Setting Standards for Radio-Frequency Radiation Exposure

Abstract

RF EXPOSURE STAN PAR D S SETTING IN S T IT U T IO N S Setting standards is a sociopolitical as well as a scientific process. Public concern and controversy over the use of nonionizing radiation technology is increasing and delaying industry facility contruction. Exposure to some level of nonionizing radiation, beyond that naturally occurring in the environment, is an inescapable consequence of modern-day use of the electromagnetic spectrum for broadcast and other purposes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined the greatest contributor of radio­ frequency radiation (RFR) to the ambient environment: the FM broadcast band (TV video). The biological effects of RFR are well understood for continuous exposure to high power density levels (>100 mW/cm2). Positive data on low-level (<1 mW/cm2) exposures are difficult to find in the literature. The decision to set standards can be based on the potential health hazard (the scientific, rational, basis for standards) or on the operational need for a standard to allay public fears and reduce the attrib­ utable litigation and delay costs.* Setting Standards as a Process A reasonable model of the process of setting standards for the scientific RFR is given in an inter­ agency task force report (Figure l).2 The roman [Source: Figure 1 , B E N E R Task Force, 1 9 8 0 ] ........ FIGURE 1 ELEMENTS OF THE PROGRAM ON BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS RECOMMENDED BY THE BENER TASK FORCE numerals show the recommended time course of the process; the "feedback" loops incorporate the idea of revision. As the state of our scientific knowledge increases we may develop more precise models of population exposure, and hence the probabililty of being exposed to various levels of RFR. We shall also be able to refine models of the biological effects from threshold-value determinations to probability distributions. This level of quantification is necessary before risk assessments can be attempted. And risk assessments, which apply probabilities to the value of "life and limb" in units of dollars, must precede economic cost/benefit analysis. This last is a requirement of all federal proposals for regula­ tion. 3 Setting standards involves both private and public-sector institutions (Figure 2). The process of PRIVATE SECTOR