Maxwell's Silver Hammer
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one report of brain wave changes suggesting resonance of neural elec-
trical currents with radio waves and microwaves down to a billionth of a
MICROWAVE EXPOSURE FROM A TYPICAL CB RADIO
There's a chance of somewhat stricter rules in a few years. In 1982 the
American National Standards Institute recommended that the radio-
wave safety level be lowered to 1,000 microwatts and the microwave
level to 5,000. This was the first semiofficial admission that nonthermal
effects do exist. Now several federal agencies have begun discussing a
formal regulation. The most likely source is the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, but at last report the rumored EPA proposal of a 100-
microwatt limit for the general public, which had been anticipated in
late 1984, was abruptly and indefinitely postponed due to dissension
within and pressure from outside the agency.
A health-protecting federal standard with the force of law would have
a major impact on both industry and government. Industry would expe-
rience a decline in revenue and an increase in costs. Government, espe-
cially the military, would be inconvenienced in a multitude of activities.
Both would be subject to lawsuits for exposures and damages prior to
establishment of the standard. In addition, we must understand that no
amount of artificial EMR, no matter how small, has been proven safe for
continuous exposure. Bioeffects have been found at the lowest measur-
able doses. However, we must also understand that the greatest danger
lies in uncontrolled exposure to large amounts of EMR at many overlap-