7.2.4 From Energy Absorption To Biological Effects

Internal electric fields and absorbed power or energy do not themselves constitute injury. They create physical conditions within tissues that may produce a biological response. Whether that response is physiologically significant depends on magnitude, duration, spatial distribution, the tissue involved, and the body’s ability to maintain normal function.

Most everyday RF exposures produce internal quantities far below those associated with established adverse effects. At sufficiently high levels, induced electric fields can stimulate excitable tissues and absorbed RF energy can raise tissue temperature. The different response times of whole-body and localized heating are reflected in the 30-minute, 6-minute, and brief-exposure provisions explained in the following section.

The following section examines those established responses and the thresholds used in health protection.