METROPOLITAN RADIATION HAZARDS II (METRO RAD-HAZ II)

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1972 Department of Defense report examined electromagnetic radiation hazards in metropolitan areas, focusing on technical compatibility issues. The study represents early government recognition of urban electromagnetic pollution as cities became saturated with radio, television, and military communication systems. This research laid groundwork for understanding how multiple EMF sources interact in densely populated areas.

Why This Matters

What makes this 1972 DoD report significant is its timing. The military was already concerned about electromagnetic hazards in cities when most Americans had no idea EMF exposure was even an issue. This wasn't about health effects on civilians, but about technical interference between military systems and the growing soup of urban electromagnetic signals.

The reality is that metropolitan EMF exposure has exploded exponentially since 1972. What the DoD worried about then was just radio, TV, and basic military communications. Today's cities pulse with cell towers, WiFi networks, smart meters, and countless wireless devices. If electromagnetic compatibility was a concern 50 years ago with primitive technology, imagine the complexity now. This early military recognition validates what many researchers argue today: we're conducting an unprecedented experiment on human health in our electromagnetically saturated cities.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

To select from ECAC's data base at least 100 pulsed and 100 non-pulsed unclassified records, with the highest peak and average ERP respectively, representing transmitters located within the United States including Alaska and Hawaii; to provide parametric data including a topographic descriptor on each unclassified record in computer printout and punched card format, but provide only general observations on the ERP values of the classified equipment records; and to provide two sets of maps for both the pulsed and non-pulsed transmitter records

A threshold of 1 megawatt was used for the selection of non-pulsed transmitter records and a thresho...

There were 144 non-pulsed transmitters having an average effective radiated power (ERP) equal to or ...

Cite This Study

Dino O. Fieni (1972). METROPOLITAN RADIATION HAZARDS II (METRO RAD-HAZ II).

Show BibTeX

@article{metropolitan_radiation_hazards_ii_metro_rad_haz_ii__g3888,
  author = {Dino O. Fieni},
  title = {METROPOLITAN RADIATION HAZARDS II (METRO RAD-HAZ II)},
  year = {1972},
  
  
}

No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

The specific hazards aren't detailed in available records, but the study focused on technical interference between military systems and civilian electromagnetic sources like radio and television broadcasts in metropolitan areas.

Military operations required reliable communications in cities, but growing civilian electromagnetic activity from broadcasting and early electronics created interference problems that threatened mission effectiveness and equipment performance.

Metropolitan electromagnetic exposure has increased dramatically since 1972. Cities then had basic radio, TV, and military signals. Today's urban areas contain thousands of times more EMF sources including cell towers, WiFi, and wireless devices.

Electromagnetic compatibility means different electronic systems can operate near each other without interfering. In cities, this requires managing interference between military equipment, civilian electronics, broadcasting, and communication systems.

The study focused on technical interference rather than biological effects. However, early military recognition of electromagnetic hazards suggests awareness of potential problems that civilian health research would later investigate.