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Report on the Safety from Electromagnetic Radiation in and Around the CN Tower

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Authors not listed · 1977

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Government safety review of CN Tower's RF emissions shows decades-old regulatory concern about broadcast tower exposure levels.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1977 government report examined electromagnetic radiation safety around Toronto's CN Tower, focusing on radio frequency and television transmission exposures. The study assessed potential health risks from the tower's broadcasting operations, which was significant given the CN Tower's status as one of the world's tallest communication structures at the time.

Why This Matters

This government safety assessment represents an important early recognition that massive broadcasting infrastructure requires careful evaluation of public EMF exposure. The CN Tower, standing 553 meters tall and broadcasting multiple TV and radio signals across Toronto, created unprecedented RF exposure scenarios that regulators needed to understand. What makes this particularly relevant today is how it parallels our current situation with 5G cell towers and wireless infrastructure deployment. The science demonstrates that government agencies were already concerned about RF safety in the 1970s, yet decades later we're still grappling with similar questions about safe exposure levels from our increasingly dense wireless infrastructure.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagram extracted from the original research document.

diagramPage 3 - AI-described figure: A diagram illustrating a human figure with an electromagnetic radiation signal superimposed around it and text at the top referring to safety from electromagnetic radiation in and around the CN Tower.
p. 3 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 10 MHz - 300 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 10 MHz - 300 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

To assess any possible health hazards to the general public and employees working within the CN Tower from electromagnetic radiation emissions

Field intensity measurements were taken at all levels of occupancy within the CN Tower, on the roofs...

Measurements were recorded in db(uV) and converted to watts per square centimetre by taking into acc...

Within and around the CN Tower and in buildings in downtown Toronto normally occupied by the public, microwave radiation levels were well within permissible limits. Within the CN Tower, at locations generally occupied by workers and not normally frequented by the public, microwave radiation levels were also found to be well within the permissible limits. There does not appear to be a health hazard to either the microwave radiation workers or the general public from the electromagnetic transmissions of the CN Tower.

Cite This Study
Unknown (1977). Report on the Safety from Electromagnetic Radiation in and Around the CN Tower.
Show BibTeX
@article{report_on_the_safety_from_electromagnetic_radiation_in_and_around_the_cn_tower_g7306,
  author = {Unknown},
  title = {Report on the Safety from Electromagnetic Radiation in and Around the CN Tower},
  year = {1977},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

The 1977 government report focused on radio frequency and television transmission emissions from Toronto's CN Tower, which was one of the world's tallest broadcasting structures at 553 meters tall.
The CN Tower's unprecedented height and multiple broadcasting antennas created unique electromagnetic exposure scenarios that required government safety evaluation to protect Toronto residents and workers near the structure.
While the CN Tower represented massive RF exposure in 1977, today's cell towers, WiFi networks, and 5G infrastructure create more diverse and potentially higher cumulative exposures across urban populations.
The document is classified as a government report from 1977, though the specific Canadian agency responsible for this electromagnetic safety assessment of the CN Tower is not specified in available records.
Yes, this 1977 government safety assessment demonstrates that regulatory agencies recognized the need to evaluate electromagnetic radiation from major broadcasting infrastructure nearly five decades ago, establishing precedent for EMF safety reviews.