Adverse effect of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) is one of the most controversial topics of present times that has remained unresolved even in September 2022. People and scientists are divided on the ill effects of EMFs generated by man-made actions and technologies. Further, there are also some gaps in the scientific study of impact of man-made EMFs upon health of humans, plants, animals, etc.
We are writing this article as an introductory discussion covering views of World health Organisation (WHO) as it is usually cited in various discussions. We would add more aspects of EMFs in our subsequent articles as the discussion of WHO is basic discussion and it has not clarified many crucial questions since 2019.
Further, the discussion of WHO is based on many assumptions that must be independently verified by latest scientific studies.
We do not accept or deny the observations of WTO in this article and our independent opinion would be shared in subsequent articles.
Let us start the discussion with a brief discussion about electric fields and magnetic fields. Electric fields are created by differences in voltage: the higher the voltage, the stronger will be the resultant field. Magnetic fields are created when electric current flows: the greater the current, the stronger the magnetic field. An electric field will exist even when there is no current flowing. If current does flow, the strength of the magnetic field will vary with power consumption but the electric field strength will be constant.
Besides natural sources the electromagnetic spectrum also includes fields generated by human-made sources. The electricity that comes out of every power socket has associated low frequency electromagnetic fields. And various kinds of higher frequency radiowaves are used to transmit information – whether via TV antennas, radio stations or mobile phone base stations.
One of the main characteristics which defines an electromagnetic field (EMF) is its frequency or its corresponding wavelength. Fields of different frequencies interact with the body in different ways. One can imagine electromagnetic waves as series of very regular waves that travel at an enormous speed, the speed of light. The frequency simply describes the number of oscillations or cycles per second, while the term wavelength describes the distance between one wave and the next.
Hence wavelength and frequency are inseparably intertwined: the higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength. The more waves you generate (higher frequency) the smaller will be the distance between them (shorter wavelength). It is very important to understand the difference between non-ionizing radiation and ionising radiation.
Wavelength and frequency determine another important characteristic of electromagnetic fields: Electromagnetic waves are carried by particles called quanta. Quanta of higher frequency (shorter wavelength) waves carry more energy than lower frequency (longer wavelength) fields.
Some electromagnetic waves carry so much energy per quantum that they have the ability to break bonds between molecules. In the electromagnetic spectrum, gamma rays given off by radioactive materials, cosmic rays and X-rays carry this property and are called ‘ionizing radiation’. Fields whose quanta are insufficient to break molecular bonds are called ‘non-ionizing radiation’.
It is an assumption that man-made sources of electromagnetic fields that form a major part of industrialised life – electricity, microwaves and radiofrequency fields – are found at the relatively long wavelength and low frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum and their quanta are unable to break chemical bonds.
Magnetic fields arise from the motion of electric charges. The strength of the magnetic field is measured in amperes per meter (A/m); more commonly in electromagnetic field research, scientists specify a related quantity, the flux density (in microtesla, µT) instead. In contrast to electric fields, a magnetic field is only produced once a device is switched on and current flows. The higher the current, the greater the strength of the magnetic field.
Like electric fields, magnetic fields are strongest close to their origin and rapidly decrease at greater distances from the source. However, magnetic fields are not blocked by common materials such as the walls of buildings.
A static field does not vary over time. A direct current (DC) is an electric current flowing in one direction only. In any battery-powered appliance the current flows from the battery to the appliance and then back to the battery. It will create a static magnetic field. The earth’s magnetic field is also a static field. So is the magnetic field around a bar magnet which can be visualised by observing the pattern that is formed when iron filings are sprinkled around it.
In contrast, time-varying electromagnetic fields are produced by alternating currents (AC). Alternating currents reverse their direction at regular intervals. In most European countries electricity changes direction with a frequency of 50 cycles per second or 50 Hertz. Equally, the associated electromagnetic field changes its orientation 50 times every second. North American electricity has a frequency of 60 Hertz.
The time-varying electromagnetic fields produced by electrical appliances are an example of extremely low frequency (ELF) fields. ELF fields generally have frequencies up to 300 Hz. Other technologies produce intermediate frequency (IF) fields with frequencies from 300 Hz to 10 MHz and radiofrequency (RF) fields with frequencies of 10 MHz to 300 GHz.
The effects of electromagnetic fields on the human body depend not only on their field level but on their frequency and energy. Our electricity power supply and all appliances using electricity are the main sources of ELF fields; computer screens, anti-theft devices and security systems are the main sources of IF fields; and radio, television, radar and cellular telephone antennas, and microwave ovens are the main sources of RF fields.
These fields induce currents within the human body, which if sufficient can produce a range of effects such as heating and electrical shock, depending on their amplitude and frequency range.
Mobile telephones, television and radio transmitters and radar produce RF fields. These fields are used to transmit information over long distances and form the basis of telecommunications as well as radio and television broadcasting all over the world.
Microwaves are RF fields at high frequencies in the GHz range. In microwaves ovens, we use them to quickly heat food. Heating is the main biological effect of the electromagnetic fields of radiofrequency fields. In microwave ovens this fact is employed to warm up food. Scientists are actively continuing to research this area.
It is not disputed that electromagnetic fields above certain levels can trigger biological effects. Gaps in knowledge about biological effects exist and need further research especially when countries set their own national standards for exposure to electromagnetic fields.
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