ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES: LIFE OR HARM

    Before anything else let us know first what electromagnetic waves and Electromagnetic spectrum are? Light waves and other types of energy that radiate (travel out) from where they're produced are called electromagnetic radiation. Together, they make up what's known as the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of all types of EM radiation. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet light, visible light, X-rays and gamma-rays are the types of EM waves that make up the electromagnetic spectrum. 

The electromagnetic spectrum from lowest energy/longest wavelength (at the top) to highest energy/shortest wavelength (at the bottom). (Credit: NASA's Imagine the Universe)

Radio: Your radio captures radio waves emitted by radio stations, bringing your favorite tunes. Radio waves are also emitted by stars and gases in space.
Microwave: Microwave radiation will cook your popcorn in just a few minutes, but is also used by astronomers to learn about the structure of nearby galaxies.
Infrared: Night vision goggles pick up the infrared light emitted by our skin and objects with heat. In space, infrared light helps us map the dust between stars.
Visible: Our eyes detect visible light. Fireflies, light bulbs, and stars all emit visible light.
Ultraviolet: Ultraviolet radiation is emitted by the Sun and are the reason skin tans and burns. "Hot" objects in space emit UV radiation as well.
X-ray: A dentist uses X-rays to image your teeth, and airport security uses them to see through your bag. Hot gases in the Universe also emit X-rays.
Gamma ray: Doctors use gamma-ray imaging to see inside your body. The biggest gamma-ray generator of all is the Universe.

    Humans are constantly exposed to electromagnetic waves. We are subject to natural radiation all day long, whether we’re indoors or outdoors. However, a substantial increase in exposure to non-ionizing radiation and especially to low frequency EM waves, started in the early 20th century. The increase continued through development of power stations, radios, radars, televisions, computers, mobile phones, microwave ovens and numerous devices used in medicine, industry and home. These technological advances have aroused concerns about the potential health risks associated with unprecedented levels of EMR exposure. We are somehow used to it, most of it is harmless (as of today), we even depend on it. And sometimes, people do not care much of how something very small can affect them because EVERYONE use them. 

Artwork: How an electromagnetic wave travels: If we could peer inside a light ray (or other electromagnetic wave), this is what we'd see: an electrical wave vibrating in one direction (blue in this case, and vibrating up-and-down) and a magnetic wave vibrating at right angles to it (red in this case, and vibrating from side to side). The two waves vibrate in perfect step, at right angles to the direction they're traveling in. This diagram shows us something scientists only really understood in the 19th century: electricity and magnetism are equal partners that work together closely at all times.

        Wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum continually change and different frequencies cause different properties of the band. The higher frequencies or shorter wavelengths and high energy, thus, are more dangerous. The first and most well-known of these are radio waves. They're also used to broadcast television signals, and they're how mobile phones work - your voice is sent through radio signals. These waves are ideal for communications and are used extensively for television and radio. These waves do not refract and work on the direct line of sight with the transmitter. There are two types of microwaves. First being the satellite signals. Frequency of microwaves pass easily through the atmosphere and clouds. In cooking, we can also use microwaves. Microwaves are absorbed by the water molecules in your food. These water molecules become hot. Since microwaves aren't that different from radio waves, they've also been used for communications, especially for extending TV signals to larger distances. Infrared radiation, any object that radiates heat radiates infrared radiation. Infrared is absorbed by all materials and causes heating. It’s used for night-vision, security cameras and infrared is visible daytime and nighttime. All hot objects produce infrared. In fact, you're producing infrared waves right now. Police using helicopters catch criminals and the army can use it to detect enemy movements are far away especially at night. Ultraviolet can sterilize and disinfect medical instruments. UVC is germicidal this means it destroys bacteria and viruses amount in the air in water and on surfaces. Easy Synthesizes vitamin D on skin, controls the endocrine system and is also a painkiller. UV also lights up fluorescent materials; highlighter pens are brighter and more useful because of this effect. X-rays are used to detect bone breaks. They pass right through the flesh. However, they can’t get through dense materials like bones. Gamma rays can both cause and treat cancers especially in high doses.

             How much should we worry about the effects of radiations? Electromagnetic waves aren’t completely harmful. It can both have positive and negative effects on our body. And since I have already discussed to you the good effects of EM waves to us, now I will focus on its negative side. There are many dangers associated with Electromagnetic waves. Starting with the most obviously dangerous, gamma rays are the highest frequency and most energetic form of light. They penetrate the human body and cause radiation poisoning after nuclear events like melt downs. The dangers associated with x-rays and gamma rays can cause cancer. There are many dangers associated with microwaves as they are absorbed by all living tissue, internal heating will do damage to cells. These two types of waves, x-rays and gamma rays, are known to be the most dangerous radiations for both are ionizing radiations, meaning it has the capacity to break chemical bonds. According to Pavico (2015) “Ionizing radiation can produce molecular charges that can lead to damage in biological tissues, including effects on DNA. Delayed effects can be cancer or mutation, which may be on the person exposed to radiation or to hi?her offsprings” (p. 103). In other words, it can damage our DNA, which is a potential cause of cancer. Ultraviolet radiations are also considered to be an ionizing radiation. Overexposure to UV A and B damages skin surface cells which can also lead to eyes being damaged and can also cause cancer. There are some problems with the current sunscreen which may protect against skin burning from high UVB. However, as an adequate protection against free radical damage caused by UVA. Dark skins are not necessarily safe from harm, although it’s a common myth that they are. Sun exposure for the skin is best restricted to before 11:00 a.m. and after 3:00 p.m. But we must also remember that they are dangerous whenever we are exposed to these radiations. The rest of the types of EM waves are all non-ionizing radiation, which means it is less dangerous but still poses some health issues, according to Pavico (2015) (p. 103). Visible light is harmful to your eyes when bright enough, like staring at the sun or a high energy laser beam. Dark spots can be burned into your retinas, and you'd have those spots permanently. Infrared light is heat, so you can be burned when close to fires or radiant heat sources. Since we are mostly made of water, microwaves can harm us. Microwave ovens are made to be very safe, but when they were first developed, radiation leakage could be harmful. If there was a big enough microwave oven and you were inside it, it would be incredibly harmful. It is not known if radio waves can be harmful. Our cell phones transmit in the radio/microwave part of the spectrum, and studies are being done to see if they have long term harmful effects. What we have to be wary of is extensive exposure to radiation, whether it’s natural or artificial. electromagnetic radiation cannot cause immediate damage, it does interact with our bodies, which can potentially lead to indirect damage, especially following long term exposure

           We still don’t understand enough about the potential effects of electromagnetic radiation, both in terms of its interaction with biological material and the effects of its increasing and cumulative use. And even if we are aware, we still cannot stop ourselves from being exposed to such radiation because first, we cannot avoid it. Second, we live with it. Third, we depend on it. Lastly, because they are beneficial to both man and environment. Therefore, em waves are life. Think of it, everything that surrounds us is dangerous depending only on how we handle them, the same goes to EM waves. Today, although EM waves are harmful and most probably dangerous to humans, people are still encouraged to use and even develop them.