Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Scott Fruin
Preventive Medicine
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Another View of
the
Electromagnetic
Spectrum
from NIH, 2002, EMF
IONIZING
Number of
neutrons
Units of Radiation
Three types:
Number of protons
Units of Measurement:
Decay Rate
How many atoms decay per unit time
Units of Measurement:
Absorbed Dose of Energy
Measure of energy transfer per amount of
tissue impacted
Gray (Gy)
1 joule of energy deposited in 1 kilogram of mass.
Units of Measurement:
Biologically-Effective Dose
Measured in Sieverts
(Sv),
Neutron, proton and alpha
radiation cause 5-20 times
more damage (Q Factor)
than the same amount of
the absorbed dose of beta
or gamma radiation.
(Particles are more
effective at producing
damage than waves due to
smaller area of impact)
Biological Effectiveness
Factor by Radiation Type
Type of Radiation
Q Factor
Alpha particles
20
Beta particles
Gamma radiation
10
Sources of Exposure
1980
2006
Radon: Prevention
Mitigation
Can reduce radon by re-routing air in contact with soils to
prevent entering home (vents and fans), along with sealing
basement cracks and/or increasing home ventilation
U in Soils
Radon: CA
My house (Pasadena):
1.3 pCi / L, the avg
indoor level
Radiation Protection
Shielding depends on type of radiation
Distancewave intensity or emitted
particles per area fall off with cube of
distance
Timelonger time allows cellular
damage repair
UVB
280-320nm. The ozone layer absorbs most
of the sun's UVB. It does not go as deeply
into the skin as UVA does, but can cause
sunburn. Large doses increase risk of skin
cancer and possibly cataracts.
UVC
< 280 nm. Is completely absorbed by the
Earth's ozone layer. Implications for the
ozone hole
Seasonal Differences:
LA max UV Index
from www.city-data.com
Man-made
Medical procedures: can be tabulated; may be dominated
by CAT scans or other radiographic procedures
Smoking an important source of exposure
Non-Ionizing Radiation
Not enough E to break chemical bonds, but
can be enough energy to excite molecules
(heat), cause burns, etc.
Overall, some evidence (but inconclusive) of
possible effects on immune system,
developmental disturbances, neurobehavioral
abnormalities, cell proliferation
Inter-individual sensitivities may show large range
Exposures increasing over time and effects may
take decades to show up
Microwaves, Radiowaves
Long waves, 0.1 mm to football field; 3 kHz
to 300 GHz (7 orders of magnitude)
Includes cell phones, other
telecommunications
Large studies to date are inconclusive, likely a
combination of small effect and exposure
assessment error
A Larger Concern:
Extremely Low Frequency (ELF)
Magnetic Fields
Frequencies below 300 Hz, often 60 Hz
Almost all exposure is man-made
SOURCE
Magnetic Fields
Electrical Fields
Flowing current
High voltage
Little evidence
EASY: Any
conductive
shields or frame
Avoid MRIs?
Field strengths are very high
The combination of high static, gradient, and ELF
MF and high RF fields have been virtually
unstudied; each separately has detectable but small
biological effects
Yes, unless medically necessary
Conclusions
Few environmental risks show the range of energy /
toxicity / uncertainty as radiation (>1010)
Worry should be concerned with energy level, but usually
is not
Most envl exposures of concern are decreasing; this not
the case for radiation and EMF
Medical exposure to ionizing radiation is an important PH
problem