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Radiofrequency and Microwave Radiation |
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Electric and magnetic fields are complex physical agents
whose potential health effects are the subject of much research. Particularly
controversial are the biophysical mechanisms by which these RF
fields may affect biological systems. General health effects reviews explore
possible carcinogenic, reproductive and neurological effects. Health
effects by exposure source are noted in radar traffic devices, wireless communications with cellular phones, radio transmission, and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
General Health Effects
Reviews
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Review of the Scientific Evidence for Limiting Exposure to
Electromagnetic Fields (0–300 GHz). Health Protection Agency (HPA),
Documents of the NRPB, 15.3 (2004,
April 30). Reflects the understanding and evaluation of the current
scientific evidence as presented and referenced in the full report available for
download, 1.6 MB
PDF, 233 pages.
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The NCRP Releases Commentary No. 18,
Biological Effects of Modulated Radiofrequency Fields.
National Council on Radiation Protection (NCRP), (2003). Examines the literature on biological effects of
exposure to modulated radiofrequency (RF) energy to determine whether
present exposure standards and guidelines need to be modified further to
take modulation into account. Modulation occurs in a wide variety of
forms specialized for radar, wireless communications, broadcast
communications, and industrial processes.
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2003 WHO research agenda for radio frequency fields. World Health
Organization (WHO), (2003). The RF
Research Agenda defines high priority research whose results would
contribute to the WHO health risk assessment for RF exposures.
Researchers are encouraged to use the Research Agenda as a guide to
studies that have high value for WHO health risk assessments.
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Bioelectromagnetics Society, 24.6(2003): S74-100. Presents many
articles describing various health effects due to RF exposure including:
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Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields: Cancer, Mutagenesis, and Genotoxicity. 228 KB
PDF, 27 pages. Presents critiques of epidemiologic studies and experimental
investigations, published mostly in peer-reviewed journals, on cancer
and related effects from exposure to non-ionizing electromagnetic fields
in the nominal frequency range of 3 kHz to 300 GHz of interest to
Subcommittee 4 (SC4) of the International Committee on Electromagnetic
Safety (ICES). The preponderance
of published epidemiologic and experimental findings do not support the
supposition that in vivo or in vitro exposures to such fields are
carcinogenic.
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Review of the Epidemiologic Literature on EMF and Health. International Commission for
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Standing Committee on Epidemiology.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 109.6(December,
2001), 230 KB PDF,
23 pages. Overall, despite 20
years of extensive epidemiologic investigation of the relation of EMF to
risk of chronic disease, there are still epidemiologic questions that
need to be resolved.
- Proceedings
of the Scientific Workshop on the Health Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF) on Workers.
US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 91-111, (1991, January), one 6.0 MB
PDF
229-page file or 9 separate PDF files.
Includes
research papers on EMF presented at the workshop as well as recommendations for further research.
- Health Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation on Workers: Epidemiologic Studies. 838 KB
PDF, 33 pages.
Addresses cancer, reproduction, and
neuropsychological effects of EMF.
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Questions and Answers About the Biological Effects and Potential Hazards of Radiofrequency Radiation. Federal Communication Commission,
Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Bulletin #56, (1999, August),
103 KB
PDF, 17 pages.
Provides factual information to the public by answering some
of the most commonly asked questions about this complex and often
misunderstood topic.
- Establishing a Dialogue on Risks from Electromagnetic Fields. World Health Organization
(WHO), (2002, October), 242 KB
PDF, 41 pages.
Supports decision-makers faced with a combination of public controversy, scientific
uncertainty, and the need to operate existing facilities and/or the requirement to site new facilities
appropriately. Its goal is to improve the decision-making process by reducing misunderstandings and
improving trust through better dialogue.
- EPA Letter Accepting FCC Limits
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), (1999). Provides a general EPA statement that people do not have to be concerned
about RF radiation if they keep their exposures below the FCC standard.
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Radio-Frequency and Microwave Radiation, Third Edition.
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA),
(2004). Provides
a detailed look at the physical characteristics of radio-frequency and
microwave radiation, its generation and sources, how it interacts with
matter, and its biological effects. Existing standards and guidelines
are discussed, as are instrumentation and controls. A handy glossary
provides definitions of important terms, and an appendix presents a list
of problems industrial hygienists and other health professionals might
face.
- National Safety Council (NSC). "Nonionizing Radiation." Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene Chicago,
IL: 1988. Presents an overview of non-ionizing radiation in a popular text.
- Radiofrequency
Radiation Bioeffects Research. US Air Force Research Laboratory.
Health Effects by Exposure Source
Traffic Radar Devices
RF Heaters and Sealers
- Radiofrequency
(RF) Sealers and Heaters: Potential Health Hazards and Their Prevention.
