REVIEW OF RADIOFREQUENCY AND MICROWAVE RADIATION BIOEFFECTS: THRESHOLDS FOR EFFECTS IN ANIMALS AND BIOPHYSICAL MECHANISMS OF INTERACTION
Joseph K. Kielman, Robert F. Cleveland, Jr., Zorach R. Glaser · 1980
The review found that biological effects occur at power densities below 10 mW/cm2 without changing core temperature, though precise thresholds cannot be established.
Plain English Summary
The authors reviewed experimental results from investigators worldwide on radiofrequency and microwave radiation bioeffects. Absorption of electromagnetic energy between 300 kHz and 300 GHz depends on frequency, organism geometry, and tissue dielectric properties. At power densities above 10 mW/cm2, energy dissipation can cause thermogenesis. Below 10 mW/cm2, core temperature and metabolic rate remain unchanged but biological effects are observed, including alterations in blood-brain barrier, neurotransmitter release, EEG, heart rate, immunocompetence, hematopoiesis, neuroendocrine function, and behavior. Subjective human effects such as headaches, weakness, and auditory response have also been reported.
Why This Matters
The mode or modulation of the radiation can determine the extent of biological change in some cases. Maximal absorption occurs at the resonant frequency, and thresholds would presumably change as absorption decreases away from resonance. Electrical effects on membrane function and macromolecular interactions have been postulated as causative for most low-level bioeffects.
Finding
These include alterations in the following variables: blood-brain barrier, neurotransmitter release, EEG, heart rate, immunocompetence, hematopoiesis, neuroendocrine production and secretion, and behavior. Subjective effects in humans, such as headaches, weakness, and an auditory response, have also been reported.
In their words
“These include alterations in the following variables: blood-brain barrier, neurotransmitter release, EEG, heart rate, immunocompetence, hematopoiesis, neuroendocrine production and secretion, and behavior. Subjective effects in humans, such as headaches, weakness, and an auditory response, have also been reported.”
Show BibTeX
@article{review_of_radiofrequency_and_microwave_radiation_bioeffects_thresholds_for_effec_g6273,
author = {Joseph K. Kielman and Robert F. Cleveland and Jr. and Zorach R. Glaser},
title = {REVIEW OF RADIOFREQUENCY AND MICROWAVE RADIATION BIOEFFECTS: THRESHOLDS FOR EFFECTS IN ANIMALS AND BIOPHYSICAL MECHANISMS OF INTERACTION},
year = {1980},
}