Biological Effects of Radiofrequency Energy as Related to Health and Safety

Abstract

This article examines biological effects of radiofrequency fields (3 kHz to 300 GHz) with emphasis on potential hazards, specifically effects that a person would perceive as adverse to health and safety. Its approach is tutorial rather than comprehensive, and its perspective follows that of major international exposure limits that were established by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Committee on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The main emphasis is on unequivocal effects that are potentially hazardous, which are principally thermal in nature. A concluding section summarizes major areas of controversy. Issues related to electromagnetic compatibility, for example, RF interference with medical devices, are excluded from discussion. Additional sources are included in an annotated bibliography.