TYPE OF

SOURCES EXAMPLE EFFECT ON LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT

ELECTROMAGNETI
C WAVES
Lightning,
astronomical sources: planets,
stars, gas and dust clouds,
1. Radio Waves galaxies, pulsars and even
black holes
artificial sources: broadcast
radio towers, cell
phones, satellites and radar.
television and radio broadcasts, cellular
phone communication, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
The perceived direct health effects of radio-frequency
radiation are due to the absorption into the body of energy
from the radio waves, causing the tissues to warm up.
Health risks occur if excess heat cannot be removed by
human temperature control. During or shortly after
exposure, the health effects tend to arise from an increase
in temperature appear. The number of sources contained
in the immediate vicinity does not generally impact the
overall exposure substantially. Due to one or a few
nearest sources, the cumulative overall exposure of many
sources located further away just increases the exposure
percent on top of the exposure.

Microwaves cause water and fat molecules

Artificial devices: circuits,
transmission towers, radars,
masers, and microwave ovens
Natural sources: sun and
2. Microwaves Cosmic Microwave
Background
to vibrate, which makes the substances
hot. Mobile phones use microwaves, as
they can be generated by a small antenna,
which means that the phone doesn't need
to be very big. Wi-Fi also uses
microwaves. Microwaves are also used by
fixed traffic speed cameras, and for radar,
which is used by aircraft, ships, and
weather forecasters.
Radiation from the microwave could very well heat body
tissue the same way it heats food. A painful burn may be
caused by exposure to high levels of microwaves.
Furthermore, the lens of the eye is especially susceptible
to extreme heat, and cataracts can be caused by exposure
to high microwave levels. But only through exposure to
massive quantities of microwave radiation can these
forms of accidents, burns, and cataracts. However, ovens
that are defective or modified could cause microwaves to
leak out, and therefore could pose a danger to overall
public by potentially causing burns.

