Radio spectrum pollution

Short description: Deviation of radio waves beyond allocations

The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. You may improve this article, discuss the issue on the talk page, or create a new article, as appropriate. (March 2026) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

Radio waves hazard symbol Part of a series on

Pollution

Air pollution from a factory

Air

* Acid rain
* Air quality index
* Atmospheric dispersion modeling
* Chlorofluorocarbon
* Combustion
* Exhaust gas
* Haze
* Household air pollution
* Global dimming
* Global distillation
* Indoor air quality
* Non-exhaust emissions
* Ozone depletion
* Particulate matter
* Persistent organic pollutant
* Smog
* Soot
* Volatile organic compound

Biological

* Biological hazard
* Genetic
* Illegal logging
* Introduced species
* Invasive species

Digital

* Information
* Effects of violence in mass media

Electromagnetic

* Light
* Ecological
* Overillumination
* Radio spectrum

Natural

* Ozone
* Radium and radon in the environment
* Volcanic ash
* Wildfire

Noise

* Transportation
* Health effects from noise
* Marine mammals and sonar
* Noise barrier
* Noise control
* Soundproofing

Radiation

* Actinides
* Bioremediation
* Depleted uranium
* Nuclear fission
* Nuclear fallout
* Plutonium
* Poisoning
* Radioactivity
* Uranium
* Radioactive waste

Soil

* Agricultural
* Land degradation
* Bioremediation
* Defecation
* Electrical resistance heating
* Illegal mining
* Soil guideline values
* Phytoremediation

Solid waste

* Advertising mail
* Biodegradable waste
* Brown waste
* Electronic waste
* Food waste
* Green waste
* Hazardous waste
* Industrial waste
* Landfill
* Litter
* Mining
* Municipal solid waste
* Nanomaterials
* Plastic
* Packaging waste
* Post-consumer waste
* Waste management

Space

* Space debris

Thermal

* Urban heat island

Visual

* Air travel
* Advertising clutter
* Overhead power lines
* Traffic signs
* Urban blight
* Vandalism

War

* Chemical warfare
* Herbicidal warfare
* Agent Orange
* Nuclear holocaust
* Nuclear fallout
* Nuclear famine
* Nuclear winter
* Scorched earth
* Unexploded ordnance
* War and environmental law

Water

* Agricultural wastewater
* Biosolids
* Diseases
* Eutrophication
* Firewater
* Freshwater
* Groundwater
* Hypoxia
* Industrial wastewater
* Marine
* Monitoring
* Nonpoint source
* Nutrient
* Ocean acidification
* Oil spill
* Pharmaceuticals
* Freshwater salinization
* Septic tanks
* Sewage
* Shipping
* Sludge
* Stagnation
* Sulfur water
* Surface runoff
* Turbidity
* Urban runoff
* Water quality
* Wastewater

Topics

* History
* Pollutants
* Heavy metals
* Paint

Misc

* Area source
* Brain health and pollution
* Debris
* Dust
* Garbology
* Legacy
* Midden
* Point source
* Technofossil
* Waste
* Toxic

|  Lists

* Diseases
* Law by country
* Most polluted cities
* Least polluted cities by PM2.5
* Treaties
* Most polluted rivers

Categories

* By country

*   *

* v
* t
* e

Radio spectrum pollution is the straying of electromagnetic waves in the radio spectrum (3 kHz to 300 GHz) outside their allocations that cause unintended effects on communication or health.[1] It has three main categories, natural noise, leakage from devices not intended for radio transmissions, such as some light fixtures, and interference from radio transmissions.[2] It is of particular concern in radio astronomy,[3] aviation,[4] and other fields, as well as for potential environmental effects.[5]

Radio spectrum pollution is mitigated by effective spectrum management. Within the United States, the Communications Act of 1934 grants authority for spectrum management to the President for all federal use (47 U.S.C. 305).[6] The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) manages the spectrum for the Federal Government. Its rules are found in the "NTIA Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management".[7] The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) manages and regulates all domestic non-federal spectrum use (47 U.S.C. 301).[8] Each country typically has its own spectrum regulatory organization. Internationally, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) coordinates spectrum policy.[9]

US frequency allocations, used to prevent radio pollution

In the early days of radio, no frequency allocation was allocated. As a result, there was a delay in receiving the distress signal of the Titanic, and its public sinking prompted the Radio Act of 1912.[10] There are various natural and artificial sources of radio pollution. Among the natural sources are lightning strikes, which produce VHF (very high frequency) emissions.[11] Atmospheric gases also produce radio pollution, as well as there being cosmic radio pollution from sources such as the cosmic microwave background. Artificially, there are stray transmissions. Even if all sources are removed, the antenna itself still provides some interference.[12]

