RADIOFREQUENCY and MICROWAVE RADIATION LEVELS RESULTING FROM MAN-MADE SOURCES in the WASHINGTON, D.C., AREA
Stephen W. Smith, David G. Brown · 1971
This 1971 study documented early urban RF pollution in Washington DC, establishing baseline measurements before modern wireless technology exploded.
Plain English Summary
This 1971 technical report documented radiofrequency and microwave radiation levels from man-made sources throughout Washington DC. Researchers Smith and Brown measured electromagnetic field exposures in the nation's capital during an era when RF technology was rapidly expanding. The study represents early efforts to quantify urban electromagnetic pollution from broadcasting stations, communication systems, and other wireless infrastructure.
Why This Matters
This study captures a pivotal moment in our electromagnetic environment. In 1971, Washington DC already had enough man-made RF sources to warrant systematic measurement - decades before cell phones, WiFi, and smart devices transformed our cities into dense electromagnetic soup. The reality is that what researchers found concerning then would seem quaint compared to today's exposure levels. Modern urban areas typically show RF power densities thousands of times higher than what existed in the early 1970s.
What makes this research particularly valuable is its historical baseline. It documents RF levels during an era when the primary sources were AM/FM radio, television broadcasts, and early microwave communication systems. This gives us a reference point for understanding how dramatically our electromagnetic environment has changed in just five decades.
Finding
The peak ambient radiation originating from man-made RF sources at the 10 sites monitored in the Washington, D.C., area approached a maximum of 10-2 mW/cm2. This power density may be considered accurate to within 15 dB.
In their words
“The peak ambient radiation originating from man-made RF sources at the 10 sites monitored in the Washington, D.C., area approached a maximum of 10-2 mW/cm2. This power density may be considered accurate to within 15 dB.”
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Study Details
To determine typical levels of radiofrequency and microwave radiation resulting from man-made sources in an urban environment
Mobile radiation monitoring equipment was used to measure man-made radiation levels from 20 Hz to 10...
The maximum observed power densities of radiation in each of the biologically relevant frequency ban...
The highest levels measured (approximately 10-2 mW/cm2) originated primarily from AM broadcast towers and airport radar installations.
Show BibTeX
@article{radiofrequency_and_microwave_radiation_levels_resulting_from_man_made_sources_in_g4938,
author = {Stephen W. Smith and David G. Brown},
title = {RADIOFREQUENCY and MICROWAVE RADIATION LEVELS RESULTING FROM MAN-MADE SOURCES in the WASHINGTON, D.C., AREA},
year = {1971},
}