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| Non-Thermal Bioeffects of Radio Frequency Radiation |
MOMRP Task Area: M
Problem
Many future weapon and communication systems, including body-worn antenna, will employ RFR and microwave technologies that operate in the millimeter wavelength and ultrawide band (UWB) ranges. However, the potential non-thermal bioeffects of RFR and microwave have not been thoroughly examined. Recent Army microwave bioeffects research demonstrated that rats exposed to UWB pulses experienced a delayed drop in blood pressure that persisted for as long as four weeks after exposure. In the absence of bioeffects data, use of future systems could be restricted with arbitrarily conservative safety standards, or inadvertently expose soldiers to new health risks.
Medical Research Solution
Use animal exposure and in vitro tissue studies to develop critical microwave bioeffects data that will support the development of safe and effective microwave systems.
Products
Exposure criteria for non-thermal effects of RFR and microwaves to support safety evaluations of body-worn antenna.
Last Update: April 2, 2003