Effects upon health of occupational exposure to microwave radiation (radar).

Abstract

The effects of occupational experience with microwave radiation (radar) on the health of US enlisted Naval personnel were studied in cohorts of approximately 20,000 men with maximum opportunity for exposure (electronic equipment repair) and 208000 with minimum potential for exposure (equipment operation) who served during the Korean War period. Potential exposure was assessed in terms of occupational duties, length of time in occupation and power of equipment at the time of exposure. Actual exposure to members of each cohort could not be established. Mortality by cause of death, hospitalization during military service, later hospitalization in Veterans Administration (VA) facilities, and VA disability compensation were the health indexes studied, largely through the use of automated record systems. No adverse effects were detected in these indexes that could be attributed to potential microwave radiation exposures during the period 1950-1954. Functional and behavioral changes and ill-defined conditions, such as have been reported as microwave effects, could not be investigated in this study but subgroups of the living study population can be identified for expanded follow-up.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In cohorts with maximum versus minimum opportunity for radar-related microwave exposure, no adverse effects were detected in mortality, hospitalization, or VA disability compensation that could be attributed to potential microwave radiation exposures during 1950-1954.

Outcomes measured

• Mortality by cause of death
• Hospitalization during military service
• Later hospitalization in Veterans Administration (VA) facilities
• VA disability compensation

Limitations

• Actual exposure to members of each cohort could not be established (exposure classified by occupational duties, duration, and equipment power).
• Functional and behavioral changes and ill-defined conditions reported as microwave effects could not be investigated.

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.95)
  Study evaluates health outcomes by occupational opportunity for radar/microwave exposure in military personnel.

{
    "study_type": "cohort",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "microwave",
        "source": "occupational",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "served during the Korean War period (1950-1954); exposure opportunity assessed by length of time in occupation"
    },
    "population": "US enlisted Naval personnel who served during the Korean War period",
    "sample_size": 228000,
    "outcomes": [
        "Mortality by cause of death",
        "Hospitalization during military service",
        "Later hospitalization in Veterans Administration (VA) facilities",
        "VA disability compensation"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In cohorts with maximum versus minimum opportunity for radar-related microwave exposure, no adverse effects were detected in mortality, hospitalization, or VA disability compensation that could be attributed to potential microwave radiation exposures during 1950-1954.",
    "effect_direction": "no_effect",
    "limitations": [
        "Actual exposure to members of each cohort could not be established (exposure classified by occupational duties, duration, and equipment power).",
        "Functional and behavioral changes and ill-defined conditions reported as microwave effects could not be investigated."
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "microwave radiation",
        "radar",
        "occupational exposure",
        "Naval personnel",
        "Korean War",
        "mortality",
        "hospitalization",
        "VA disability compensation",
        "cohort study"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.9499999999999999555910790149937383830547332763671875,
            "reason": "Study evaluates health outcomes by occupational opportunity for radar/microwave exposure in military personnel."
        }
    ]
}

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