Science and standards. RF-hazards and standards: an historical perspective.

Abstract

The following topics are discussed: Standard of safety considerations. Early efforts in bioengineering and biophysics before and after World War II, Work after World War II (1950s), Early interest in hazards, Soviet work and The Tri-Service area and ANSI. The author concludes that the historical development of biophysics and bioengineering, both as a whole and in the specialty area of nonionizing radiation, proceeded in a fairly rational fashion. Formulation of exposure standards in the West was based on the biophysical approach, which prevails in the interdisciplinary sciences involving biomedical and engineering disciplines. No pressure by an "industrial-military establishment" was evident in the quest for standards, and the Soviet approach and work were under surveillance from the late 1950's. A continuous interest in athermal effects has persisted since the 1930's. Historical accounts are based on personal experience and study of the literature. They are therefore limited to the extent that such experience and study is incomplete. The author had the good fortune to participate over a professional lifetime in the development of biophysical and biomedical engineering sciences, including those that address nonionizing radiation and Western standards of safety.