The ratio of noise to signal is often used in quantifying radio pollution. In absolute terms, nanowatts per square centimeter (nW/cm2) are used to quantify the energy of all radio signals at a location.[13][14] Research has found a typical 10-1000 nW/cm2 exposure to radio in most cellular frequencies. This is most often around 0.9 and 1.8 GHz. However, the exposure at particular places can vary greatly, from a negligible 0.67*10^-8 nW/cm2 in some rural areas to around 10,000 nW/cm2 in some urban centers.[15]

Below 2 GHz, radio signals can be affected by cosmic sources. This is most relevant for communication with satellites, as the Sun and a few other sources such as Cassiopeia A give off strong radio signals, which can make contacting satellites overlapping them from an Earth-based view more difficult.[12] Additionally, while Radio quiet zones have been established for radio astronomy, satellites such as Starlink which are not covered by current regulations can provide interference.[16]

Studies[17][18] have been conducted on radio waves' impact on life. The most prominent influence is dielectric heating. In particular, high frequencies (above 6 GHz), showed greater effects. It has been widely acknowledged that there is limited research in this area, and the health effects in humans are more controversial, but the World Health Organization has listed it as possibly carcinogenic.[19]

There are a few ethical issues surrounding radio spectrum pollution. Most regulatory agencies such as the FCC consider radio spectrum transmissions only to be potentially hazardous at high levels, which are not reached even near transmission towers. There also is the issue of regulation, in that some out-of-spectrum signals, especially from home devices, are often not considered large enough to enforce.[2] Pirate radio is also an issue in many countries,[20][21] and was at high levels in the 2010s in the United States, especially due to a decrease in FCC employee number.[2] which prompted the 2020 Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement (PIRATE) Act, giving the FCC increased enforcement capabilities.[22]

## See also

* Electromagnetic radiation and health
* Frequency allocation
* Radio quiet zone
* Spectrum management
* Electromagnetic interference

## References

1. ↑ "Tips for radio technicians". http://www.rsm.govt.nz/cms/reception-problems/tips-for-radio-technicians.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Challenges of Radio Spectrum Pollution". Silicon Flatirons. October 27, 2023. https://siliconflatirons.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Outcomes-Report_2023-06-22_Roundtable_The-Challenges-of-Radio-Spectrum-Pollution.pdf.
3. ↑ Cohen, R. J. (1989-05-01). "The threat to radio astronomy from radio pollution". Space Policy 5 (2): 91–93. doi:10.1016/0265-9646(89)90064-7. ISSN 0265-9646. Bibcode: 1989SpPol...5...91C. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0265-9646(89)90064-7.
4. ↑ Malik, Adnan; Rao, Muzaffar (2025-06-18). "Radio Frequency Interference, Its Mitigation and Its Implications for the Civil Aviation Industry" (in en). Electronics 14 (12): 2483. doi:10.3390/electronics14122483. ISSN 2079-9292.
5. ↑ Cucurachi, S.; Tamis, W. L. M.; Vijver, M. G.; Peijnenburg, W. J. G. M.; Bolte, J. F. B.; de Snoo, G. R. (2013-01-01). "A review of the ecological effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF)". Environment International 51: 116–140. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2012.10.009. ISSN 0160-4120. PMID 23261519. Bibcode: 2013EnInt..51..116C. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412012002334.
6. ↑ "47 U.S. Code § 305 - Government owned stations" (in en). https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/305.
7. ↑ Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). January 2023.
8. ↑ "FCC: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau: Rules and Regulations". December 2010. http://wireless.fcc.gov/index.htm?job=rules_and_regulations.
9. ↑ International Telecommunication Union (2018), Guidance on the regulatory framework for national spectrum management, ITU, https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/opb/rep/R-REP-SM.2093-3-2019-PDF-E.pdf, retrieved 22 November 2025
10. ↑ "August 1912 - ITS" (in en). https://its.ntia.gov/this-month-in-its-history/august-1912.
11. ↑ Yin, Wenjie; Jin, Weizheng; Zhou, Chen; Liu, Yi; Tang, Qiong; Liu, Moran; Chen, Guanyi; Zhao, Zhengyu (2021-05-24). "Lightning Detection and Imaging Based on VHF Radar Interferometry" (in en). Remote Sensing 13 (11): 2065. doi:10.3390/rs13112065. ISSN 2072-4292. Bibcode: 2021RemS...13.2065Y.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 International Telecommunication Union (August 2022), Recommendation ITU-R P.372-16 – Radio noise, https://www.itu.int/dms_pubrec/itu-r/rec/p/R-REC-P.372-17-202408-I!!PDF-E.pdf, retrieved 22 November 2025
13. ↑ "Understanding the Noise Floor on a Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer". https://signalhound.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2021/02/TB-Understanding-the-Noise-Floor-on-a-RTSA-210219.pdf.
14. ↑ "RF Radiation Study: How To Measure RF Exposure | EMF & RF Testing | Mitigation | Shielding Experts" (in en-US). 2015-01-07. http://www.emfrf.com/how-to-measure-rf-exposure/.
15. ↑ Rowley, Jack T.; Joyner, Ken H. (2012). "Comparative international analysis of radiofrequency exposure surveys of mobile communication radio base stations". Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 22 (3): 304–315. doi:10.1038/jes.2012.13. ISSN 1559-064X. PMID 22377680. Bibcode: 2012JESEE..22..304R.
16. ↑ Pultarova, Tereza (2024-09-19). "Radio pollution from SpaceX's new Starlink satellites poses threat to astronomy, scientists say" (in en). https://www.space.com/starlink-v2-mini-radio-noise-threatens-astronomy.
17. ↑ "Environmental impacts of 5G: A literature review of effects of radio-frequency electromagnetic field exposure of non-human vertebrates, invertebrates and plants". European Parliamentary Research Service. June 2021. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2021/690021/EPRS_STU(2021)690021_EN.pdf.
18. ↑ Simkó, Myrtill; Mattsson, Mats-Olof (2019-09-13). "5G Wireless Communication and Health Effects-A Pragmatic Review Based on Available Studies Regarding 6 to 100 GHz". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16 (18): 3406. doi:10.3390/ijerph16183406. ISSN 1660-4601. PMID 31540320.
19. ↑ "IARC classifies Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans" (in en-US). https://www.iarc.who.int/pressrelease/iarc-classifies-radiofrequency-electromagnetic-fields-as-possibly-carcinogenic-to-humans.
20. ↑ "Silenced Indian radio pirate gets offers of help" (in en). 2006-03-31. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/silenced-indian-radio-pirate-gets-offers-of-help/story-WG5vVG4ha0Q6JGTb5kvhbL.html.
21. ↑ "Pirate radio in the UK: Keeping the music playing on the high seas" (in en). 2024-09-02. https://versus.com/en/news/pirate-radio-in-the-uk.
22. ↑ Flick, Scott R. (2024-07-16). "A New Headache for Landowners: FCC Liability for Radio Pirates Operating on Your Property" (in en-US). https://www.commlawcenter.com/2024/07/a-new-headache-for-landowners-fcc-liability-for-radio-pirates-operating-on-your-property.html.

