Browse 8,700 peer-reviewed studies on electromagnetic field health effects from 4 research libraries.
Showing 2,998 studies (Human Studies)
Unknown authors · 1979
This 1979 study examined suicide rates near high-voltage power lines in England's Midlands region. Researchers found a correlation between proximity to transmission line electromagnetic fields and increased suicide occurrence. This was one of the first studies to suggest a link between power line EMF exposure and mental health effects.
Unknown authors · 1979
Researchers in Colorado studied homes where children developed cancer between 1976-1977 and found an excess of electrical wiring configurations that suggested high current flow near these homes compared to control homes. The correlation appeared strongest for children who had lived at the same address their entire lives and showed a dose-response relationship.
Clark W. Heath et al. · 1978
Researchers investigated 35 cases of chronic low white blood cell counts among workers at a Navy radar facility in California. While they couldn't identify a single cause, the workers showed concerning patterns of declining immune cell counts over many years. The study called for increased monitoring of these workers for potential blood disorders.
E.E. KETCHEN, W.E. PORTER, N.E. BOLTON · 1978
This 1978 review examined how stationary magnetic fields affect humans and animals. Researchers found that humans can detect magnetic field interactions starting at 80-100 gauss, and recommended limiting whole-body exposure to 200 gauss for extended periods. The study established early safety guidelines for static magnetic field exposure.
C.A.L. Bassett et al. · 1978
Researchers used pulsed electromagnetic fields to treat 106 patients with bone fractures that wouldn't heal naturally (pseudarthroses). The non-surgical EMF treatment achieved functional bone healing in 84 patients, representing an 81% success rate. This demonstrates that carefully controlled electromagnetic fields can stimulate biological healing processes in humans.
Michaelson SM · 1978
This 1978 case study documented a postmastectomy patient who experienced sensitivity to microwave oven radiation in the area where surgery had been performed. The research explored how surgical sites might create heightened vulnerability to electromagnetic field exposure. This represents early clinical evidence that tissue damage or surgical trauma could increase EMF sensitivity.
Robert D. Tucker, Otto H. Schmitt · 1978
Researchers tested over 200 people in more than 30,000 trials to see if humans can consciously detect moderate-strength 60 Hz magnetic fields (7.5-15 gauss). Using a specially designed isolation chamber to eliminate false clues, they found no evidence that people can sense these electromagnetic fields, even with biofeedback training.
Paul Brodeur · 1978
This 1978 article by Paul Brodeur documented growing public concern and resistance to microwave radiation exposure from various sources. The piece examined how communities were beginning to organize and push back against microwave installations and policies that ignored potential health risks. This represents an early example of grassroots advocacy challenging official assurances about microwave safety.
Paul Brodeur · 1978
This 1978 analysis by Paul Brodeur examined how government agencies and industry responded to growing concerns about microwave radiation health effects by blaming media coverage rather than addressing the science. The review covered controversial cases including the Moscow Embassy microwave bombardment and PAVE PAWS radar systems, highlighting patterns of deflecting responsibility when health questions arose.
Huai Chiang, K-C Yee · 1978
In 1978, Chinese researchers conducted health studies on microwave radiation exposure and used their findings to recommend national safety standards for microwave exposure. This represents one of the earliest systematic attempts by a government to establish protective limits based on actual health research rather than just thermal effects.
Howard I. Bassen et al. · 1978
This 1978 government report investigated electromagnetic radiation leakage from microwave diathermy machines, which use focused microwave energy for deep tissue heating in medical treatments. The study measured how much microwave radiation escaped from these therapeutic devices when used on human patients and laboratory test models. This research was part of early efforts to understand occupational and patient exposure risks from medical microwave equipment.
Howard I. Bassen et al. · 1978
This 1978 government report examined microwave radiation leakage from diathermy machines used in medical treatments. Researchers measured how much microwave energy escaped from these therapeutic devices when used on both human patients and phantom test models. The study was part of federal efforts to assess potential exposure risks from medical microwave equipment.
M. H. Repacholi · 1978
This 1978 Canadian government paper proposed the first national exposure limits for microwave and radiofrequency radiation, recommending 1 mW/cm² (10 W/m²) for continuous human exposure. The authors argued this limit would protect both workers and the general public while remaining technically feasible for industry compliance.
