Review article

Health Effects of Non-Ionising Radiofrequency Radiation

Jelena Macan orcid.org/0000-0001-6269-5475 ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Rajka Turk ; Institut za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

There is a global boom in equipment that uses non-ionising electromagnetic waves for emitting, transmitting, and receiving signals in the so called radiofrequency (RF) spectrum from 300 kHz to 300 GHz. This paper looks into the issue of health effects caused by RF radiation addressed in a recent publication by the
International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and reviews the latest related research fi ndings. The only verifi ed effect of RF radiation on the human organism is the thermal effect, i.e. heating of the tissue at or beneath the skin surface that can affect the skin (burns), eyes (burns, cataract formation), reproductive organs (testicle damage, sterility, sex hormone misbalance), or the foetus during pregnancy.
The thermal effect of RF radiation is dose-dependent and is not expected to occur at specifi c absorption rate (SAR) below 4 W kg-1. This threshold is the basis for reference levels for public exposure that are believed to prevent adverse health effects in humans and which include the safety factor of 10 for occupational and
50 for general exposure. Research of RF radiation at non-thermal levels is rather intensive, but there is no consistent evidence about
causal relationship between RF radiation and health impairment. However, because of the growing use of RF radiation, long-term exposure, and unknown effects in children, the precautionary principle requires that human exposure and health effects are closely monitored for new fi ndings.

Keywords

mobile telephony; non-thermal effects; public exposure; specifi c absorption rate; SAR; thermal effects

Hrčak ID:

60290

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/60290

Publication date:

9.11.2010.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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