Measurements of Electromagnetic Fields in the Close Proximity of CB Antennas
Paul S. Ruggera · 1979
This 1979 study measured RF field strength near CB antennas, establishing early exposure assessment methods for personal communication devices.
Plain English Summary
This 1979 government study measured electromagnetic field levels near CB (Citizens Band) radio antennas to understand exposure patterns in close proximity to these transmitters. The research examined RF field strength at various distances from CB antennas, which was important for establishing safety guidelines during the CB radio boom of the 1970s.
Why This Matters
This research represents an important early effort to quantify RF exposure from personal communication devices. CB radios were the smartphones of their era, with millions of Americans using these 27 MHz transmitters in homes, cars, and businesses. What makes this study particularly relevant today is that it examined close-proximity exposure patterns that parallel our current concerns with cell phones and wireless devices. The science demonstrates that understanding field strength variations near transmitting antennas remains crucial for exposure assessment. While CB radios operated at much lower frequencies than today's wireless devices, the fundamental physics of near-field exposure patterns established in studies like this laid the groundwork for modern RF safety standards.
Finding
The data indicate that field strength limits such as those recommended in the ANSI standard C95.1-1974 can be exceeded in the vicinity of these antennas under certain circumstances.
In their words
“The data indicate that field strength limits such as those recommended in the ANSI standard C95.1-1974 can be exceeded in the vicinity of these antennas under certain circumstances.”
Figures from the Original Paper
Diagram extracted from the original research document.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
To measure electromagnetic fields in the close proximity of CB antennas and determine if field strength limits can be exceeded under certain circumstances
Measurements of near fields generated by citizen band antennas operating at 27.12 MHz were conducted...
Field strength limits such as those recommended in the ANSI standard C95.1-1974 can be exceeded in t...
The health implications of these observations are not clear at this time. The Bureau of Radiological Health is continuing investigations of this matter. Field strength limits can be exceeded in the vicinity of CB antennas under certain circumstances.
Show BibTeX
@article{measurements_of_electromagnetic_fields_in_the_close_proximity_of_cb_antennas_g5072,
author = {Paul S. Ruggera},
title = {Measurements of Electromagnetic Fields in the Close Proximity of CB Antennas},
year = {1979},
}