BYNUM, James Arthur · 1936
Researchers exposed 24 male university students to 1000 MHz microwave radiation at 10 mW/cm² while they performed memory tasks involving nonsense syllables. The study found no significant differences in learning or recall ability between students exposed to the radiation and those who weren't. This suggests that short-term exposure to this specific frequency and power level doesn't impair verbal memory function.
Weissenberg, E. · 1934
This 1934 German study exposed 2,000 people to radio frequency fields at 0.1 watts and documented immediate nervous system effects including tingling sensations, blood vessel changes, and altered brain function. The researchers found that RF exposure caused measurable changes in body electrical resistance and disrupted normal balance reactions when specific brain regions were targeted.
Paul Groag, Victor Tomberg · 1933
This 1933 medical journal article examined concerns about shortwave therapy, an early form of radiofrequency treatment used in physiotherapy and medical practice. The research addressed potential health effects from therapeutic RF exposure during a period when shortwave diathermy was becoming popular in medicine. This represents one of the earliest documented concerns about RF radiation effects in healthcare settings.
W. H. Bell, D. Ferguson · 1931
In 1931, the U.S. Navy investigated health effects after employees at their research lab reported symptoms from exposure to powerful radio equipment. This early military study examined both immediate reactions and long-term biological changes from super-high-frequency radio waves. The investigation marked one of the first official recognitions that radio frequency radiation could cause health problems in workers.
Bell WH, Ferguson D · 1931
This 1931 study examined the health effects of super-high frequency radio waves on naval personnel exposed during their regular service duties. The research represents one of the earliest documented investigations into occupational RF exposure health risks. This pioneering work established the foundation for understanding workplace electromagnetic field safety decades before widespread civilian wireless technology use.
S. Baranski, P. Czerski
This Polish research examined health surveillance protocols for workers professionally exposed to microwave radiation in occupational settings. The study focused on monitoring health effects in personnel who work with microwave-emitting equipment as part of their job duties. This type of occupational health surveillance helps identify potential risks from chronic workplace microwave exposure.
Edwin Hendler, James D. Hardy, Dorothy Murgatroyd
Researchers studied how microwave and infrared radiation heat human skin and produce temperature sensations. The study examined the body's ability to detect thermal changes from electromagnetic energy exposure. This research was funded by military agencies interested in understanding how radiation affects human temperature perception.
I.A. Marriott, M.A. Stuchly
This comprehensive review examined health effects attributed to video display unit (VDU) use, analyzing physical factors like radiation emissions, ergonomics, and vision impacts. The study found that well-documented problems like eye strain and musculoskeletal issues can be controlled through proper workstation design, while many other claimed health effects were either nonexistent or unrelated to VDUs specifically.
Russell L. Carpenter
This technical report by Carpenter documented case studies of people accidentally exposed to microwave radiation, focusing on eye damage including cataracts. The research examined radar personnel and others who experienced unintended microwave exposure, providing early evidence of biological effects from this technology.
Unknown authors
Researchers exposed rats to 1.28 GHz microwave radiation while they performed a vigilance task requiring attention and response to changing audio signals. The rats had to press levers to produce tones and detect changes to earn food rewards during 40-minute sessions. This study examined whether microwave exposure at frequencies similar to some wireless devices affects complex behavioral performance requiring sustained attention.
Unknown authors
This research review examined humans' ability to perceive Earth's natural magnetic field, gathering data from interviews with magnetically sensitive individuals. The study also referenced research on how animals and plants navigate using Earth's electromagnetic environment.
Unknown authors
Boeing conducted an occupational health examination focused on electromagnetic pulse (EMP) exposure among their workers. This technical report examined potential health effects from EMP exposure in aerospace industry settings. The study represents corporate recognition of electromagnetic field health risks in high-tech manufacturing environments.
P. Lövsund, P.A. Öberg, S.E.G. Nilsson
Researchers measured extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic fields in welding and steel manufacturing facilities, finding exposures of 0-10 mT at 50 Hz in typical work areas, with some induction heaters producing fields up to 60 mT. The study suggests these industrial magnetic field exposures likely cause magnetophosphenes (visual light sensations) in workers, though these effects are hard to detect in brightly lit industrial environments.
Clyde E. Ingalls
Researchers demonstrated that radar transmitters operating at 1, 3, and 10 gigahertz can be directly heard by the human brain, bypassing the ears entirely. The effect occurred at energy levels considered safe for all-day exposure, suggesting the brain itself can detect electromagnetic radiation. This phenomenon may explain reports of people hearing meteors and aurora displays.
J. D. Hardy, D. Murgatroyd
Military researchers studied how high-intensity thermal radiation affects human pain perception and tissue damage across different body areas. The study examined how the size and location of exposed body areas influence pain response, using pain as an indicator of tissue damage. This research aimed to understand thermal radiation effects on military personnel exposed to flames and special weapons.
Unknown authors
Researchers exposed rats to extremely high-intensity 918 MHz microwave radiation (60 mW/g) to see if the animals would learn to escape to a safe area. The rats failed to learn escape behavior from microwave exposure alone, but did learn when a light cue was paired with the radiation. This suggests that even near-lethal microwave radiation lacks the sensory qualities that animals can detect and respond to.
Unknown authors
Researchers exposed rats to 987 MHz microwave radiation to study conditioned taste aversion (CTA), a behavioral response where animals learn to avoid foods associated with illness or discomfort. This study examined whether microwave exposure at this specific frequency could trigger learned avoidance behaviors in laboratory animals, suggesting potential biological effects from this type of electromagnetic radiation.
Unknown authors
Researchers exposed rats to powerful 60-Hz electric fields (100 kV/m) for 30 days, then tested whether this changed their behavior around electric fields. Pre-exposed rats actually preferred staying in areas with electric fields, while unexposed rats avoided them, suggesting chronic exposure creates adaptation or tolerance.
Unknown authors
Researchers trained rhesus monkeys to position their heads directly in front of a 9.31 GHz microwave beam while performing a lever-pressing task for juice rewards. The study found no measurable effects on the monkeys' behavior during microwave exposure. This research examined whether high-frequency microwaves similar to some radar systems could disrupt trained behavioral responses.
Unknown authors
Researchers exposed African baboons to extremely high intensity 60 Hz electric fields (up to 60,000 volts per meter) to study behavioral changes. This preliminary Department of Energy study examined both individual performance tasks and social behaviors before, during, and after exposure. The research aimed to develop protocols for a larger investigation into how power line frequency fields affect primate behavior.
Unknown authors
Researchers exposed African baboons to extremely high-intensity 60 Hz electric fields (up to 60 kV/m) to study effects on both individual performance and social behavior. This preliminary study was designed to develop protocols for a larger investigation into how power line frequency fields affect primate behavior. The research examined baboon behavior before, during, and after exposure to determine if electric fields at these intensities cause measurable behavioral changes.
