Two Types of Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR)

Non-Ionizing Radiation: Is typically safe. It causes some heating effect, but usually not
enough to cause any type of long term damage to tissue.
Radio-frequency energy, microwave radiation, infrared light
and visible light are considered non-ionizing.
Ionizing Radiation: This type of radiation contains enough electromagnetic energy to
strip atoms and molecules from the tissue and alter chemical
reactions in the body.
It is the portion of the EM spectrum made up of ultraviolet light,
x-rays and gamma rays.
Natural sources of Electromagnetic Radiation
The sun.
Electric fields are produced by the local build-up of electric charges in the atmosphere
associated with thunderstorms.
The earth's magnetic field causes a compass needle to orient in a North-South direction and
is used by birds and fish for navigation.
Man-made sources account for most of the EMR in our environment
Most common sources - Electrical power supplies including power lines and appliances.
Computer and TV screens, security devices, radar and cell phones.
Everyday sources are telecommunications, broadcasting antennas as well as X-rays.

Key points
1. Background electromagnetic field levels in the home are mainly caused by the
transmission and distribution facilities for electricity or by electrical appliances.
2. Electrical appliances differ greatly in the strength of fields they generate. Both electric and
magnetic field levels decrease rapidly with distance from the appliances. In any event, fields
surrounding household appliances usually are far below guideline limits.
3. The electric and magnetic fields of television sets and computer screens are hundreds of
thousands times below guideline levels.
4. Microwave ovens meeting the standards are not hazardous to health.
5. As long as public access to radar facilities, broadcasting antennas and mobile phone base
stations is restricted, exposure guideline limits for radio frequency fields will not be
exceeded.
6. The user of a mobile phone encounters field levels that are much higher than any
levels in the normal living environment. However, even these increased levels do not
appear to generate harmful effects.
7. Many surveys have demonstrated that exposure to electromagnetic field levels in the
living environment is extremely low.

In the area of biological effects and medical applications of non-ionizing radiation

approximately 25,000 articles have been published over the past 30 years. Despite the feeling of
some people that more research needs to be done, scientific knowledge in this area is now more
extensive than for most chemicals. Based on a recent in-depth review of the scientific literature,
the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that current evidence does not confirm the
existence of any health consequences from exposure to low level electromagnetic fields.
However, some gaps in knowledge about biological effects exist and need further research.

Radar: Acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. (EHF)

A radio detection system that transmits short bursts (pulses) of RF energy and detects their
echos from objects (targets) such as aircraft or ships. Note: The round-trip propagation time for
the echo return may be used to determine the target's range (distance from the radar's antenna).
Lidar: Acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging.
Uses the same principle as RADAR. The lidar instrument transmits light out to a target. The
transmitted light interacts with and is changed by the target. Some of this light is reflected /
scattered back to the instrument where it is analyzed. The time for the light to travel out to the
target and back to the lidar is used to determine the range to the target.
Sonar: Acronym for SOund NAvigation and Ranging. (LF)
A device that is used primarily for the detection and location of underwater objects by reflecting
acoustic waves from them, or by the interception of acoustic waves from an underwater,
surface, or above-surface acoustic source. Inaudible to humans and fish.
Note: Sonar operates with acoustic waves in the same way that radar and radio direction-finding
equipment operate with electromagnetic waves.
Laser: Acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
A narrow beam of light waves created using a crystal, a gas, chemicals, dyes or semiconductors.