Aspect of public health
This article is about the health effects of non-ionizing radiation. For the negative health effects of ionizing radiation, see
radiation poisoning .
Types of radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic radiation can be classified into two types: ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation , based on the capability of a single photon with more than 10 eV energy to ionize atoms or break chemical bonds .[ 1] Extreme ultraviolet and higher frequencies, such as X-rays or gamma rays are ionizing, and these pose their own special hazards: see radiation poisoning . The field strength of electromagnetic radiation is measured in volts per meter (V/m).[ 2] : 139
The most common health hazard of radiation is sunburn , which causes between approximately 100,000 and 1 million new skin cancers annually in the United States.[ 3] [ 4]
In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).[ 5]
^ Cleveland Jr RF, Ulcek JL (August 1999). Questions and Answers about Biological Effects and Potential Hazards of Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (PDF) (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: OET (Office of Engineering and Technology) Federal Communications Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019 .
^ International Bureau of Weights and Measures (December 2022), The International System of Units (SI) (PDF) , vol. 2 (9th ed.), ISBN 978-92-822-2272-0 , archived from the original on 18 October 2021
^ Siegel RL, Miller KD, Jemal A (January 2020). "Cancer statistics, 2020" . CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians . 70 (1): 7–30. doi :10.3322/caac.21590 . PMID 31912902 .
^ Cite error: The named reference Cleaver
was invoked but never defined (see the help page ).
^ Gaudin, Ph.D., Nicolas (31 May 2011). "IARC Classifies Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields As Possibly Carcinogenic to Humans" (PDF) . International Agency for Research on Cancer . Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2021 .