DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region III
City Division of San Jose del Monte
CITY OF SAN JOSE DEL MONTE NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
EcoPark, Brgy. Muzon, City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan
www.csjdmsciencehigh.webs.com
Research Guide:
RADIO WAVE RADIATION
Submitted by:
Group 1
Submitted to:
Mr. Jerico Guevara
Submitted on:
June 14, 2022
Research Guide
1. Define radio wave radiation.
✓ Radio wave is a type of electromagnetic radiation. The wavelength of a radio wave is
substantially longer than the wavelength of visible light. Radio waves are widely used in
human communication [1].
2. Describe where radio waves are found on the EMS compared to the other six forms of
radiation. In your description, compare, and contrast it with wavelength, frequency, and
energy with those of other regions of the EMS.
GAMMA X- ULTRA VISIBLE INFRA MICRO RADIO
RAY RAY VIOLET LIGHT RED WAVE WAVE
10-9 10-7 10-5 10-1
10-11 10-3
Wavelength - - - -
- -
(m) 10-11 10-9 10-7 10-3 > 10-1
10-13 10-5
1017 1015 1013 109
1019 1011 107
Frequency - - - -
- - -
(Hz) 1019 1017 1015 1011
1021 1013 109
103 103 10-1 10-5
105 10-3 10-7
- - - -
Energy (eV) - - -
105 105 10 10-3
107 10-1 10-5
Figure 1. Electromagnetic spectrum comparison [2]
✓ On the Electromagnetic spectrum, radio waves have the highest wavelength, but have the
lowest frequency and energy.
✓ Radio waves have the longest wavelengths among all waves and rays in the
electromagnetic spectrum. The length of these waves is greater than 10-1 m (0.1 m). It
means that the wavelength of the radio waves can be as short as a football or be longer than
a standard football field. Also, since the wavelength is inversely proportional to the
frequency of EM waves, the frequency of the radio waves, ranging from 107 - 109 Hz, is
the lowest in the electromagnetic spectrum. Furthermore, the frequency determines the
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energy of EM waves in the spectrum; energy is directly proportional to the wave’s
frequency as stated in Planck's law. Thus, the photons of radio waves also have lowest
energies, ranging from 10-7eV to 10-5 eV. The low-energy characteristic of the radio waves
is one of the main reasons why these waves are used in telecommunication, as low energy
photons are safe to biological materials of living organisms.
3. Are there human health risks from exposure (or overexposure) to radio wave radiation?
If so:
a. Describe the main risk(s).
✓ The expansion of cellular antennas and other radio wave-generating devices has raised
concerns about its radiation's potential health impacts. The short-term thermal effects of
radio wave radiation on people have been thoroughly studied, but the long-term health
consequences have rarely been examined.
✓ The biological effects of tissue heating by radio wave radiation are commonly referred to
as "thermal" effects. Because its energy has the ability to rapidly heat biological tissue, it
has long been known that exposure to very high amounts of radio wave radiation can be
hazardous.
✓ There are collectively identified potential thermal and non-thermal effects, including:
A. Thermal effects:
i. Heating of tissues
- Eyes and testes are particularly vulnerable if a person is overexposed to radio wave
radiation.
ii. Burns
- Non-ionizing radio wave radiation, on the other hand, is known to cause substantial
medical impacts. The exposed molecules move around and collide with one another
as high-frequency radio wave radiation, i.e., microwave radiation, penetrates the
body, generating friction and heat. The heat effect is what causes this. The tissue or
skin will be heated or burnt if the radiation is strong enough. Depending on the
tissue or organ that is exposed, the strength of the radiation, the frequency and
length of the exposure, the ambient temperature and humidity, and the body's
effectiveness in dispersing the heat, such health consequences may or may not be
reversible.
iii. Electrical shocks
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B. Non-thermal effects
- It alters body’s circadian rhythms, immune system, and nature of the electrical and
chemical signals communicated through the cell membrane.
i. Possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B)
- The World Health Organization’s International Agency for the Research on Cancer
(IARC) has also been studying the potential health effects of exposure to radio wave
radiation. The possible IARC classifications are listed in Figure 2. In 2011, IARC
classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as Group 2B “possibly
carcinogenic to humans based on an increased risk for glioma, a malignant type of
brain cancer associated with wireless phone use.”
Group 1 Carcinogenic to humans
Group 2A Probably carcinogenic to humans
Group 2B Possibly carcinogenic to humans
Group 3 Not classifiable
Group 4 Probably not carcinogenic to humans
Figure 2. IARC carcinogen classification
ii. Potential for other disorders
iii.Interference with medical devices such as pacemakers
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) notes that pacemakers and other
medical devices “could be susceptible to electromagnetic signals that could cause
them to malfunction.” As such, individuals with pacemakers are encouraged to
check with their doctor before performing work in areas where there is the potential
to be exposed to radio wave radiation [3].
b. Describe common sources of exposure (or overexposure).
i. Mobile phones/ cell phones
- When in use, it emits minimal levels of non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation
is non-carcinogenic, and has insufficient energy to break chemical bonds and remove
electrons from atoms [4]. The human body absorbs radio wave radiation that the devices
generate. Heating to the area of the body where a cell phone is held is the only reliably
established biological impact of radiation absorption in humans that the general public
may face [5].
ii. Bluetooth devices
- They emit low levels of radio waves because it is used to transmit information over
short distances. It emits a frequency slightly higher than a 4G cellphone, and emits
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radiation continuously as long as it is on. Although some say that Bluetooth devices do
not pose any health risk, several studies have linked Bluetooth technology with
illnesses like brain tumors, birth defects, dizziness, anxiety, sleep issues, depression
and more [6].
iii. Wi-Fi routers
- They emit non-ionizing radiation with frequency ranging between 2.4-5 GHz. Frequent
and long-term exposure is harmful, and if your device is connected to the internet,
you’re absorbing radiation as well [7].
iv. Broadcasting station
- Broadcasting uses radio waves to transmit signals to televisions and cellphones. It emits
non-ionizing radiation. Land-based radio stations broadcast radio waves in terrestrial
radio broadcasting, while in satellite radio broadcasting, a satellite in Earth orbit is the
one that broadcasts the radio waves.
v. Televisions
- They emit a small (but measurable) amount of radiation from its circuitry rather than
its screen. In the past, televisions power their screens using cathode ray tubes which
emit an enormous amount of radiation, however in present time modern televisions
produce non-ionizing radiation [8].
c. Describe a technology, device, or behavior that can be used for protection, or to
decrease exposure.
