Program for Control of Electromagnetic Pollution of the Environment: The Assessment of Biological Hazards of Nonionizing Electromagnetic Radiation
Authors not listed · 1971
The ERMAC recommended an overall expenditure of $63.4 million for FY 1973-1977.
Plain English Summary
Nonionizing electromagnetic radiation from radar, television, microwave ovens, and other sources permeates the modern environment and power levels may already be biologically significant. The report states that definitive scientific data on genetic, clinical, physiological, and behavioral effects at power densities below 10 mW/cm² are lacking. Previous U.S. research focused on short-term thermal effects above 10 mW/cm², while Soviet scientists reported low-level chronic effects on cardiovascular and central nervous systems and set permissible exposure levels lower by a factor of 1,000 for long-term exposure.
Why This Matters
The document warns that without adequate monitoring and control, electromagnetic energy pollution could become comparable to chemical pollution in public health and ecological implications. It notes that the population at risk may be the entire population and that misjudging long-term low-level exposure could become a critical public health problem, especially if genetic effects are involved. Medico-legal controversies already exist, including injury suits claiming causation of eye cataracts and brain tumors, and reports of electromagnetic interference with cardiac pacemakers.
Finding
Microwaves and other radio-frequency radiation at high intensities are known to cause adverse biological effects due to generation of heat. The extent and importance of more subtle changes which may occur at lower intensities are not known adequately. There is a lack of definitive scientific data on the genetic, clinical, physiological, and behavioral effects at low levels of exposure.
In their words
“Microwaves and other radio-frequency radiation at high intensities are known to cause adverse biological effects due to generation of heat. The extent and importance of more subtle changes which may occur at lower intensities are not known adequately. There is a lack of definitive scientific data on the genetic, clinical, physiological, and behavioral effects at low levels of exposure.”
Source
(1971) (1971)Show BibTeX
@article{program_for_control_of_electromagnetic_pollution_of_the_environment_the_assessme_g7397,
author = {Unknown},
title = {Program for Control of Electromagnetic Pollution of the Environment: The Assessment of Biological Hazards of Nonionizing Electromagnetic Radiation},
year = {1971},
}