Statement by Dr. Elliott Harris, Director Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Center for Disease Control Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

Dr. Elliott Harris testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in 1977 about occupational radiation safety and health standards. This government testimony addressed NIOSH's role in establishing biomedical and behavioral science standards for workplace radiation exposure. The statement represents early federal recognition of radiation health risks in occupational settings.

Why This Matters

This 1977 Senate testimony marks a pivotal moment when federal health officials formally acknowledged radiation risks to workers, laying groundwork for occupational EMF protections we rely on today. Dr. Harris's statement to Congress represents the kind of institutional recognition that took decades to achieve for tobacco and asbestos hazards. The focus on both biomedical and behavioral science aspects shows early understanding that radiation affects more than just cancer risk. What makes this testimony particularly relevant today is how it demonstrates the government's capacity to act on emerging science when worker safety is at stake. Yet nearly five decades later, we're still debating similar evidence about everyday EMF exposures from cell phones, WiFi, and smart devices that affect millions more people than occupational sources ever did.

Exposure Information

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Cite This Study

Elliott Harris (1977). Statement by Dr. Elliott Harris, Director Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Center for Disease Control Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Show BibTeX

@article{statement_by_dr_elliott_harris_director_division_of_biomedical_and_behavioral_sc_g4472,
  author = {Elliott Harris},
  title = {Statement by Dr. Elliott Harris, Director Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Center for Disease Control Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation},
  year = {1977},
  
  
}

Quick Questions About This Study

Dr. Harris testified before the Senate Commerce Committee about occupational radiation safety standards and NIOSH's role in protecting workers from radiation exposure through biomedical and behavioral science research.

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) was responsible for developing science-based health standards to protect workers from radiation hazards in their workplace environments.

This Senate testimony represents early federal recognition of radiation health risks, establishing precedent for government action on electromagnetic field safety that influences workplace protections today.

Yes, Dr. Harris specifically mentioned behavioral science alongside biomedical research, indicating early recognition that radiation exposure could affect neurological and cognitive function, not just physical health.

This testimony shows the federal government acknowledged radiation health risks decades ago for occupational exposure, yet similar concerns about everyday EMF sources remain largely unaddressed by regulators.