ANSI/IEEE Exposure Standards for Radiofrequency Fields

Abstract

The fact that exposure to continous, sinusoidal, time-varying, microwave and radiofrequency fields can produce untoward biological effects in human beings has been recognized for some time. Indeed, a sizable volume of studies has suggested that at both low- and high-power levels, exposure to microwave and radiofrequency fields could produce heating of tissues in the body. The thermalization may or may not be detectable using available temperature sensing devices as temperature elevations. Nevertheless, the absorbed energy initiates vibration and rotation of polar molecules in tissue water that would ultimately dissipate in heat.¹ This information was instrumental in the recommendation by the United States of American Standards Institute (USASI) to establish in 1966, a power density of 10 mW/cm² as the standard for human exposure to microwave and radiofrequency fields over any 6-min period.²