Section 4A: Safety 181opened. The FDA has stated that ovens that meet its standards and are usedaccording to the manufacturer's recommendations are safe for consumer andindustrial use. More information is available from: www.fda.gov/cdrh.The EPA has, in the past, considered developing federal guidelines for publicexposure to RF radiation. However, EPA activities related to RF safety andhealth are presently limited to advisory functions. For example, the EPA nowchairs an Inter-agency Radiofrequency Working Group, which coordinates RFhealth-related activities among the various federal agencies with health orregulatory responsibilities in this area.OSHA is responsible for protecting workers from exposure to hazardouschemical and physical agents. In 1971, OSHA issued a protection guide forexposure of workers to RF radiation [29 CFR 1910.97]. However, this guidewas later ruled to be only advisory and not mandatory. Moreover, it was basedon an earlier RF exposure standard that has now been revised. At the presenttime, OSHA uses the IEEE and/or FCC exposure guidelines for enforcementpurposes 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. Itconducts research and investigations into issues related to occupationalexposure to chemical and physical agents. NIOSH has, in the past, undertakento develop RF exposure guidelines for workers, but final guidelines were neveradopted by the agency. NIOSH conducts safety-related RF studies through itsPhysical Agents Effects Branch in Cincinnati, Ohio.The NTIA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce and is responsiblefor authorizing Federal Government use of the RF electromagnetic spectrum.Like the FCC, the NTIA also has NEPA responsibilities and has consideredadopting guidelines for evaluating RF exposure from U.S. Governmenttransmitters such as radar and military facilities.The Department of Defense (DOD) has conducted research on the biologicaleffects of RF energy for a number of years. This research is now conductedprimarily at the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory located at Brooks Air ForceBase, Texas. The DOD Web site for RF biological effects information is listedwith other sites in conjunction with a question on other sources ofinformation, below.Who funds and carries out research on the biological effects ofRF energy?Research into possible biological effects of RF energy is carried out inlaboratories in the United States and around the world. In the U.S., mostresearch has been funded by the Department of Defense, due to the extensivemilitary use of RF equipment such as radar and high-powered radiotransmitters. In addition, some federal agencies responsible for health andsafety, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration (FDA), have sponsored and conducted research in thisarea. At the present time, most of the non-military research on biologicaleffects of RF energy in the U.S. is being funded by industry organizations. Moreresearch is being carried out overseas, particularly in Europe.
