SAFETY AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS IN THE CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
PADMAKAR P. LELE · 1979
Early recognition that even medical ultrasound required safety evaluation before widespread use in pregnancy care.
Plain English Summary
This 1979 review examined the safety concerns surrounding ultrasound use in obstetrics and gynecology, focusing on potential health hazards from diagnostic imaging during pregnancy. The author provided a framework for interpreting future research on ultrasound safety risks for human health. This represents early recognition that even medical ultrasound applications required careful safety evaluation.
Why This Matters
This 1979 paper represents a pivotal moment in medical EMF safety awareness. While ultrasound operates at much higher frequencies than the radiofrequency EMF we encounter from phones and WiFi, the underlying principle remains the same: we must carefully evaluate the biological effects of electromagnetic energy before widespread adoption. The reality is that ultrasound was already in widespread medical use when this safety review was published, highlighting how technology often precedes comprehensive safety evaluation. What this means for you is understanding that even beneficial medical technologies require ongoing safety assessment. The science demonstrates that electromagnetic energy interacts with biological systems across the spectrum, from the ultrasound frequencies used in medical imaging to the radiofrequency emissions from our daily devices.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.
Show BibTeX
@article{safety_and_potential_hazards_in_the_current_applications_of_ultrasound_in_obstet_g5066,
author = {PADMAKAR P. LELE},
title = {SAFETY AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS IN THE CURRENT APPLICATIONS OF ULTRASOUND IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY},
year = {1979},
}