Human Exposure to Electromagnetic Emissions

SRI International has conducted a number of studies—including analysis of radio frequency and laser systems—to analyze the possible health and safety consequences of exposure to electromagnetic energy. Since the mid 1980s, SRI has prepared detailed calculations of power densities of electromagnetic emissions from a number of government electronic systems and compared these power densities to national and international safety guidelines for human exposure developed by government agencies and standards setting bodies (e.g., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, American National Standards Institute, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement, World Health Organization, Association for Advancement of Medical Instrumentation), and several foreign countries. SRI analyses have included review of the scientific and medical literature to determine the nature and types of potential risks, detailed calculations of energy emissions, field measurements of emissions, comparison of emissions to safety guidelines for occupational and public exposure, and development of practical control measures as necessary to prevent excessive or possible harmful human exposure. The analyses have generally been in support of National Environmental Policy Act review of proposed system installations and operations. We have also presented the findings of our studies at a number of public hearings hosted by government agencies. In addition, we have taught a training seminar for National Weather Service (NWS) managers that addressed the topic of safety concerns related to electromagnetic emissions from the Weather Surveillance Radar-Model 88 Doppler (WSR-88D).

SRI has performed work in the subject area for the following programs and agencies: