In recent years, due to the development of technology, the human body is exposed to high levels of exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR), which could not but cause serious concern around the world.
What is the effect of electromagnetic radiation on living organisms? Their consequences depend on which category of radiation - ionizing or not - they belong to. The first type has a high energy potential, which acts on the atoms in the cells and leads to a change in their natural state. It can be deadly as it causes cancer and other diseases. Non-ionizing radiation includes electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio waves, microwave radiation and electrical vibrations. Although it cannot change the structure of the atom, its influence can lead to irreversible consequences.
Invisible danger
Publications in the scientific literature have raised the issue of adverse effects on individuals and society as a whole of non-ionizing EMF radiation from power, electrical and wireless devices in the home, onproduction, educational and public institutions. Despite numerous problems in establishing compelling scientific evidence for harm and gaps in elucidating the exact mechanisms of harm, epidemiological analysis is increasingly suggestive of the significant potential for traumatic effects produced by non-ionizing radiation. Protection against electromagnetic radiation is becoming increasingly important.
Due to the fact that medical education does not focus on the state of the environment, some doctors do not fully understand the likely he alth problems that are associated with EMR, and as a result, manifestations of non-ionizing radiation may be misdiagnosed and undergo ineffective treatment.
If the possibility of damage to tissues and cells associated with exposure to X-rays is beyond doubt, then the effect of electromagnetic radiation on living organisms, when they come from power lines, mobile phones, electrical appliances and some machines, has only recently begun to attract attention as a potential he alth hazard.
Electromagnetic spectrum
Non-ionizing radiation refers to a type of energy that originates or radiates far beyond its source. Electromagnetic radiation energy exists in various forms, each with different physical properties. They can be measured and expressed in terms of frequency or wavelength. Some waves have a high frequency, others have a medium andthe third is low. The range of electromagnetic radiation includes many different forms of energy from various sources. Their name is used to classify EMP types.
Short wavelength electromagnetic radiation, corresponding to high frequency, is a characteristic of gamma rays, X-rays and ultraviolet radiation. The lower frequencies of the spectrum include microwave radiation and radio waves. Light radiation belongs to the middle part of the EMR spectrum, it provides normal vision and is the light that we perceive. Infrared energy is responsible for human perception of heat.
Most forms of energy, such as x-rays, ultraviolet and radio waves, are invisible and imperceptible to humans. Their detection requires measurement of electromagnetic radiation using special instruments, and as a result, people cannot assess the degree of exposure to energy fields in these ranges.
Despite the lack of perception, the action of high-frequency energy, including X-rays, called ionizing radiation, is potentially dangerous for human cells. By changing the atomic composition of cellular structures, breaking chemical bonds and inducing the formation of free radicals, sufficient exposure to ionizing radiation can damage the genetic code in DNA or cause mutations, thereby increasing the risk of cancer or cell death.
Anthropogenic EMP
Effect of electromagnetic radiationon the organism, especially non-ionizing, which are called forms of energy with lower frequencies, has been underestimated by many scientists. It was not considered to produce adverse effects at normal exposure levels. Recently, however, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that some frequencies of non-ionizing radiation can potentially cause biological harm. Most studies of their impact on he alth have focused on the following three main types of anthropogenic EMR:
- lower scale of electromagnetic emissions from power lines, electrical appliances and electronic equipment;
- microwave and radio emissions from wireless communications devices such as cell phones, cell towers, antennas, and TV and radio towers;
- Electrical pollution due to the operation of certain types of equipment (such as plasma TVs, some energy-saving appliances, variable speed motors, etc.) that produce signals whose frequency of electromagnetic radiation is in the range of 3-150 kHz and are re-emitted by wiring).
Currents in the earth, which are sometimes called stray, are not limited by wires. Current follows the path of least resistance and can pass through any available path, including ground, wires, and various objects. Accordingly, electrical voltage is also transmitted through the ground and through building structures through metal water or sewer pipes, as a result of which non-ionizing radiation entersimmediate environment.
EMR and human he alth
While studies examining the negative properties of electromagnetic radiation have sometimes yielded conflicting results, the diagnosis of reproductive dysfunction and cancer predisposition seems to confirm suspicions that EMF exposure may pose a threat to human he alth. Adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriages, stillbirths, preterm births, sex ratio changes, and congenital anomalies have all been linked to maternal exposure to EMR.
A large prospective study published in the journal Epidemiology, for example, reported peak EMR exposure in 1,063 pregnant women in the San Francisco area. The participants in the experiment wore magnetic field detectors, and the scientists found a significant increase in fetal mortality with an increase in the level of maximum exposure to EMF.
EMR and cancer
Allegations that intense exposure to certain frequencies of EMR can be carcinogenic have been examined. For example, the International Journal of Cancer recently published an important case-control study on the relationship between childhood leukemia and magnetic fields in Japan. By evaluating the levels of electromagnetic radiation in bedrooms, scientists have confirmed that high levels of exposure lead to a significantly greater risk of developing childhood leukemia.
Physical and psychological effects
People with electromagnetic hypersensitivity often suffer fromdebilitation that can affect any part of the body, including the central nervous system, musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal tract, and endocrine system. These symptoms often lead to constant psychological stress and fear of being exposed to EMR. Many patients become incapacitated just thinking that an invisible wireless signal at any time and in any place can provoke painful sensations in their body. Constant fear and preoccupation with he alth problems affect well-being up to the development of a phobia and fear of electricity, which in some people make them want to leave civilization.
Mobile phones and telecommunications
Cell phones transmit and receive signals using EMF, which is partially absorbed by their users. Since these sources of electromagnetic radiation are usually in close proximity to the head, this feature has led to concerns about the possible adverse effects of their use on human he alth.
One of the problems with extrapolating the results of their use in experimental studies in rodents is that the frequency of maximum absorption of RF energy depends on body size, shape, orientation and position.
Resonance absorption in rats is in the range of microwave and operating frequencies of mobile phones used in experiments (from 0.5 to 3 GHz), but on the scale of the human body it occurs at 100 MHz. This factor can be taken intotaken into account in absorbed dose rate calculations, but presents a problem for those studies that use only external field strength to determine the exposure level.
The relative depth of penetration in laboratory animals compared to the size of the human head is greater, and the tissue parameters and the mechanism of heat redistribution are different. Another potential source of inaccuracies in exposure levels is the effect of RF radiation on the cell.
The effect of high-voltage radiation on people and the environment
Power lines above 100 kV are the most powerful sources of electromagnetic radiation. Studies of the radiation impact on technical personnel started with the start of construction of the first 220-kV transmission lines, when cases of deterioration in the he alth of workers appeared. The commissioning of 400 kV power lines led to the publication of numerous works in this area, which later became the basis for the adoption of the first regulations limiting the effect of the 50-Hz electric field.
Power lines with a voltage of more than 500 kV have an impact on the environment in the form of:
- electric field with a frequency of 50 Hz;
- corona discharge radiation;
- Power frequency magnetic field.
EMF and the nervous system
The mammalian blood-brain barrier is composed of endothelial cells associated with barrier zones as well as adjacent pericytes and extracellular matrix. Helps maintain a highly stable extracellular environment necessary for accurate synaptic transmission and protects neural tissue from damage. Increasing its low permeability to hydrophilic and charged molecules can be detrimental to he alth.
Ambient temperature exceeding the limits of thermoregulation in mammals increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier for macromolecules. Neuronal absorption of albumin in different areas of the brain depends on its temperature and manifests itself when it rises by 1 °C or more. Since sufficiently strong radio frequency fields can lead to tissue heating, it is logical to assume that exposure to electromagnetic radiation results in increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
EMF and sleep
The upper scale of electromagnetic radiation has some effect on sleep. This topic has become relevant for several reasons. Among other symptoms, complaints of sleep disturbances have been mentioned in anecdotal reports of people who believe they are being affected by EMR. This has led to speculation that electromagnetic fields may interfere with normal sleep patterns, with consequent he alth consequences. The potential risk of sleep disturbance should be considered given that it is a very complex biological process controlled by the central nervous system. And although the exact neurobiological mechanisms have not yet been established, the regular alternation of states of wakefulness and rest is a necessary requirement for the proper functioning of the brain, metabolichomeostasis and immune system.
In addition, sleep seems to be precisely that physiological system, the study of which will allow us to find out the effect of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation on a person, since in this biological state the body is sensitive to external stimuli. There is evidence that weak EMFs, well below those that would cause a temperature increase, can also cause biological effects.
Currently, research on the effects of non-ionizing high-frequency EMR is clearly focused on cancer risk, due to concerns about the carcinogenic properties of ionizing radiation.
Negative manifestations
Thus, the influence of electromagnetic radiation, even non-ionizing, on a person takes place, especially in the case of high-voltage power lines and the corona effect. Microwave radiation affects the nervous, cardiovascular, immune and reproductive systems, including causing damage to the nervous system, changing its response, electroencephalogram, blood-brain barrier, provoking disruption of circadian rhythms (wakefulness-sleep) by interfering with the functioning of the pineal gland and creating hormonal imbalances, changes in heart rate and blood pressure, impairing immunity to pathogens, causing weakness, malnutrition, growth problems, DNA damage, and cancer.
It is recommended to erect buildings away from EMP sources, and protection from electromagnetic radiationhigh-voltage power lines should be mandatory. In cities, cables must be laid underground, as well as equipment that neutralizes the effects of EMP.
According to the results of a correlation analysis based on experimental data, it was concluded that it is possible to significantly reduce the impact of electromagnetic radiation on a person by reducing the distance of the wire sag, which will increase the distance between the conductive line and the measurement point. In addition, this distance is also influenced by the terrain under the power line.
Precautions
Electricity is an integral part of modern society. This means that EMP will always be around us. And in order for EMF to make our lives easier, not shorter, some precautions should be taken:
- Do not let children play near power lines, transformers, satellite transmitters and microwave sources.
- Places where the magnetic flux density exceeds 1 mG should be avoided. It is necessary to measure the EMF level of devices in the off and running state.
- It is necessary to rearrange the office or home so as not to be exposed to the field of electrical appliances and computers.
- Don't sit too close in front of the computer. Monitors vary greatly in the strength of their EMP. Do not stand near a running microwave.
- Move electrical appliances at least 2m away from the bed. Cannot be allowed to havewiring under the bed. Remove dimmers and 3-position switches.
- Be careful when using wireless devices such as electric toothbrushes, shavers.
- It is also recommended to wear as little jewelry as possible and take it off at night.
- You also need to remember that EMP passes through walls, and consider sources in the next room or outside the walls of the room.
