Electromagnetic pollution alert: Microwave radiation and absorption in human organs and tissues

Electromagnetic biology and medicine · 2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1187

The study reports simulation/modeling results across 1–105 GHz showing that absorbance in modeled organs and tissues increases with frequency and that fields attenuate strongly within tissues. In a Skin-Bone-Brain layered model, electric and magnetic fields r…

Study snapshot

PublicationElectromagnetic biology and medicine · 2021

Study typeengineering

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electromagnetic pollution alert: Microwave radiation and absorption in human organs and tissues Nantakan Wongkasem. Electromagnetic pollution alert: Microwave radiation and absorption in human organs and tissues. Electromagn Biol Med. 2021 Feb 10;1-18. doi: 10.1080/15368378.2021.1874976. Abstract Electromagnetic radiation from communication and electronic devices, networks, systems and base stations has drawn concern due to excessive global usage with increasing power and operating frequency level. Numerous previous researches only focus on how the radiation from certain frequency ranges of particular devices could harm specific human organs and tissues, resulting in distinct symptoms. In this research, electromagnetic propagation and properties in 14 human organs and tissues were analyzed and investigated based on the organs and tissues' electromagnetic and mechanical parameters, and chemical composition. Counting the organs and tissues as electromagnetic materials, their permittivity and conductivity, computed by a 4-Cole-Cole mode, directly respective to the operating frequency, are interrelated to wave behavior and hence influence the organs' response. Tests were conducted in 1 GHz to 105 GHz system settings, covering most microwave frequency uses: 2.4 GHz of 4G-LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee and the 5G ranges: 28 GHz of 5G-mmW and 95 GHz of 5G-IoT. Trial human organs and tissues were placed in the wave propagation direction of 2.4 GHz and 28 GHz dipole antennas, and a waveguide port operating from 95 to 105 GHz. The quantitative data on the effects of 5G penetration and dissipation within human tissues are presented. The absorbance in all organs and tissues is significantly higher as frequency increases. As the wave enters the organ-tissue model, the wavelength is shortened due to the high organ-tissue permittivity. Skin-Bone-Brain layer simulation results demonstrate that both electric and magnetic fields vanish before passing the brain layer at all three focal frequencies of 2.4 GHz, 28 GHz and 100 GHz. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Excerpts At a cellular tower or a cell site, an effective-radiated power (ERP) of up to 500 W per radio channel or transmitter, depending on the tower height, was permitted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (Haripriya 2020b). The majority of cellular or Personal Communications Services (PCS) cell sites in urban and suburban areas operate at an ERP of 100 W per channel or less. An ERP of 100 W corresponds to an actual- radiated power of 5–10 W, depending on the type of antenna used (Stutzman and Thiele 2012). As with all forms of EM energy, the power density from a cellular or PCS transmitter decays proportionally to 1/R2 as the distance from the cell site increases. Therefore, for a common 40 W of the power density of about 10 mW/m2 at 100 m from the antenna tower, the power density will be 1 mW/m2, as the distance increases to 300 m away from the base station and the device will receive 1μW, based on the effective antenna area of 0.001 m2. Having several mobile phones active in the same area, the total EM radiation can get close to 2 W, the same level as the maximum power radiation of 5 mW/cm2 at 2 inches from the microwave oven surface permitted by federal regulations (Haripriya 2020c). Besides the aforementioned cellular emission, there is also EM radiation from wireless networks, smart and wearable devices, unceasingly scattering around, whether or not you are connected to their networks.... Conclusion Eight human organ and tissue models (blood, brain, breast, eye bulb, heart, kidney, liver and lung), while tested with electromagnetic excitation from 2.4 GHz and 28 GHz dipole antennas, and 95–105 GHz waveguide ports, show that the wavelength of the E- and H-fields propagating inside the models is shortened or the wave frequency is accelerating, approximately 5–8 times. The lowest propagation frequency is found in the lung model, where the permittivity and conductivity are lowest among those of the eight studied models. The E-field intensity boosts significantly as the EM source frequency increases, approximately 10 times between 2.4 GHz and 28 GHz. The E-field intensity (from 95 GHz to 105 GHz radiation) rises from 3.89% (in the brain) to 4.86% (in the liver). The field intensity dramatically decreases as the wave propagates passing the model, indicating high wave attenuation from the material absorption. The EM absorbance is found to be greater than 60% in all 14 organ and tissue models. At 100 GHz, the bone (83.01%), urinary bladder wall (82.95%), lung (80.02%), liver (68.18%), brain (66.18%) and eye bulb (64.46%) present the highest absorbance level. The absorbance increases significantly as the frequency increases, for instance, 43.78% at 2.4 GHz, 51.95% at 28 GHz and 66.16% at 100 GHz in the brain model. The transmittance in all models is below e-20 level. At all three operating frequencies: 2.4 GHz, 28 GHz and 100 GHz, the E- and H- fields vanish before passing through the brain layer of the Skin-Bone-Brain layered model. The overall layer absorbance is greatly elevated at all 3 frequencies: 69.18% at 2.4 GHz, 65.69% at 28 GHz and 71.49% at 100 GHz. The reflectance is around 30%, while the transmittance is significantly low. The scattering behavior and multiple absorbing possibility is observed. The absorbance is inversely proportional to the permittivity and conductivity of human organs and tissues. There is no clear correlation between the EM absorbance and heat transfer and generation rate. The models confirm that the higher the frequency, the greater the attenuation. Penetration is therefore reduced with increasing frequency. However, on the other hand, the absorption level increases with frequency. The results quantitatively validate the classic effects of the increase in frequency in terms of penetration and dissipation in human tissues and organs. Further study of the EM radiation and propagation, either on specific complete human parts, for example, an eye bulb with cornea, anterior chamber, pupil, iris, lens, ciliary and vitreous body, macular, retina, choroid and optic nerve, or the whole human body, will definitely provide more insight and correlation of the EM radiation and its effects amid all human organs

