Thermal effect
Tissue heating from absorbed RF energy — the established mechanism that RF exposure limits are set to prevent, with a safety margin.
health
Last verified 12 August 2026.
- Category
- health
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.
Sources
- icnirp-2020 Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz) — International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, 2020. guideline, link checked 2026-08-12.
- fcc-1310 47 CFR § 1.1310 — Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits — U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR). regulation, link checked 2026-08-12.
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