Review of Information on Hazards to Personnel from High-Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation
Herbert Pollack, Janet Healer · 1967
1967 review established early scientific recognition that electromagnetic radiation below 300 MHz required safety criteria based on biological effects.
Plain English Summary
This 1967 review examined foreign and domestic research on biological effects of electromagnetic radiation to establish safety criteria. Researchers focused particularly on high-frequency radiation (3-30 MHz) and frequencies below 300 MHz, evaluating existing literature for hazards to human personnel. The study represents early scientific efforts to understand EMF health risks during the Cold War era.
Why This Matters
This 1967 review marks a pivotal moment in EMF research history, when scientists first began systematically examining biological effects of electromagnetic radiation for safety standards. The focus on frequencies below 300 MHz is particularly relevant today, as these ranges overlap with modern AM radio, amateur radio, and various industrial applications that still expose millions daily. What makes this study significant is its timing during the Cold War, when both military and civilian applications of RF technology were rapidly expanding without adequate safety oversight.
The mixed findings reported here reflect a pattern we still see today in EMF research. The science demonstrates that even in 1967, researchers recognized the need for comprehensive safety criteria based on biological effects, not just thermal heating. This early recognition of potential hazards predates decades of industry influence that would later downplay non-thermal effects.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{review_of_information_on_hazards_to_personnel_from_high_frequency_electromagneti_g7323,
author = {Herbert Pollack and Janet Healer},
title = {Review of Information on Hazards to Personnel from High-Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation},
year = {1967},
}