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 72% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Electromagnetic field propagation/attenuation in tissue models
Absorbance/reflectance/transmittance in organ and tissue models
Penetration depth/field vanishing in layered Skin-Bone-Brain model

Limitations

Appears to be based on modeled/simulated organ and tissue properties rather than measurements in living humans
Health outcomes or clinical endpoints are not assessed; results focus on electromagnetic propagation/absorption metrics
Exposure conditions (e.g., incident power density at tissue surface) are not fully specified in the abstract/excerpts provided
Generalizability to real-world device use and regulatory compliance scenarios is unclear from the provided text

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "publication_year": 2021,
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wireless devices/base stations (modeled sources)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Electromagnetic field propagation/attenuation in tissue models",
    "Absorbance/reflectance/transmittance in organ and tissue models",
    "Penetration depth/field vanishing in layered Skin-Bone-Brain model"
  ],
  "main_findings": "The study reports simulation/modeling results across 1–105 GHz showing that absorbance in modeled organs and tissues increases with frequency and that fields attenuate strongly within tissues. In a Skin-Bone-Brain layered model, electric and magnetic fields reportedly vanish before passing the brain layer at 2.4 GHz, 28 GHz, and 100 GHz.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Appears to be based on modeled/simulated organ and tissue properties rather than measurements in living humans",
    "Health outcomes or clinical endpoints are not assessed; results focus on electromagnetic propagation/absorption metrics",
    "Exposure conditions (e.g., incident power density at tissue surface) are not fully specified in the abstract/excerpts provided",
    "Generalizability to real-world device use and regulatory compliance scenarios is unclear from the provided text"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.72,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "stance": "neutral",
  "stance_confidence": 0.62,
  "summary": "This paper models electromagnetic propagation and absorption in multiple human organ and tissue models across microwave frequencies (1–105 GHz), including 2.4 GHz, 28 GHz, and ~100 GHz. It reports that modeled absorbance increases with frequency and that fields attenuate strongly within tissues, with a Skin-Bone-Brain layered model showing fields vanishing before reaching the brain layer at the focal frequencies. The work is primarily an engineering/biophysical modeling analysis and does not report clinical or epidemiologic health outcomes.",
  "key_points": [
    "Analyzes electromagnetic properties (permittivity and conductivity) of organ/tissue models using a 4-Cole-Cole approach across frequency.",
    "Uses modeled sources including 2.4 GHz and 28 GHz dipole antennas and a 95–105 GHz waveguide port.",
    "Reports that absorbance is higher at higher frequencies across modeled organs and tissues.",
    "Reports strong attenuation and very low transmittance through the modeled tissues.",
    "In a Skin-Bone-Brain layered simulation, E- and H-fields reportedly vanish before passing the brain layer at 2.4, 28, and 100 GHz.",
    "Notes reduced penetration with increasing frequency alongside increased absorption in the modeled tissues.",
    "States there is no clear correlation between modeled absorbance and heat transfer/generation rate."
  ],
  "categories": [
    "RF Exposure",
    "5G",
    "Dosimetry & Modeling",
    "Microwave/mmWave"
  ],
  "tags": [
    "RF Propagation Modeling",
    "Tissue Dielectric Properties",
    "Microwave Absorption",
    "Millimeter Wave",
    "5G mmWave",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "28 GHz",
    "100 GHz",
    "Dipole Antenna",
    "Waveguide Port",
    "Skin-Bone-Brain Model",
    "Attenuation",
    "Penetration Depth",
    "Reflectance And Transmittance"
  ],
  "keywords": [
    "electromagnetic pollution",
    "microwave radiation",
    "absorption",
    "human organs",
    "tissues",
    "permittivity",
    "conductivity",
    "Cole-Cole model",
    "2.4 GHz",
    "28 GHz",
    "95–105 GHz",
    "5G"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.62,
      "reason": "Includes modeling at 28 GHz and ~100 GHz described as 5G-related ranges."
    },
    {
      "slug": "wifi",
      "weight": 0.55,
      "reason": "Includes 2.4 GHz identified with Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/ZigBee."
    }
  ],
  "social": {
    "tweet": "Modeling study (1–105 GHz) reports higher RF/mmWave absorbance in organ/tissue models as frequency increases, with strong attenuation and a Skin–Bone–Brain model showing fields vanishing before the brain layer at 2.4, 28 and 100 GHz.",
    "facebook": "An engineering modeling paper analyzed RF/mmWave propagation in multiple organ and tissue models (1–105 GHz). It reports increasing absorbance with frequency and strong attenuation, including a Skin–Bone–Brain layered simulation where fields vanish before reaching the brain layer at 2.4, 28 and 100 GHz.",
    "linkedin": "This engineering/dosimetry modeling study evaluated electromagnetic propagation and absorption in organ/tissue models across 1–105 GHz (including 2.4 GHz, 28 GHz and ~100 GHz). It reports increased absorbance with frequency and strong attenuation, with layered Skin–Bone–Brain simulations indicating fields vanish before the brain layer at the focal frequencies."
  }
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2021.1874976
PubMed: 33566706

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