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Section 4A: Safety 159
The EPA has, in the past, considered developing federal guidelines for public
exposure to RF radiation. However, EPA activities related to RF safety and health are
presently limited to advisory functions. For example, the EPA now chairs an Inter-
agency Radiofrequency Working Group, which coordinates RF health-related
activities among the various federal agencies with health or regulatory
responsibilities in this area.
OSHA is responsible for protecting workers from exposure to hazardous chemical
and physical agents. In 1971, OSHA issued a protection guide for exposure of
workers to RF radiation [29 CFR 1910.97]. However, this guide was later ruled to be
only advisory and not mandatory. Moreover, it was based on an earlier RF exposure
standard that has now been revised. At the present time, OSHA uses the IEEE and/or
FCC exposure guidelines for enforcement purposes under OSHA’s “general duty
clause”(for more information see: h
ttp://www.osha-
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radiofrequencyradiation/index.html
.
NIOSH is partof the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It conducts
research and investigations into issues related to occupational exposure to chemical
and physical agents. NIOSH has, in the past, undertaken to develop RF exposure
guidelines for workers, but final guidelines were never adopted by the agency.
NIOSH conducts safety-related RF studies through its Physical Agents Effects Branch
in Cincinnati,Ohio.
The NTIA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is responsible for
authorizing Federal Government use of the RF electromagnetic spectrum. Like the
FCC, the NTIA also has NEPA responsibilities and has considered adopting guidelines
for evaluating RF exposure from U.S. Government transmitters such as radar and
military facilities.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has conducted research on the biological effects
of RF energy for a number of years. This research is now conducted primarily at the
U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory located at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. The DOD
Web site for RF biological effects information is listed with other sites in conjunction
with a question on other sources of information, below.
Who funds and carries out research on the biological effects of
RF energy?
Research into possible biological effects of RF energy is carried outin laboratories in
the United States and around the world. In the U.S., most research has been funded
by the Department of Defense, due to the extensive military use of RF equipment
such as radar and high-powered radio transmitters. In addition, some federal
agencies responsible for health and safety, such as the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have sponsored and
conducted research in this area. At the present time, most of the non-military
research on biological effects of RF energy in the U.S. is being funded by industry
organizations. More research is being carried out overseas, particularly in Europe.
In 1996, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the International EMF
Project to review the scientific literature and work towards resolution of health
concerns over the use of RF technology. WHO maintains a Web site that provides