THE ZAPPING OF AMERICA: Microwaves, Their Deadly Risk, and the Cover-up

by Paul Brodeur ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 14, 1977

In this book based on pieces in The New Yorker, Brodeur lifts the lid on what may be the most alarming environmental threat of all--the danger of exposure to microwaves, the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes radio, television, radar, and other low-frequency long wavelengths. These signals now drench the air from radio and TV transmitters, CBs, walkie-talkies, and microwave ovens, through air traffic control radars, highway speed detectors, and, biggest of all, the network of powerful systems employed or being developed by the military. Early on, a few forthright specialists incriminated microwaves as a cause of cataracts, blood anomalies (such as excessive numbers of lymphocytes), heart rhythm, and gastric disturbances, and--the most ominous--central nervous system changes leading to irritability, headache, and diminished intellectual functioning, These voices were all but drowned in a sea of disclaimers, reports designed more to conceal than reveal, and other tactics on the part of government or industry sources. Denials and disclaimers continued even in the face of disclosures that the American Embassy in Moscow was being bombarded with microwaves that were causing staff complaints, that a statistically significant number of birth defects showed up in children whose fathers were helicopter pilots exposed to high-density radars in training, and that cases of leukemia, cataract, and pancreatic cancers developed in workers or military personnel exposed to microwaves. Not only has the government played it cool, it has cried ""national security"" to keep the lid on, and demand more and bigger power systems. Some minor quibbles on the use of technical terms, and a few too many ""indeeds"" or ""for that matters"" aside, Brodeur is to be congratulated for heroic investigative reporting which raises questions of such importance that no American can afford to let them go unanswered.

Pub Date: Nov. 14, 1977

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Norton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1977

Categories: NONFICTION