{
  "id": "glossary:thermal-effect",
  "collection": "glossary",
  "slug": "thermal-effect",
  "name": "Thermal effect",
  "summary": "Tissue heating from absorbed RF energy — the established mechanism that RF exposure limits are set to prevent, with a safety margin.",
  "status": "verified",
  "lastVerified": "2026-08-12",
  "data": {
    "definition": "Absorbed RF energy raises tissue temperature. ICNIRP and FCC limits are derived from the exposure that produces a defined temperature rise, then reduced by a safety factor — typically 50 for the general public relative to the threshold for established effects. Claims of 'non-thermal' effects concern mechanisms below this threshold and are the substance of the scientific dispute in this field.",
    "category": "health",
    "seeAlso": [
      "glossary:non-thermal-effect",
      "quantities:specific-absorption-rate"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "icnirp-2020",
      "title": "Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz)",
      "publisher": "International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection",
      "url": "https://www.icnirp.org/en/publications/article/rf-guidelines-2020.html",
      "year": 2020,
      "kind": "guideline",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "fcc-1310",
      "title": "47 CFR § 1.1310 — Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-1.1310",
      "kind": "regulation",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/glossary/thermal-effect",
    "html": "https://emfbase.com/glossary/thermal-effect",
    "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/glossary/thermal-effect.md",
    "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/glossary"
  }
}