Answer to Question #6064 Submitted to "Ask the Experts"

Category: Microwaves, Radar, and Radiofrequency — Microwaves and Radiofrequency

The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field:

My wife (who's seven months pregnant), our two-year-old child, and I are considering relocating. The property of interest is approximately 1.5 miles from the largest AM radio transmission tower (100,000-watt signal tower) in the country. Please comment on the health effects of these towers. How does the radiation from AM towers differ from FM towers and cell phone towers?

Radiofrequency (RF) radiation is nonionizing and very different from ionizing radiation such as x rays and gamma rays, which can be carcinogenic. The primary mode of interaction for RF radiation is thermal and it is therefore inherently safe. There is no evidence that RF radiation is hazardous when regulatory standards are met.

There has been so much research conducted on RF radiation, the strong consensus of government, industry, and academia is that the levels associated with these wireless products is safe. At a distance of 1.5 miles from this transmission tower, you are well beyond any level of concern. Your pregnant wife, your child, and you have nothing to be afraid of, though I would not hesitate to request information about any surveys done on this particular tower. Since they have made a claim of being the most powerful tower in the country, this most likely has resulted in some safety surveys.

I am attaching several very useful Web sites with much more information than I can provide. Cellular telephones, radio, AM, FM, or television are all in the RF portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The first URL, an Australian Web site, has some nice information. The levels of RF exposure are in the microwatt per cm² range. FM transmission towers are slightly more restrictive in terms of power densities than AM towers. Regardless, the exposure levels humans are exposed to are well below regulatory and industry standards regardless of the tower type.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency Web site includes a discussion regarding the difference between AM and FM levels for towers, plus much, much more.

The Wireless LAN Association's Web site also contains very useful information and also cites the IEEE/ANSI Standard (ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992).

The Mobile Manufacturers Forum Web site cites studies from the World Health Organization and government regulatory agencies from Australia, France, the United States (FCC), Canada, Nordic countries, Singapore, and Sweden.

Radiation products are usually very well regulated and very safe when used properly.

Orhan H. Suleiman, MS, PhD

Answer posted on 26 February 2007. The information and material posted on this Web site is intended as general reference information only. Specific facts and circumstances may alter the concepts and applications of materials and information described herein. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice and should not be relied upon in the absence of such professional advice specific to whatever facts and circumstances are presented in any given situation. Answers are correct at the time they are posted on the Web site. Be advised that over time, some requirements could change, new data could be made available, or Internet links could change. For answers that have been posted for several months or longer, please check the current status of the posted information prior to using the responses for specific applications.