Lesson 6.

Applications and Hazards of

Electromagnetic Waves in
Sanitation and Health
 know the practical
Objectives applications of
1 electromagnetic waves;
At the end of and
the lesson,
you should discuss the contributions
be able to: of electromagnetic waves
2 in the field of medicine,
sanitation and health.
 Learn about It!

Thermogram
• Infrared radiation can be useful for the diagnosis of tumors
since the higher cellular activity in tumors cause them to emit
more infrared radiation than healthy tissues. This radiation
emission can be seen with a thermogram.
 Learn about It!

Thermogram

A thermogram showing the heat and blood flow patterns on or near the surface of
the body.
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Laser Surgery
• Lasers have a number of medical applications as well. A carbon dioxide (CO2)
laser can be used for the treatment of tumors. An argon laser can be used for the
repair of peripheral nerves. In cosmetic surgeries, argon lasers can be used for
the removal of birthmarks.
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Laser Surgery
• LASIK or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis surgery is a special
laser is used to reshape the eye’s cornea for correcting the primary types
of eye refractive error, such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia
(farsightedness) and astigmatism.
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Learn about It!
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X-rays
• X-rays are commonly used for medical imaging. They can
be used to take an image of the bones because the calcium
in the bones tends to absorb X-rays while several other
tissues, such as those of skin, muscles, and digestive tract
are transparent to them.
• The white regions of an X-ray plate are regions where the X-
rays did not pass through.
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X-rays

A chest x-ray showing the bones and lungs.

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X-rays
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X-rays
• Contrast materials are used to
see soft tissues using X-rays.
For example, swallowing
barium sulfate coats the
surface of the digestive tract,
making it appear on X-ray
plate and allowing its shape to
be outlined.
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UV Radiation
• High energy electromagnetic radiations are used in sterilization of
food and equipment. Ultraviolet lamp is used in sterilizing work
surfaces, such as those in laboratories and hospitals. It is also used
as pasteurization agent to treat fruit juices and other food products.
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UV Radiation

UV sterilization of pipettes and tips in a Biosafety Cabinet.

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Gamma Ray
• Gamma rays are used in a new
form of medical procedure called
gamma-knife surgery; multiple
beams of gamma rays are
focused on a tumor to kill the
cancerous cells. The beams are
aimed at different angles to
maximize the targeting of cancer
cells while minimizing the damage
to healthy tissues.
Lesson 6.4

Hazards of Electromagnetic
Waves
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Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation

• Ionizing radiation comes from electromagnetic waves
with sufficiently high energy that can possibly cause cellular
and DNA damage. Examples of ionizing radiation include
UV radiation, X-rays and gamma rays.
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Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation.
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Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation

• Non-ionizing radiation are from electromagnetic waves
with relatively low radiation levels believed to be harmless
to humans.
• Some non-ionizing radiation include extremely low
frequency radio (ELF) waves, radio (RF) waves, microwaves
and visual light.
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Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation

• The major effect of non-
ionizing radiation is an
increase in the system’s
temperature. Ionizing
radiation, on the other
hand, poses a greater
threat.
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Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation

Non-ionizing radiation.
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Ionizing and Non-ionizing Radiation

Symbol for non-ionizing radiation.

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Ultraviolet Radiation
• Ultraviolet radiation has three sub classifications namely:
UV A, UV B and UV C.
• UV A has the lowest frequency among the three.
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Ultraviolet Radiation
• UV B has a slightly lower frequency
than UV C but is already capable of
causing severe sunburn and
cellular damage.
• Overexposure of plants to UV B
impairs photosynthesis and could
result in reduced size, productivity
and quality of crops.
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Ultraviolet Radiation

Effect of using sunscreen as protection to UV rays.

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Ultraviolet Radiation
• Ultraviolet is capable of
damaging the DNA of different
organisms, including humans.
X-rays and gamma rays are
also capable of causing cell
damage, which can result in
mutations that may potentially
lead to cancer and death.
Key Points

Infrared are used in thermogram for monitoring heat

1 and blood flow in the human body.

Lasers are used in tumor removal, bloodless surgeries,

2 and LASIK surgery.

UV rays are used in treatment of skin conditions, and

3 sanitation of equipments.
Key Points

X-rays are commonly used in medical imaging

4 particularly in taking images of bones in the human
body.

Gamma rays are used in killing cancer cells through

5 targeting tumors and also used in sterilizing medical
equipments.
Key Points

Ionizing radiation comes from electromagnetic waves

1 with sufficiently high energy that can possibly cause
cellular and DNA damage.

Examples of ionizing radiation are UV radiation, xrays,

2 and gamma rays.

Non-ionizing radiation are from electromagnetic waves

3 with relatively low radiation levels believed to be
harmless to humans.
Key Points

Examples of non-ionizing radiation are radio waves,

4 microwaves and visible light.

Ultraviolet radiation has classifications namely: UV A, UV

5 B and UV, in increasing frequency. UV C poses the
greatest danger among the three.