## External links

* Silicon Flatiron Roundtable Report: The Challenges of Radio Spectrum Pollution

* v
* t
* e

Pollution

Air pollution|

* Acid rain
* Air quality index
* Atmospheric dispersion modeling
* Chlorofluorocarbon
* Indoor air quality
* Global dimming
* Global distillation
* Global warming
* Ozone depletion
* Atmospheric particulate matter
* Smog

Water pollution|

* Environmental impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products
* Environmental impact of shipping
* Environmental monitoring
* Eutrophication
* Freshwater environmental quality parameters
* Groundwater pollution
* Hypoxia
* Marine debris
* Marine pollution
* Nutrient pollution
* Ocean acidification
* Oil spill
* Septic tank
* Surface runoff
* Thermal pollution
* Turbidity
* Urban runoff
* Wastewater
* Water quality
* Water stagnation
* Waterborne diseases

Soil contamination|

* Bioremediation
* Electrical resistance heating
* Herbicide
* Open defecation
* Pesticide
* Phytoremediation
* Soil Guideline Values (SGVs)

Radioactive contamination|

* Actinides in the environment
* Bioremediation of radioactive waste
* Environmental radioactivity
* Fission product
* Nuclear fallout
* Plutonium in the environment
* Radiation poisoning
* Radium in the environment
* Uranium in the environment

Other types of pollution|

* Land degradation
* Light pollution
* Pollution from nanomaterials
* Noise pollution
* Radio spectrum pollution
* Urban heat island
* Visual pollution

Pollution response|

* Cleaner production
* Industrial ecology
* Pollutant release and transfer register
* Polluter pays principle
* Pollution control
* Pollution prevention
* Waste minimization
* Zero waste

Inter-government treaties|

* Basel Convention
* CLRTAP
* Kyoto Protocol
* MARPOL Convention
* Montreal Protocol
* OSPAR
* Rotterdam Convention
* Stockholm Convention

Major organizations|

* Basel Action Network
* Central Pollution Control Board (India)
* DEFRA
* Environment Agency (England)
* Scottish Environment Protection Agency
* U.S. EPA
* European Environment Agency
* Greenpeace

de:Elektrosmog fr:Pollution électromagnétique it:Elettrosmog

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio spectrum pollution. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Astronomy:Radio_spectrum_pollution&oldid=4369466"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template