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among the various federal agencies with health or regulatory
responsibilities in this area.
OSHA is responsible for protecting workers from exposure to
hazardous chemical and physical agents. In 1971, OSHA issued a
protection guide for exposure of workers to RF radiation [29 CFR
1910.97]. However, this guide was later ruled to be only advisory and
not mandatory. Moreover, it was based on an earlier RF exposure
standard that has now been revised. At the present time, OSHA uses
the IEEE and/or FCC exposure guidelines for enforcement purposes
under OSHA's "general duty clause" (for more information see:
http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/radiofrequencyradiation/index.html).
NIOSH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
It conducts research and investigations into issues related to
occupational exposure to chemical and physical agents. NIOSH has,
in the past, undertaken to develop RF exposure guidelines for
workers, but final guidelines were never adopted by the agency.
NIOSH conducts safety-related RF studies through its Physical Agents
Effects Branch in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The NTIA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is
responsible for authorizing Federal Government use of the RF
electromagnetic spectrum. Like the FCC, the NTIA also has NEPA
responsibilities and has considered adopting guidelines for
evaluating RF exposure from U.S. Government transmitters such as
radar and military facilities.
The Department of Defense (DOD) has conducted research on the
biological effects of RF energy for a number of years. This research is
now conducted primarily at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
located at Brooks Air Force Base, Texas. The DOD Website for RF
biological effects information is listed with other sites in conjunction
with a question on other sources of information, below.
26. Who funds and carries out research on the biological effects of
RF energy?
Research into possible biological effects of RF energy is carried out in
laboratories in the United States and around the world. In the U.S.,
most research has been funded by the Department of Defense, due to
the extensive military use of RF equipment such as radar and high-
powered radio transmitters. In addition, some federal agencies
responsible for health and safety, such as the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), have sponsored and conducted research in this area. At the
Section 4: Safety Guidelines and Warranty Information
4A: Safety 137