Unknown authors · 1978
This 1978 NIOSH technical report established criteria and considerations for recommended standards protecting workers from radiofrequency and microwave field exposures. The document addressed occupational safety limits for RF/microwave radiation in workplace environments. This represents early government recognition that RF and microwave exposures required formal worker protection standards.
Quirino Balzano, Oscar Garay, Frances R. Steel · 1978
This 1978 study measured how VHF portable radio transmitters heat human tissue using detailed phantom models that simulated muscle, bone, and brain tissue. Researchers found that some commercially available radios produced power levels exceeding 10 mW/cm² on operators. The study used sophisticated tissue-mimicking materials to understand heating patterns in realistic body geometries.
O. Balzano, O. Garay, F.R. Steel · 1978
This 1978 study compared how electromagnetic energy from portable radios penetrates human tissue at two different frequencies: 450 MHz versus 800-900 MHz. Researchers found that higher frequencies (800-900 MHz) deposit more energy in surface tissue layers, while the curved shape of the human head actually focuses this energy deeper into brain tissue than the lower 450 MHz frequency.
R.M. Albrecht, E. Landau · 1978
This 1978 epidemiological assessment examined the growing use of microwave radiation across communications, industry, home ovens, and medical applications. The review highlighted significant differences between Eastern European safety standards (which recognized health effects at much lower exposure levels) and Western guidelines. The authors emphasized the critical need for human studies rather than relying solely on animal research, particularly to identify subtle mental health effects from prolonged microwave exposure.
R. A. Tell, F. Harlan · 1978
This 1978 analysis examined whether the widely-used 10 mW/cm² radiofrequency safety standard provides adequate protection from thermal effects. The researchers found that while this limit offers sufficient protection above 1 GHz frequencies, exposures below 1 GHz (where the body resonates with RF energy) should be reduced by ten times for adequate safety margins.
R.M. Albrecht, E. Landau · 1978
This 1979 epidemiological assessment examined microwave radiation exposure patterns across different applications including communications, industrial uses, home ovens, and medical diathermy. The study highlighted significant discrepancies between Eastern and Western exposure standards, with Eastern European countries reporting adverse health effects at much lower levels than Western safety limits allowed.
Scott Kaufer · 1978
This 1978 research examined microwave radiation as an invisible form of air pollution, focusing on sources like radar systems and their potential public health implications. The study addressed electromagnetic pollution during an era when microwave technology was rapidly expanding but health effects were poorly understood. This work helped establish early awareness of microwave radiation as an environmental health concern.
Lehmann et al. · 1978
Researchers tested two microwave diathermy applicators used for medical heating therapy on tissue models and human subjects. They measured how much stray radiation leaked from the devices at various distances and anatomical sites. Both applicators produced dangerous levels of stray radiation that exceeded proposed safety standards, particularly near sensitive areas like eyes and reproductive organs.
Mark Joseph Hagmann · 1978
This 1978 doctoral thesis developed numerical methods to calculate how electromagnetic energy is absorbed by the human body. The research created mathematical models to predict energy absorption patterns in human tissue when exposed to electromagnetic fields. This foundational work helped establish the scientific basis for understanding EMF exposure levels in humans.
Quirino Balzano, Oscar Garay, Francis R. Steel · 1978
Researchers tested how much radiofrequency energy from 800 MHz portable radios gets absorbed into human tissue by measuring temperature changes in simulated human heads. They found that different antenna designs create 'hot spots' about one inch below the skull's surface, with some antennas exposing the eye area to higher energy levels than others.
Hagmann J, Gandhi OP, D'Andrea JA, Chatterjee I · 1978
Researchers discovered that the human head acts like an antenna at 350 MHz microwave frequency, absorbing three times more energy than expected. This "head resonance" effect means the head region absorbs far more radiation than previously calculated when the whole body is considered, not just the isolated head.
Unknown authors · 1978
This 1978 government information bulletin examined domestic microwave oven safety, focusing on microwave radiation leakage and potential biological effects from household exposure. The document addressed safety concerns and radiation standards for consumer microwave ovens during their early widespread adoption.