ABSTRACT
Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are real, physical, incorporeal entities that arise from the existence and motion of atomic charges. Man-made EMFs became increasingly common constituents of the general and workplace environments early in the 20th century. Some life-styles and occupations are associated with more than the average amount of exposure to EMFs. People who live near high-voltage powerlines, for example, experience strong electric and magnetic fields that are not usually present in neighborhoods without power lines. People who use electric blankets similarly experience stronger fields for longer durations compared to the general population. Navy shipboard personnel are exposed to EMFs from many shipboard radars, and in this regard their work environment differs significantly from that of other young men. People living near airports or antenna farms are exposed to radar beams or broadcast radiation, and such residential areas therefore differ from other socio-economically comparable areas with regard to the content of the electromagnetic background. Amateur radio operators experience more EMF exposure than the general population because of their proximity to radiating antennas.