OSHA, US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Joint NIOSH/OSHA
Current Intelligence Bulletin 33 (1979, December 4). Workers
near RF sealers may be unaware of their exposure to RF emissions,
because the RF energy from sealers and heaters can penetrate deeply into
the body without activating the heat sensors located in the skin. The
results of a NIOSH study indicate that the majority of the workers
surveyed were exposed to RF energy at levels exceeding values citable by
OSHA. An extensive list of occupations involving the use of RF sealers
and heaters is presented in Section II of the
attached Appendix.
Wireless Communications including Cellular Phones
- Radiation, Mobile Phones, Base Stations and Your Health.
University of Malaya, (2003, September), 1.02 MB
PDF, 32 pages. This document is considered by World Health
Organization (WHO) to be a good example of an information brochure for
distribution to the public on the health effects of electromagnetic
fields. This was produced by Prof Ng Kwan-Hoong, Dept of Radiology,
University of Malaya, Malaysia.
- Telecommunications: Research and Regulatory Efforts on Mobile Phone Health Issues.
US General Accounting Office (GAO) Report to Congressional Requesters, (2001, May), 154 KB
PDF, 42 pages.
Concludes that research
to date does not show RF energy emitted from mobile phones to have
adverse health effects but there is not enough information to conclude
they pose no risk.
- Radio Frequency Radiation Emissions and Wireless Communication Devices
(CDHR). US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS),
National Toxicology Program (NTP), 228 KB
PDF, 9 pages.
Provides a
summary of why FDA is concerned about exposures from cellular phones and has suggested
that the National Toxicology Program study the issue.
- Mobile
Phones and Health. House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, (1999, September 22).
Outlines the
recommendations and conclusions of the committee regarding mobile phones and health.
- FDA Letter Regarding Cellular Phones
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), (1997, May 5). Letter to Congress from the Food and Drug Administration in
response to questions regarding alleged health hazards associated with the use of cellular
phones. The appendix includes brief summaries of six recent studies.
- FDA Letter Regarding Wireless
Communication Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), (1998, January 14).. Letter to Congress
regarding the status of the Food and Drug Administration's oversight and
investigation of wireless communication health effects.
- Boice, JD, and JK McLaughlin. Epidemiological studies of cellular telephones and cancer risk -- A review. Swedish Radiation Protection
Authority. Stockholm: 2002. 259 KB
PDF,
40 pages. No
overall increased risk of brain tumors was associated with use of
cellular telephones.
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Cellular
Phones Antennas and Human Health Internet Site. University of
Wisconsin. This site was established by Professor
John Moulder, University of Wisconsin, a radiation oncologist, to assist in answering questions
about hazards from cellular phone communications. It includes a series of FAQs.
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Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones Report
(also known as the Stewart Report).
Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP), (2000, May). The
work Group recommends further research on RF effects on brain function,
consequences of exposures to pulsed signals, improvements in dosimetry,
impact of sub-cellular and cellular changes, psychological and social
studies related to mobile phone use, epidemiological and human volunteer
studies, including the study of children who may be more susceptible to
RF radiation.
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The Interphone Project. International Agency for Research on Cancer
(IARC). Several recent expert groups have reviewed critically the current
evidence concerning the health effects of low-level exposures to radio
frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (WHO 1996, McKinlay et al. 1997,
Repacholi, 1998). In view of the current state of knowledge concerning
the possible adverse health effects of RF exposure, and of the
increasingly widespread use of portable telephones in many countries,
these groups recommended that research be carried out to determine
whether radiotelephones could cause adverse health effects. Priority was
given to epidemiological studies of the relationship between use of
mobile telephones and the incidence of (a) brain tumours (b) salivary
gland tumours, acoustic neurinomas and other head and neck tumours (c)
leukaemia and lymphomas be carried out.
Radio Transmission
- Schilling, CJ. "Effects of exposure to very high frequency radiofrequency radiation on six antenna engineers in two separate
incidents." Occupational Medicine
50.1(2000, January): 49-56.
Describes the health effects on six men
exposed to high levels of RF radiation (100 MHz) while working on transmission masts. Symptoms included headache, parasthesiae, diarrhea,
malaise and lassitude. The condition of the four men with the highest exposure has shown no significant improvement. The incidents occurred
in 1995 and 1996.
- Radiofrequency
Radiation-caused Burns. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin (HIB), (1990, September
5). Induced-current grasping hazards and burns caused by spark-discharges were found
in longshoremen working on a pier in close proximity to AM radio transmitting towers.
Suggested control methods are included.
- Employee Exposure to High-Level Radio Frequency Radiation. OSHA Compliance Issues, (2002), 247 KB
PDF, 3 pages.
Illustrates a real-world case of high level RF exposure.
During the exposure, both painters working on the tower momentarily
became a living part, or extension, of the antenna through a phenomenon
referred to as "induced current." As the RF exited the workers'
bodies, primarily through the legs near the ankles, the steel in the
injured worker's shoes caused the current to "arc" and burn the worker's
ankles and legs.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
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