Nonionizing Electromagnetic Radiation

Abstract Electromagnetic radiation is emitted from sources in space and from anthropogenic sources on earth. It travels at a constant speed, i.e., the speed of light. The overall electromagnetic spectrum is illustrated in Figure 10–1. Energy is transmitted as a sinusoidal wave form, by time varying electric and magnetic fields. The transmission velocity, c, is described by the formula: The health effects of exposures to the various components of the electromagnetic spectrum vary greatly with frequency, and the discussion that follows outlines the sources, as well as the nature and extent of the effects that they produce. There are separate discussions on component bands within the overall spectrum, i.e., ionizing radiation, UV, visible, IR, and radio frequency (RF). The electric and magnetic fields induced by these radiations can also produce biological responses, and these responses will also be reviewed.