Electronics Radiation
Written By Tommy Li and Jerry Lau
Radiation is always around us and it is nearly impossible to escape exposure from it unless you surround yourself in a Faraday cage at all times. However not all pervasive radiation is manmade; we are surrounded by natural radiation from around the earth and radiation from space. Our bodies have adapted to this radiation over time. Nevertheless, the biggest threat to our health is manmade radiation, which must be regulated and observed at all times by government agencies.
In the United States, the governing regulatory body, the FDA carries out an electronic product radiation control program mandated by the Electronic Product Radiation Control provisions of the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (1). The FDA has a designated department, Center of for Devices and Radiological Health, which tests electronic products and ensures that radiation emissions do not pose hazards to the public. One example of an emission standard is the one posed on television sets. The federal standard for television receivers is that they mustn't emit x-radiation over 0.5 milliroentgen per hour (mR/hr). Any television receivers that are found not to be in compliance with this standard are destroyed if not exported in ninety days (2).
But why were these standards put in place? Scientists have not found any identified specific health effects in humans from exposure to low levels of radiation over extended periods of time. However it is thought that there is not a minimum level of x radiation where it won’t negatively affect peoples’ health. With this in mind, the United States decided to put the standard as having the lowest amount of radiation emission as possible in electronic products (2).
There are many different types of manmade radiation. Human society has created many sources of radiation. First, the ionizing electromagnetic radiation from television receivers, accelerators, and X- ray machines from industrial, medical, research, and educational fields has influenced many of our lives. Second, particulate radiation and ionizing electromagnetic radiation from electron microscopes and neutron generators is non-negligible. Third, ultraviolet from biochemical and medical analyzers, tanning and therapeutic lamps, sanitizing and sterilizing devices, black light sources, and welding equipment is always a problem. The process of ionization can alter molecules within the human cells and may cause eventual harm like cancer. Intense and excessive exposures to ionizing radiation may lead to skin or tissue damage. Moreover, visible white light devices transmit radiation. And infrared lights and microwaves from alarm systems, diathermy units, and dryers, ovens, and heaters are inescapable (2). Modulated microwave radiation causes periodic alteration of the neurophysiologic parameters and parametric excitation of brain bioelectric oscillations (3). In addition, sonics and ultrasonics from sound amplification equipment and cleaners are a big part of manmade radiation.
Electronics play an essential part in our daily life. People living in the 21st century cannot run a day without them, so is the radiation. Although the government regulates radiation emitting electronic products, the purpose of them being made is driven by human nature and needs. Humans tend to create a problem in order to solve another problem. Looking forward and developing new strategies and technologies seem to be the only way out.
References:
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/classify-your-medical-device/does-product-emit-radiation
Hiie Hinrikus, Maie Bachmann, Jaanus Lass. (2018) Understanding physical mechanism of low-level microwave radiation effect. International Journal of Radiation Biology 94:10, 877-882. https://www-tandfonline-com.jerome.stjohns.edu/doi/abs/10.1080/15368378.2016.1251451?journalCode=iebm20
Electromagnetic radiation is a result of the rapid development of technological advancements over the past few decades, as electronics have been widely used in many areas related to human production and life. As a result, the radiation that comes with this technology used in our everyday lives has become a new source of significant pollution in today's society. Some products that expose us to radiation include various electrical systems, such as mobile phones, microwave ovens, communication base stations, high-voltage lines, electronic instruments and other electromagnetic equipment. In many cases this pollution is a lot stronger compared to any natural sources of electromagnetic fields or radiation. The impact of this pollution remains uncertain as there is no conclusive evidence definitively proving its adverse effects on human health.
Due to the extensive pollution from our technology, the FDA is responsible for regulating the radiation emitting from electronic products to prevent the unnecessary exposure from these products. All radiation-emitting electronic products must adhere to specific requirements to comply with the provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act. If the product additionally qualifies as a medical device, it must also meet the regulations applicable to medical devices.
Furthermore, there are biological effects of electromagnetic radiation that have gained attention worldwide, and the interaction that the radiation could have with the human body and its organs currently has the focus of recent studies. For example, the effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation on neurotransmitters in the brain has been studied. While a multitude of studies have already shown that the nervous system is a target organ system sensitive to radiation, a growing body of research has focused on the neurobiological effects of electromagnetic radiation on the brain, including the metabolism and transport of neurotransmitters. Electromagnetic radiation also produces electromagnetic waves that vary in frequency, intensity, and power of radiation. As a result, the effects of the radiation on the body depends on these factors and poses a challenge for literature review.
Neurotransmitters are messengers of synaptic transmission and therefore greatly contribute to cognitive and emotional behavior, as the neural circuit is the structural basis of brain function. Being a precursor of norepinephrine, dopamine plays a pivotal role as a neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. It primarily governs brain activities related to reward, learning, emotion, motor control, and executive functions. Additionally, dopamine is associated with psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. Multiple studies reported the effects of radiation on dopamine. In one study, adult rats were undergoing daily radiation exposure which induced a significant decrease in dopamine in the hippocampus after two months of exposure and one month after cessation of exposure. The findings of this study suggest that exposure to electromagnetic radiation could potentially diminish dopamine production in the hippocampus, influence rat arousal, and contribute to a decline in learning and memory capabilities following radiation exposure.
Overall, studies on the synthesis, metabolism, and transport of neurotransmitters in the brain under electromagnetic radiation are gradually increasing. However, due to variations in electromagnetic radiation parameters, experimental subjects, and conditions, the results obtained are not highly consistent or comparable. Consequently, the impact of EMR on neurotransmitter metabolism and transport remains unclear. Further studies are needed, however it is important to be aware of the radiation that surrounds us and make a conscious effort to limit the exposure we face by simply limiting time to certain radiation sources, increasing distance from certain sources, or using barriers of lead, concrete, or water provide protection from penetrating radiation such as gamma rays and neutrons.
References:
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/classify-your-medical-device/does-product-emit-radiation
https://www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov.jerome.stjohns.edu/pmc/articles/PMC8415840/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25811025/
https://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/radiation/protects-you/protection-principles.html