electric_field_in_phantom_human_heads_exposed_to_leakage_radia_g4980,
  author = {Henry S. Ho and William P. Edwards and Howard Bassen},
  title = {MEASURED INTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD IN PHANTOM HUMAN HEADS EXPOSED TO LEAKAGE RADIATION FROM MICROWAVE OVENS},
  year = {1979},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Yes, this study measured actual internal electric fields in realistic human head models exposed to microwave oven leakage at 2450 MHz and 915 MHz frequencies, proving that radiation penetrates and creates measurable effects in brain tissue.
The study used both adult and child-sized skulls, suggesting researchers recognized potential age-related differences in vulnerability. Smaller heads and thinner skulls in children would likely allow deeper radiation penetration from microwave sources.
This study tested microwave ovens operating at 2450 MHz and 915 MHz. The 2450 MHz frequency is most common today and is the same frequency used by WiFi routers, though ovens operate at much higher power levels.
Scientists used actual human skulls from adults and children, filled them with materials that electrically mimic brain and muscle tissue, then measured internal electric field distributions when exposed to microwave oven leakage radiation.
Yes, researchers converted their internal electric field measurements to equivalent dose rates, allowing comparison with biological effects data from animal studies to assess potential health hazards from microwave exposure.