Normalizing the thermal effects of radiofrequency radiation: body mass versus total body surface area

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bem.2250080202· OSTI ID:6086943

Gordon, C J

The current guideline for exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) was developed through assessment of the biological effects data collected primarily from the rat. The consensus that a lack of hazardous biological effects occurred below a whole-body-averaged specific absorption rate (SAR) of 4.0 W/kg led to the proposition of a 0.4 W/kg guideline with a built-in safety factor of 10. This paper demonstrates that if the RFR absorption rate in the rat had been normalized with respect to total body surface area rather than body mass, the exposure guideline would be 2.3 W/m2, which translates to an SAR of approximately 0.06 W/kg for an adult human. It is further shown that a given RFR absorption rate, normalized as a fraction of a species' heat loss per unit of surface area, is independent of body mass over a range of 0.03-100 kg; however, a normalization of the RFR absorption rate to heat loss per unit of body mass is highly dependent on the species' mass. Normalizing the rate of RFR absorption to the surface area of the rat indicates that the current RFR exposure guideline of 0.4 W/kg may be too high.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
• OSTI ID: 6086943
• Journal Information: Bioelectromagnetics (N.Y.); (United States), Vol. 8:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
RATS
RECOMMENDATIONS
SURFACE AREA
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
ANIMALS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MAMMALS
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
SURFACE PROPERTIES
VERTEBRATES
560400* - Other Environmental Pollutant Effects