On the Interaction of Non-Ionizing Radiation with People
Abstract
This report examines the physical basis for many of the thermal and non-thermal interactions between microwaves and the human body. Although a microwave beam incident on the human body dissipates, on the average, about the same amount of heat as does normal metabolism, it can actually dissipate considerably more heat in certain local regions of the body because of strong beam focusing effects (e.g., within the brain), flow of induced currents through small, constricted areas of the body (e.g., ankle, neck) and differences in electrical properties among body tissues. Since relatively large heat dissipation can occur on a local level, it would appear more rational to determine a maximum permissive radiation exposure in terms of maximum allowed dissipation in a specific sensitive part of the body rather than, as is presently done, in terms of external beam intensity (the present U.S. standard is 10 milliwatts/sq cm). For non-thermal processes, no special biological process or structure has been identified as likely to be especially sensitive to microwave fields or frequencies. The experimental results designed to explore the non-thermal effect of microwaves were studied. The results of all experiments purporting to demonstrate a significant non-thermal biological effect have been disputed; in fact, very few experiments in the entire field have ever been replicated -- a situation which should be rectified.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1980
- Accession Number
- ADA082538
Entities
People
- Gordon J. Macdonald
- Malvin A. Ruderman
Organizations
- SRI International