Health Risks
Non-ionizing radiation can produce non-mutagenic effects such as inciting thermal energy in biological tissue that can lead to burns.
In terms of potential biological effects, the non-ionizing portion of the spectrum can be subdivided into:
- The optical radiation portion, where electron excitation can occur (visible light, infrared light)
- The portion where the wavelength is smaller than the body. Heating via induced currents can occur. In addition there are claims of other adverse biological effects. Such effects are not well understood and even largely denied. (MW and higher-frequency RF).
- The portion where the wavelength is much larger than the body, and heating via induced currents seldom occurs (lower-frequency RF, power frequencies, static fields).
| Source | Wavelength | Frequency | Biological effects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UVA | Black light, Sunlight | 318–400 nm | 750–950 THz | Eye – photochemical cataract; skin – erythema, inc. pigmentation |
| Visible light | Sunlight, fire, LEDs, light bulbs, Lasers | 400–780 nm | 385–750 THz | Skin photoaging; eye – photochemical & thermal retinal injury |
| IR-A | Sunlight, thermal radiation, incandescent light bulbs, Lasers, remote controls | 780 nm – 1.4 µm | 215–385 THz | Eye – thermal retinal injury, thermal cataract; skin burn |
| IR-B | Sunlight, Thermal radiation, Incandescent light bulbs, Lasers | 1.4–3 µm | 100–215 THz | Eye – corneal burn, cataract; skin burn |
| IR-C | Sunlight, Thermal radiation, Incandescent light bulbs, Far-infrared laser | 3 µm – 1 mm | 300 GHz – 100 THz | Eye – corneal burn, cataract; heating of body surface |
| Microwave | PCS phones, some mobile/cell phones, microwave ovens, cordless phones, motion detectors, long-distance telecommunications, radar, Wi-Fi | 1 mm – 33 cm | 1–300 GHz | Heating of body tissue |
| Radio-frequency radiation | Mobile/cell phones, television, FM, AM, shortwave, CB, cordless phones | 33 cm – 3 km | 100 kHz – 1 GHz | Heating of body tissue, raised body temperature |
| Low-frequency RF | Power lines | >3 km | <100 kHz | Cumulation of charge on body surface; disturbance of nerve & muscle responses |
| Static field | Strong magnets, MRI | Infinite | 0 Hz (technically static fields are not "radiation") | Magnetic – vertigo/nausea; electric – charge on body surface |
Read more about this topic: Non-ionising Radiation
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