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Old Dec 20, 2011 | 7:44 pm
  #21  
doober
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
Originally Posted by RadioGirl
No, not really.

The Los Alamos paper relates to frequencies around 1000 GHz (= 1 THz) and fairly high powers, while the MMW NoS is 24-30 GHz and much lower powers. The paper is based on computer modelling of effects, not on actual measurements of exposure (it's a valid approach, but it has its limitations.) Furthermore, the Los Alamos paper itself is quite hesitant in relating exposure to "effect" and "effect" to damage. The conclusions are (appropriately) very cautiously worded. Finally, other researchers have disputed the methodology of the paper. I'm a radio engineer and not a biologist, so I won't go into any more detail, but that's my understanding of the research.

More generally, MMW is similar enough in frequency and low enough in power (I've satisfied myself on both these points from independent sources) compared to other radio systems in common use that there's no real basis for concern. The conventional wisdom at these frequencies is that the only health risk is when the power is high enough to heat the skin or underlying tissue, and the MMW is many orders of magnitude below that.
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