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Quick Poll: Does Working Near RF/Microwave Radiation Worry You?

Aug. 25, 2023

We would like to know how you work when in close proximity to high levels of RF/microwave emissions

Check out other Microwaves & RF Quick Polls.

If you ask the average person/layman what constitutes a hazardous situation with regard to RF/microwave radiation, they'd probably first think of microwave ovens (or, as Christian Bale's character in the 2013 film "American Hustle," Irving Rosenfeld, would call it, a "science oven"). Such appliances are, of course, designed to be safe for those who develop and test them as well as those who use them in daily life.

However, for those of you who work in the RF/microwave industry, prolonged exposure to high levels of RF/microwave radiation can be relatively commonplace and often unavoidable. There have long been conflicting opinions, and even conflicting results of empirical study, about just how harmful such exposure is. Those who scoff at the health risks of RF/microwave emissions often cite the case of the great Harold "Bev" Beverage, who developed the Beverage long-wire antenna and spent most of his 99 years around transmitters. But if you spend a lot of time around high-power radar or cellular installations, maybe you feel differently about it.

So how do you feel about this issue? Is it an issue for you at all? We have a short poll that provides immediate feedback. You can also leave a comment below if you have more to say about proximity to high levels of EM emissions. Maybe you have a tip or two for others working with RF/microwave devices.

About the Author

David Maliniak | Executive Editor, Microwaves & RF

I am Executive Editor of Microwaves & RF, an all-digital publication that broadly covers all aspects of wireless communications. More particularly, we're keeping a close eye on technologies in the consumer-oriented 5G, 6G, IoT, M2M, and V2X markets, in which much of the wireless market's growth will occur in this decade and beyond. I work with a great team of editors to provide engineers, developers, and technical managers with interesting and useful articles and videos on a regular basis. Check out our free newsletters to see the latest content.

You can send press releases for new products for possible coverage on the website. I am also interested in receiving contributed articles for publishing on our website. Use our contributor's packet, in which you'll find an article template and lots more useful information on how to properly prepare content for us, and send to me along with a signed release form.

About me:

In his long career in the B2B electronics-industry media, David Maliniak has held editorial roles as both generalist and specialist. As Components Editor and, later, as Editor in Chief of EE Product News, David gained breadth of experience in covering the industry at large. In serving as EDA/Test and Measurement Technology Editor at Electronic Design, he developed deep insight into those complex areas of technology. Most recently, David worked in technical marketing communications at Teledyne LeCroy, leaving to rejoin the EOEM B2B publishing world in January 2020. David earned a B.A. in journalism at New York University.