Warm objects, such as the human body,
produce large amounts of infrared, and
heat-sensitive CCTV cameras work by
3. Infra-red Sun, fire, heat, thermal
detecting these infrared waves. Half of the
energy produced by the sun is infrared, so
Radiation radiation we are being bombarded by it constantly.
We're using light to see stuff. You can also
make light waves using a laser. It
functions differently from a light bulb and
generates "coherent light. Lasers are used
in compact disk & DVD players, where
the light is reflected from the tiny pits in
the disk, and the pattern is identified and
4. Visible Light Sun, light bulbs, basically converted into sound or data. Lasers are
anything that’s hot enough to also used in laser printers and aircraft
glow weapon targeting systems. Visible light
waves also make our television, computer,
and mobile phone screens work. Life on
earth is dependent on visible light
radiation. Without it, food chains would
fall apart and surface temperatures would
plummet.
Exposure to excessive electromagnetic radiation,
including infrared radiation, can damage the eye's lens
and cornea. Skin and tissues may also be impaired by
massive doses of infrared waves. The greenhouse effect
includes infrared waves. The surface of the earth and the
clouds above it absorb radiation from the rays of the sun
and re-emit it back into the atmosphere as infrared
radiation. When the air above the surface of the earth
contains a high concentration of water vapor, as well as
elements such as sulfur and nitrogen, and chemicals such
as chlorofluorocarbons, the infrared radiation is trapped
near the atmosphere. This triggers high temperatures and
changes in weather patterns that can be detrimental to
humans and animals.
Visible light radiation has biological effects on the skin,
which include erythema, pigmentation, thermal damage,
and free radical production. Visible exposure to light can
also induce or intensify photodermatoses, such as solar
urticaria, chronic actinic dermatosis (CAD), and
cutaneous porphyria. Visible light can cause indirect
DNA damage through the generation of reactive oxygen
species. Visible light is the primary aspect of solar
radiation and the major source of the greenhouse effect.
However, some light can be so strong that it can destroy
your eye's receptor cells, causing temporary or permanent
blindness. High powered lasers can also cause damage
and burns. The toxic effect of visible light towards this
may be due to increased production of reactive oxygen
species, caused by visible light.
 UV lighting applications include having
suntan, finding forged banknotes in stores,
and hardening certain forms of dental
filling. Several substances can absorb
energy in UV light and instantly convert it
to visible light. This concept is referred to
as fluorescence. We can use UV and
fluorescence to provide effective
illumination for offices, factories, and our
own homes. Ultraviolet rays can be used
5. Ultra-violet Sun to destroy microbes. Hospitals use UV
lamps to sterilize surgical instruments and
Light air in the operating facilities. Food and
pharmaceutical companies also use UV
lamps to sterilize their products. Suitable
levels of ultraviolet rays allow the body to
develop vitamin D, which is used by
doctors to treat vitamin D deficiency and
other skin disorders.
The best known acute effect of prolonged UV exposure is
erythema, the famous reddening of the skin called
sunburn. Chronic exposure to UV radiation often induces
a variety of degenerative changes in the cells, fibrous
tissues, and blood vessels of the skin. These involve
freckles, nevi and lentigine, which are pigmented areas of
the skin, and diffuse brown pigmentation. UV radiation
accelerates the aging of the skin and the gradual loss of
elasticity of the skin causes wrinkles and dry, rough skin.
A reduction in the rate of photosynthesis is one of the
major biological effects of UV exposure on aquatic
environments. This may have a direct impact on primary
productivity and as different species may vary in their
sensitivity to UV exposure, it may eventually affect
biodiversity. There is concern that ozone depletion could
lead to a loss of plant species and a reduction in global
food supply. Any change in the balance of plant species
can have severe consequences, as all life is interlinked.
 Astrophysical sources of X-
rays include plasmas with
temperatures of 1 to 100
million degrees Celcius, such
as the solar corona, supernova
remnants, and gas in galaxy
6. X-rays clusters. In addition to this,
blackbody radiation from hot
gas, high-energy events
involving charged particles
moving at high speeds within
a magnetic field can also
generate X-rays.
They are produced by the
hottest and most energetic
objects in the universe, such
as neutron stars and pulsars,
7. Gamma Rays supernova explosions, and
black hole regions. On Earth,
gamma waves are formed by
nuclear explosions, lightning,
and less dramatic radioactive
decay.
Health professionals use x-rays to see
inside individuals. The devices are
operated by a professional x-ray
technician. They move through soft tissues
quickly, but not so easily through bones.
X-Rays are also used for airport security
checks to see through your luggage. They
are often used by astronomers-many
objects in the universe emit X-rays that we
can track using effective radio telescopes.
Gamma rays are ionizing rays that can
destroy living cells. They are used in
radiotherapy to treat malignant tumors.
Gamma rays may also act as surgical
knives for surgery.
 Sanitize medical devices
 Purify food (irradiate food)
 Used as tracers pharmaceutical
products
X-rays can cause cell damage and cancer. That's why
Radiographers in hospitals are standing behind the mask
while their patients have X-rays. While the dosage is not
enough to put the patient at risk, they take a lot of pictures
every day and may easily build up a dangerous dose
themselves. The pathogenic function of x-rays is to cause
carcinogenic and atherogenic mutations that may interact
with various environmental contaminants, endogenous
and exogenous hormones, dietary and tobacco
metabolites, and other endogenous and exogenous agents.
Gamma rays are a risk of radiation to the whole body.
They can easily penetrate barriers that could avoid alpha
and beta particles, such as skin and clothes. Gamma rays
have so much penetrating power that a few inches of
dense material, such as lead, or even a few feet of
concrete, might be needed to avoid them. Gamma rays
can pass completely through the human body; as they pass
through, they can cause ionizations that damage tissues
and DNA. They can destroy living cells, produce
gene mutations, and cause cancer.