Just the facts

Sources

Nonionizing radiation is ever-present yet, apart from prolonged exposure to the sun, is relatively harmless.

Products That Depend on Nonionizing Radiation:

• Cellular Phones
• Cellular Telephone Base Stations
• Radio Towers
• Microwave Towers
• Lasers (including laser pointers)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Radio Transmissions
• Short-wae Radio Transmitters
• Satellite Transmissions
• Electrical Blankets
• Appliances
• Light Bulbs
• Computer and TV Moniters
• Microwave Ovens
• Power Lines (both large and small)
• Visible Light
• Ultraviolet Radiation
• Radar

Health Effects

Most of the nonionized radiation is harmless. However, prolonged exposure at higher levels of nonionized radiation can be harmful.

This is the case with Solar Radiation. Overexposure to the UV Rays, both from the sun and artificial sources such as tanning beds, can cause acute cellular damage and result in melanoma, or Skin Cancer.

Overexposure causes cellular damage to the skinwhich leads to increased vascular circulation (vasodilation) which inreases blood flow to the area resulting in the redness ande the hot feeling of the skin. In lighter skinned people, UV radiation stimulates the production of the pigment melanin, which absorbs the UV radiation and protects the skin. The increase in [Melanin] results in a tan, the body's natural defense against the UV radiation.

UV radiation can also do cellular and DNA damage. Extreme overexposure to the UV rays can overwhelm the DNA's repair mechanism which leads to permenently damaged DNA and [melanoma]. [Skin cancer] accounts for approximatley one-third of all cancers diognosed yearly. Thinning of the O-Zone Layer is suspected as being a prime cause of an increasing rate [melanoma] witnessed recently.

Precautions

There are three ways to reduce exposure. First, limit the time spent near the source of radiation. Second, distance oneself from the source of radiation. Thirdly, shield yourself from the Radiation. For example wear a hat or long clothing while exposed to the sun for long periods of time or request a lead apron while getting x-rayed. Heavier Alpha Particles can be stopped by a mere piece of paper but once they are inside they can do terrific cellular damage and nearly always cause Cancer. 

External Links

European, Asian, and International Agencies

• Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  COMPARE is "responsible for assessing and advising agencies on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation in the environment".
  (ARPANSA) is "charged with responsibility for protecting the health and safety of people, and the environment, from the harmful effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation".
• England - Department of Health - Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMPARE). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  COMPARE is "responsible for assessing and advising agencies on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation in the environment".
• World Health Organization (WHO). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains information on the global efforts to reduce UV radiation exposure.

North American Agencies

• Health Canada - Radiation Protection. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Health Canada provides information on the health effects radiation for consumer and clinical radiation protection.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Environmental Health. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site contains information on health effects and emergency response to radiation exposure.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site has a tremendous amount of information on ionizing and nonionizing radiation and environmental contamination.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) What Is Your Annual Radiation Dose?.(accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site shows you how to examine your current exposure to radiation.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Center for Devices and Radiological Health. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  This site contains information on the health effects and regulation of radiation emitting devices and products. "Protecting the public health by providing reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of medical devices and by eliminating unnecessary human exposure to radiation emitted from electronic products."
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Cell Phone Facts. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains general and regulatory information on cell phones and related technology.
• U.S. Federal Communications commission - Office of Engineering and Technology - Radio Frequency Safety. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
• [U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation]. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  The OSHA site contains information on microwave and radiofrequency devices.
• U.S. New Jersey - Nonionizing Radiation Section (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  New Jersey has an excellent with a wide range of information on radiation.
• U.S. Agency for Toxic Substance Disease Registry (ATSDR). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  See fact sheets and case studies in environmental
• [U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Air Resources Laboratory]. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains UV radiation monitoring information for the U.S.
• [U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)]. (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  "The NRC regulates U.S. commercial nuclear power plants and the civilian use of nuclear materials."

Non-Governmental Organizations

• Pyscians for Social Responsibility - Depleted Uranium PSR publicatoinsa and related links. (Accessed: 21 October 2005).
• National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  "The NCRP seeks to formulate and widely disseminate information, guidance and recommendations on radiation protection and measurements which represent the consensus of leading scientific thinking."
• Health Physics Society (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site has extensive information about the health physics and radiation protection.
• University of Michigan - Radiation & Health Physics (accessed: 9 April 2003).
  Site contains information "written for three distinct groups: the General Public, Students and the Health Physics community at large."

References

Radium Girls: Women and Industrial Health Reform, 1910-1935
by Claudia Clark, Publisher: University of North Carolina Pr; ISBN: 0807823317; (June 1997). 384 pages.