Human made sources of electromagnetic fields have increased in the past century with the development of technology and radio communications. Humans have been exposed to natural EMF through out their lifetime. In other words, the quantity of energy they carry cannot break down chemical bonds within cells and tissues.Įxposure to electromagnetic fields in everyday life is not new. Many artificial sources of electromagnetic fields, by which we are surrounded daily (including radio signals), are non-ionising. Some electromagnetic waves carry such large quantities of energy that they can ionise particles of matter and consequently break down the chemical bonds between molecules. X-rays used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes (radiotherapy), gamma-rays (emitted by radioactive materials) and cosmic radiation, all have this ability and are known as ionising radiation.Įlectromagnetic fields which cannot break down molecular bonds are called non-ionising radiation. emergency service radio (police, fire, ambulance) Human-made sources of electromagnetic fields include Visible light (we can see using optical radiation).The Earth’s Magnetic Field (this makes a compass point north).Natural sources of electric and magnetic fields include Electromagnetic fields are generated either by natural or human-made sources. Sources of electromagnetic fields in everyday lifeĮlectromagnetic fields exist everywhere in the environment including our home, school and work place. Note: The EMF Explained Series is specifically focused on the radio frequency part of the electromagnetic spectrum for mobile and wireless services. So do wireless technologies such as WiFi, which is increasingly used by computer networks, to connect to the internet. Many electrical appliances don’t just create EM fields – they rely on them to work. Television and radio, mobile and cordless phones, remote control handsets, baby monitors and the communication systems used by emergency services all communicate using Radio Frequency EM fields. Electromagnetic fields are present everywhere in our environment – the earth, sun and ionosphere are all natural sources of EMF.Įlectric and magnetic fields are part of the spectrum of electromagnetic energy which extends from static electric and magnetic fields, mains power frequencies (50/60Hz) through radiofrequency, infrared, and visible light to X-rays.Įlectromagnetic Spectrum - This diagram shows the electromagnetic spectrum, ionising and non-ionising sections, and typical sources of electromagnetic fields.Įlectromagnetic fields are also created whenever an electrical appliance is connected to the mains supply, including many in daily use such as refrigerators, hairdryers and computers. EMF is short for electromagnetic fields or sometimes known as electromagnetic radiation (EMR) or electromagnetic energy (EME).

Eme mains