Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 6, December 1997

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Epidemiologic Evidence Relevant to Radar (Microwave) Effects

John R. Goldsmith

Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

Abstract
Public and occupational exposures to microwave (RF) radiation are of two main types. The first type of exposures are those connected with military and industrial uses and, to some extent, broadcast exposures. It is this type that most of the data cited in this study draw upon. The second type, cellular telephones and their associated broadcast requirements, have raised concerns about current exposures because of their increasingly widespread use. Four types of effects were originally reported in multiple studies: increased spontaneous abortion, shifts in red and white blood cell counts, increased somatic mutation rates in lymphocytes, and increased childhood, testicular, and other cancers. In addition, there is evidence of generalized increased disability rates from a variety of causes in one study and symptoms of sensitivity reactions and lenticular opacity in at least one other. These findings suggest that RF exposures are potentially carcinogenic and have other health effects. Therefore, prudent avoidance of unneeded exposures is recommended as a precautionary measure. Epidemiologic studies of occupational groups such as military users and air traffic controllers should have high priority because their exposures can be reasonably well characterized and the effects reported are suitable for epidemiologic monitoring. Additional community studies are needed. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 6):1579-1587 (1997)

Key words: leukemia epidemiology, brain cancer epidemiology, nonionizing radiation epidemiology, cellular telephones and health, TV and radio broadcast towers, military electronic equipment effects

This paper is based on a presentation at the International Conference on Radiation and Health held 3-7 November 1996 in Beer Sheva, Israel. Abstracts of these papers were previously published in Public Health Reviews 24(3-4):205-431 (1996). Manuscript received at EHP 11 March 1997; accepted 2 June 1997.

Address correspondence to Dr. J.R. Goldsmith, Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer Sheva, Israel 84120. Telephone: 972 7 6400876. Fax: 972 7 6277342. E-mail: gjohn@bgumail.bgu.ac.il

Abbreviations used: AE, aviation electrician's mate(s); ALL acute lymphatic leukemia; ANLL, acute nonlymphatic leukemia; AT, aviation electronics technician(s); ELF, extremely low frequency radiation (50-60 cycles); FM, frequency modulation; FSHSS, Foreign Service Health Status Study (Lilienfeld Report); FT, fire control technician(s); O/E, observed to expected; OR, odds ratio(s); RD, radarmen; RF, radiofrequency or microwave; RM, radiomen; RR, relative risk; SIR, standardized incidence ratios; TV, television; U.S. EPA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; UV, ultraviolet.

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