Module Effects of Electromagnetic

4 Radiation

What I Need to Know

After going through this lesson, you are expected to:
1. Explain the effects of electromagnetic radiation in living things and the
environment. (S10FEIIe-f-49)

What’s In

Previously, you studied about how Electromagnetic wave is produced and

propagated and the relative wavelengths of the different regions of the electromagnetic
waves.
Let us check your previous understanding by answering the next activity.

Score:
Activity 1: CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG 10

Directions: Write T if the statement is true. If it false, change the underlined word to make
the statement true. Write your answer on the space provided before each number. (1pt
each)
1. Infrared are used in TV remote controls.
2. Speed gun uses X-ray to calculate speed of moving vehicle.
3. Microwave can cook food.
4. Cell phones uses Infrared to communicate.
5. Forge bank money can be detected through UV light.

2
 What’s New

Signals that humans cannot sense directly can be detected through technological
advances and design. Radios, Televisions, cell phones and wireless computer networks
are examples of such technologies that are beneficial to humans and these are made
possible because of Electromagnetic radiation. But are all of these still beneficial when they
are used excessively? Do the following activity to find out.

Activity 2: SCREEN THE UV OUT

Score:
15
Objectives:
• Block UV rays of the sun.
• Discover the effects of UV rays.

Materials:

3. Newspaper 5. Permanent
1. Ziploc snack 2. Sunscreen/ 4. Black
marker
bag Any Sunblock construction paper
lotions

Note:
This activity should be done early in the morning so as to expose the material
throughout the day.
Procedure:

1. Cut a piece of newspaper to fit snugly inside a Ziploc snack bag.

3
2. Outside the Ziploc snack bag, draw two lines with a marker dividing the bag into
three equal parts from the top of the bag to the bottom.

3. Cover the middle part with black construction paper

4. Apply a thin coat of sunscreen in the leftmost part.

4
5. The right part should be left fully exposed.

6. Place the Ziploc snack bags in a place fully exposed to sunlight.

7. Recover the snack bags in the afternoon.

Guide Questions:
Q1. How does the newsprint vary in the three divisions of the newspaper? (5pts)
Answer:

Q2. What does this indicate? (5pts)

Answer:

5
 Q3. How does this realization impact to your personal life? (5pts)
Answer:

What is it

Electromagnetic Radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that is all around us and takes many
forms, such as radio waves, microwaves, X-rays and gamma rays, but visible light is only a
small portion of the EM spectrum, which contains a broad range of electromagnetic
wavelength.

Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation

Radio waves
People can be expose to RF radiation from both natural and man-made sources.
Natural sources include: The Sun and the Outer Space, The sky-including lightning strikes
Man-made sources include: Broadcasting radio and TV signals, cell phone towers and
cellphone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Radar.

If radio frequency radiation is absorbed by the body in large enough amounts, This
can damage the DNA (genes) inside of cell, which can sometimes result in cancer.

Microwaves
Microwave radiations can heat body tissue the same way it heats food. Exposure to
high level of microwaves can cause painful burn. Two areas of the body, the eyes and the
testes are particularly vulnerable to RF heating because there are relatively little blood flow
in them to carry excess heat. Additionally, the lens of the eye is particularly sensitive to
intense heat, and exposure to high level of intense heat can cause cataracts.

6
Infrared
Infrared radiation is invisible to the human eye starting from 780 nanometers (the
last wavelength that a human can see). People sometimes call the infrared radiation as heat
radiation instead because a person can sense certain wavelength of it on their skin as
warmth. When exposed to high amount of infrared radiation, it mostly involves thermal effect
on eyes and skin.

Visible light
The visible light radiation can exert various biologic effects such erythema,
pigmentation, thermal damage and free radical production. Additionally, visible light
exposure can cause or exacerbate photodermatoses such as solar urticarial, chronic actinic
dermatosis (CAD) and cutaneous porphyrias.

Sunscreen and sunblock lotion are the mainstay treatment against visible light
problem

Too much light can also damage the retina in your eyes. This can happen when
you look at something very bright, such as the sun.

Ultraviolet
UV rays, either from the sun or from artificial source like tanning beds, can cause
sunburns.

Exposure to UV rays can cause premature aging of the skin and sign of sun damage
such as wrinkles, leathery skin, liver spots. It can also cause eye problems. They can cause
the cornea to become inflamed or burned that can lead to the cataract formation.

X-Ray
X-rays are form of electromagnetic radiation that can penetrate or pass through the
human body and produce shadow like images of bones and some organs.

X-ray can cause mutation in our DNA and therefore, might lead to cancer later in life,
for this reason, X-rays are classified as a carcinogen by WHO and the US government.

7
 A higher absorbed dose of X-ray radiation means a higher risk for adverse effects
including skin redness, infertility, cataracts, and hair loss

Gamma rays
Gamma rays have the smallest wavelengths and carry the highest amount of energy
and can penetrate in all matters that can change the DNA (gene).
They are produced by the hottest and the most energetic objects in the universe,
such as neutron stars. On earth, gamma waves are generated by nuclear explosion and
lightning.

Gamma rays are known human carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). They can
cause mutation in growing tissues, so unborn babies are very vulnerable.

What’s More

Score:
Activity 3: COMPLETING THE TASK 22

Is Health What are the main What is/are What devices Effects to
Risk true risks? the common used? human
Health Risk (Yes/No) source/s?

1. Can damage your 2. Cellphone, 3.

Radio wave DNA (gene) inside Bluetooth
can affect of cell devices
your DNA

4. Sun 5. Skin burn or

Ultraviolet ray skin cancer
has a negative
yes
effect on your
skin

8
 6. Radon gas, Medical x-ray 7.
Cosmic rays, machine,
airport
X-ray affects security
yes
our DNA cameras

8. can cause mutation 9. Radiography, diseases to

Gamma ray in growing tissues sterilizer skin, blood,
can damage machine eye disorders
body tissue and cancer

10. Sun, 11. Cataracts,

Infrared can incandescent skin burn
damage eyes yes bulb,
and skin Welding arcs

Directions: Based from the lesson that you have read about the different types of EM wave
and its effects, complete the table below. Some parts are already filled in for your guide.
(2pts each box)

What I Have Learned

Activity 4: MY EFFECTS Score:

5

Directions: Pictures below show the different effects of radiation. Identify what type of EM
waves affect them. Choose your answer inside the box and write your answer below each
picture. (1 point each)

1. 4.

9
2. 5.

Type of EM waves
Radio wave Visible light
Gamma ray Microwave
Ultraviolet X-ray
Infrared

3.

What I Can Do
Score:
18
Activity 5: EM WAVE ANYWHERE
Directions: Read each scenario and answer the questions on the next columns.
(3pts each box)
What What should you do to
Scenario Electromagnetic lessen the effect?
wave involved?

10
 One summer day, you 1. 2.
are invited by your friends
to join them on beach
party.
While on the beach,
the sun is shining brightly.

Your parents agreed 3. 4.

that you will go on a week
vacation with your friends.
Every day you call your
parents so that they will
not worry about your
situations.

In a welding shop you 5. 6.

notice a very bright spark
of light, you move closer
to observe and the glary
light makes your vision
blurry.

Assessment Score:
10

Part A:
Directions: Read and understand fully the statements. Write TRUE if the statement is
correct and FALSE if it is not and change them to make the statement correct. Write your
answers on the space provided before each number. (1pt each)
1. The human eye can detect gamma ray.
2. X-ray is safe for pregnant woman.
3. Radiation is all around us.
4. Large dose of gamma rays can be used to
cure cancer.

11
 5. Human can sense infrared through warmth.
Part B:
Directions: Read and analyze each item carefully. Encircle the letter that corresponds to
your answer. (1pt each)
6. Looking directly at something very bright such as sun, has a negative effect
on your .
a. skin b. eyes c. heart d. lungs
7. Which rays enable us to see?
a. Microwave b. Infrared
c. Ultraviolet d. visible light
8. Which material can be used to protect people from gamma rays?
a. Sunblock lotion c. Alcohol
b. Soap d. perfume
9. Which type of ray can be felt as warmth?
a. Microwave b. Infrared
c. Ultraviolet d. visible light
10. How can UV ray cause skin cancer?
a. Too much exposure UV radiation from the sun can damage the genetic material
in your skin cell.
b. Too low exposure UV radiation from the sun can damage the genetic material in
your skin cell.
c. Exposure from UV rays will hinder the absorption of vitamin D, which can
damage your skin cell.
d. UV rays can cause mutation of skin cells that results to abnormal growth of skin
allergies.

Additional Activities Score:

15
Activity 6: KNOW ME BETTER
Directions: Answer the following questions briefly. Write your answer in the space provided
after each question. (5 points each)
1. How can infrared radiation be detected if cannot be seen?

12
2. What does a radio transmitter do?

3. Why are high frequency electromagnetic waves like gamma rays harmful to living
things?

13