✓ “There is no established scientific evidence that the use of mobile phones causes any
health effects. Although it is not considered necessary, there are things one can do to
substantially reduce exposure. [9]”
✓ Since sources of radio wave radiation, best-known for its communicative purposes, are
so common in the modern world, there is no way to completely avoid the exposure to
it. However, there are some ways you can lower your exposure to radio wave radiation
such as [10]:
i. Avoiding jobs with increased radio wave exposure
ii. Limiting the time you spend near appliances, equipment, and other devices (such
as Wi-Fi routers) that give off radio wave radiation
iii. Limiting the time you spend with a cell (mobile) phone placed against your ear (or
close to another part of your body)
✓ You can also reduce your exposure to RF EME (the type of energy emitted by radio
waves) from your mobile phone in three simple ways [11]:
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i. Distance - The most effective way to reduce the exposure is to increase the distance
between your mobile phone and your head or body.
ii. Time - You can reduce your exposure time by keeping voice calls short, especially
when you are not using hands-free.
iii. Power - Usually a phone in an area with good reception will transmit at much lower
levels than in an area with poor reception like a lift or deep within a large building.
✓ You can limit the amount of power your phone uses by: (1) using your phone in good
signal areas where possible (shown by lots of bars on the reception indicator) and (2)
avoiding the use of your phone in poor signal areas such as lifts and moving vehicles.
(Note: There are laws in place restricting the use of mobile phones while you are
driving a motor vehicle [12].)
✓ “Still, it isn’t clear that doing the things mentioned will be helpful in terms of health
risks.”
4. Describe how radio waves are used in cell phone wireless communication technology.
✓ According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, wireless technologies
receive data using radio frequency energy. Cell phones, in particular, have electrical
devices called antennae. These antennae transform electrical signals into radio signals in
the form of electromagnetic waves called radio wave radiation. It is an electromagnetic
non-ionizing radiation with a frequency that ranges from 3 kilohertz to 300 gigahertz.
Because radio wave radiation energy drops as it traverses through the atmosphere and
becomes relatively weak the further it is from the transmitter, radio waves passed through
cellular towers to generate communication [13].
✓ In a call, the cell phone’s microphone converts the caller’s voice into binary codes which
are then transmitted into the cell phone’s antenna. The antenna converts the code into radio
waves. As the antenna releases these radio waves, the cellular tower which has the caller’s
cell phone network provider or SIM receives the signal. The cell tower converts the radio
waves into high-frequency light pulses and delivers them to the destination tower. The
recipient’s cell tower consequently accepts the pulses and transforms them back to radio
waves. The radio waves are then released again only to be received by the receiver’s cell
phone antenna.
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Figure 3. Transmission of radio waves in a phone call [14]
✓ The ionosphere bends or even reflects radio waves transmitted by antennas in certain
directions, as shown in Figure 4. They may repeatedly bounce off the Earth and be reflected
by the ionosphere, allowing radio transmission around the world. The so-called ground
wave makes long-distance communication even easier.
Figure 4. Bending of radio waves in ionosphere
✓ Reflections from buildings and other large obstacles may disrupt a radio wave as it travels
from the transmitting to the receiving antenna. Disturbances occur when multiple reflected
parts of the wave reach the receiving antenna and interfere with wave reception.
Nonconducting materials such as wood, bricks, and concrete can be penetrated fairly well
by radio waves. They are unable to pass through electrical conductors like water or metals
[15]
.
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References
[1] https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/atmosphere/radio-waves
[2] https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/toolbox/emspectrum2.html
[3] https://www.cpwr.com/wp-
content/uploads/publications/3._Health_Effects_of_RF_Radiation.pdf
[4] http://www.ecopolitan.com/Common-sources-of-radio-waves-radiation
[5] https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/cell-phones/radio-frequency-radiation-and-
cell-phones
[6] https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/cell-phones-fact-sheet
[7] https://emfacademy.com/wifi-radiation-everything-need-know/
[8] https://emfacademy.com/do-tvs-emit-radiation-complete-guide/
[9] https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-
sources/reducing-exposure-to-mobile-phones/radio-waves-frequently-asked-questions
[10] https://www.radiationhealthrisks.com/bluetooth-technology-radiation/
[11] https://www.cancer.org/healthy/cancer-causes/radiation-exposure/radiofrequency-
radiation.html
[12] https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/radiation-sources/more-radiation-
sources/reducing-exposure-to-mobile-phones
[13] https://www.epa.gov/radtown/non-ionizing-radiation-wireless-
technology#:~:text=Radio%20waves%20are%20broadcast%20using%20a%20transmitter.%
20When,radio%20waves%20to%20the%20person%20you%20are%20calling.
[14] www.scienceabc.com/innovation/mobile-phone-tower-look-coverage.html
[15] https://www.britannica.com/science/electromagnetic-radiation/Radio-waves
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List of Members
1. Alejandro, Michaella Gabrielle
2. Angeles, Aileseyah
3. Biso, Rachelle Anne
4. