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Proposed Exposure Limits for Microwave and Radiofrequency Radiations in Canada

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M. H. Repacholi · 1978

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Canada's 1978 microwave exposure limits focused only on preventing heating, ignoring biological effects now documented at much lower levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1978 Canadian government paper proposed the first national exposure limits for microwave and radiofrequency radiation, recommending 1 mW/cm² (10 W/m²) for continuous human exposure. The authors argued this limit would protect both workers and the general public while remaining technically feasible for industry compliance.

Why This Matters

This foundational 1978 document reveals how early EMF exposure standards were set with remarkably little biological research to guide them. The proposed 1 mW/cm² limit was based primarily on avoiding obvious thermal heating effects, not the biological impacts we understand today. What's striking is how this thermal-only approach became the template for decades of regulatory standards worldwide. The reality is that modern research shows biological effects occurring at levels far below this 1978 threshold. Your smartphone typically operates around 0.6-2 W/kg SAR, which translates to power densities that can approach or exceed these early limits during peak transmission. The science demonstrates that focusing solely on heating effects ignores the growing body of evidence for non-thermal biological responses at much lower exposure levels.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study
M. H. Repacholi (1978). Proposed Exposure Limits for Microwave and Radiofrequency Radiations in Canada.
Show BibTeX
@article{proposed_exposure_limits_for_microwave_and_radiofrequency_radiations_in_canada_g6037,
  author = {M. H. Repacholi},
  title = {Proposed Exposure Limits for Microwave and Radiofrequency Radiations in Canada},
  year = {1978},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

The 1978 proposal recommended 1 mW/cm² (10 W/m²) for continuous human exposure to microwave and radiofrequency radiation, with higher levels permitted for short durations.
No, the Canadian Federal Government had no statutory requirements or recommendations for maximum permissible levels of microwave and radiofrequency radiation before this 1978 proposal.
The 1978 proposed limit of 1 mW/cm² remains similar to current thermal-based standards, though modern research shows biological effects at much lower exposure levels.
The 1978 limits were based primarily on preventing thermal heating effects and comparisons with other national standards, with limited consideration of non-thermal biological impacts.
The authors stated that compliance with the 1 mW/cm² limit should not present major problems for industry, suggesting the standard prioritized technical feasibility.