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THE ACTION OF MICROWAVES ON LIVING ORGANISMS AND BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES

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A. S. PRESMAN · 1965

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This foundational 1965 study established early scientific understanding of how microwave radiation interacts with living biological systems.

Plain English Summary

Summary written for general audiences

This 1965 research examined how microwave radiation affects living organisms and biological structures, focusing on the dielectric properties of tissues and radiofrequency electromagnetic field interactions. The study represents early scientific investigation into microwave biological effects, establishing foundational understanding of how electromagnetic fields interact with living systems at the cellular and tissue level.

Why This Matters

This 1965 study by Presman represents pioneering research into microwave biological effects, conducted during the early decades of electromagnetic field health investigation. What makes this work particularly significant is its timing - it emerged when microwave technology was expanding rapidly, yet safety research was still in its infancy. The focus on dielectric properties of tissues reveals sophisticated understanding that biological systems aren't just passive recipients of electromagnetic energy, but active participants with complex electrical characteristics.

The reality is that this foundational research helped establish the scientific framework we still use today to understand EMF-biology interactions. While our microwave exposures in 1965 were primarily from early radar systems and industrial applications, today we're surrounded by microwave-frequency radiation from WiFi routers, cell phones, and smart devices. The biological mechanisms Presman investigated remain relevant as we grapple with exponentially higher exposure levels from ubiquitous wireless technology.

Figures from the Original Paper

Diagrams extracted from the original research document.

chartPage 3 - Fig. 1. Dispersion of the dielectric constant (a) and the resistivity (b) of blood in the radiofrequency range.
p. 3 of the original PDF
graphPage 4 - Figure 2. Frequency-dependence of the coefficient of reflection of radio waves from the surface of 'he human body.
p. 4 of the original PDF
graphPage 5 - Figure 3: Relation of microwave energy absorption by animal tissues to subcutaneous fat thickness at various frequencies.
p. 5 of the original PDF
graphPage 6 - AI-described figure: Figure 5 illustrates heating of tissues at various depths from a microwave-irradiated surface on a dog's femur for different periods of irradiation.
p. 6 of the original PDF
graphPage 8 - Figure 7a illustrates the nature of heat exchange in warm-blooded animals as a function of body temperature.
p. 8 of the original PDF

Exposure Information

A logarithmic frequency spectrum from 10 Hz to 100 GHz showing where this study's 100 MHz to 24 GHz exposure sits relative to common EMF sources.Where This Frequency Sits on the EMF SpectrumELFVLFLF / MFHF / VHFUHFSHFmm10 Hz100 GHzThis study: 100 MHz to 24 GHzPower lines50/60 HzCell phones~1 GHzWiFi2.4 GHz5G mm28 GHzLogarithmic scale

Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study.

Study Details

To discuss experimental and theoretical studies on the biological action of microwaves and present findings accessible to non-specialists in biology and medicine

The study reviews experimental and theoretical research on biological action of microwaves, examinin...

Tissues of high water content show high values of dielectric constant while tissues of low water con...

The biological action of microwaves has been studied for about forty years, with the field of investigation extending to higher and higher frequencies. Studies have covered electrical properties of living tissues in the microwave range, absorption and transformation of microwave energy in tissues, action of these waves on living organisms and biological structures, and determination of the mechanism of this action.

Cite This Study
A. S. PRESMAN (1965). THE ACTION OF MICROWAVES ON LIVING ORGANISMS AND BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES.
Show BibTeX
@article{the_action_of_microwaves_on_living_organisms_and_biological_structures_g4750,
  author = {A. S. PRESMAN},
  title = {THE ACTION OF MICROWAVES ON LIVING ORGANISMS AND BIOLOGICAL STRUCTURES},
  year = {1965},
  
  
}
No DOI on file for this study.

Quick Questions About This Study

The research focused on living organisms and biological structures generally, with particular attention to tissue dielectric properties and how electromagnetic fields interact with biological systems at the cellular level.
This was pioneering work conducted as microwave technology expanded rapidly in radar and industrial applications, establishing foundational understanding before widespread consumer microwave exposure became common.
Dielectric properties describe how biological tissues respond to electromagnetic fields - essentially how living cells and organs interact with and absorb radiofrequency energy rather than simply allowing it to pass through.
The biological mechanisms Presman investigated remain relevant today as we face exponentially higher microwave exposures from WiFi, cell phones, and wireless devices operating at similar frequencies.
It established that biological systems actively interact with electromagnetic fields through complex electrical characteristics, rather than being passive recipients of microwave energy, forming the foundation for modern EMF research.