Radio-frequency Hazards with Cardiac Pacemakers
J. Lichter, J. Borrie, W. M. Miller · 1965
This 1965 study provided early evidence that radio-frequency radiation can interfere with cardiac pacemakers, establishing medical device EMF hazards.
Plain English Summary
This 1965 research examined how radio-frequency electromagnetic fields interfere with cardiac pacemakers, representing one of the earliest studies on EMF hazards to medical devices. The study investigated electromagnetic interference effects that could potentially disrupt pacemaker function. This work helped establish the foundation for understanding how RF radiation can affect implanted medical devices.
Why This Matters
This 1965 study represents a pivotal moment in EMF research - it was among the first to document that radio-frequency radiation poses real hazards to medical devices. What makes this particularly significant is the timing: pacemakers were relatively new technology, yet researchers already recognized that electromagnetic fields could interfere with these life-saving devices. The reality is that pacemaker interference was one of the earliest documented examples of EMF causing measurable, immediate harm to human health through medical device malfunction.
What this means for you today is that the EMF interference problem has only grown more complex. In 1965, the radio-frequency environment was relatively simple compared to today's wireless world of cell phones, WiFi, Bluetooth, and countless other RF sources. If basic radio frequencies could interfere with pacemakers in 1965, consider the exponentially more complex electromagnetic environment your medical devices face today.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{radio_frequency_hazards_with_cardiac_pacemakers_g6372,
author = {J. Lichter and J. Borrie and W. M. Miller},
title = {Radio-frequency Hazards with Cardiac Pacemakers},
year = {1965},
}