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

Nonionizing Electromagnetic Wave Effects in Biological Materials and Systems

Bioeffects Seen

Curtis C. Johnson, Arthur W. Guy · 1972

Share:

Even in 1972, scientists documented biological effects from low-level electromagnetic radiation but couldn't determine if they were harmful.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1972 review examined how electromagnetic waves from radio frequencies through visible light affect biological systems. Researchers found that high-intensity radiation causes clear harm like burns and cataracts, while low-level effects were documented but their health significance remained unclear. The study also explored therapeutic applications and how electromagnetic energy penetrates body tissues.

Why This Matters

This landmark 1972 review represents one of the earliest comprehensive examinations of biological EMF effects, published when microwave ovens were just entering homes and cell phones didn't exist. What's striking is how the fundamental questions Johnson identified remain largely unresolved today: we still struggle to determine whether low-level EMF effects are harmful. The study's acknowledgment that 'biological effects have been reported at lower radiation intensities, but it is not now known if low-level effects are harmful' mirrors our current regulatory challenges. While Johnson focused on therapeutic applications and obvious thermal effects, today we're exposed to far more complex, pulsed signals at levels he considered 'low.' The science demonstrates that even in 1972, researchers recognized EMF's ability to cause biological changes beyond simple heating. What this means for you: the effects of everyday EMF exposure have been a scientific concern for over 50 years, yet safety standards still largely ignore non-thermal effects.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
Curtis C. Johnson, Arthur W. Guy (1972). Nonionizing Electromagnetic Wave Effects in Biological Materials and Systems.
Show BibTeX
@article{nonionizing_electromagnetic_wave_effects_in_biological_materials_and_systems_g5534,
  author = {Curtis C. Johnson and Arthur W. Guy},
  title = {Nonionizing Electromagnetic Wave Effects in Biological Materials and Systems},
  year = {1972},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The review examined electromagnetic waves from lower radio frequencies all the way up through the optical spectrum, covering a broad range of frequencies from radio waves to visible light.
While biological effects were documented at lower radiation intensities, researchers concluded they didn't know whether these low-level effects were actually harmful to human health.
High-intensity electromagnetic radiation was shown to cause burns, cataracts, and chemical changes in biological tissues, establishing clear evidence of harm at elevated exposure levels.
Researchers examined microwave penetration both theoretically and experimentally, focusing on internal power absorption and potential hazards from internal hot spots in body tissues.
Yes, the study found that controlled electromagnetic effects could be used therapeutically for tissue warming and diagnostically for medical measurements using molecular absorption peaks.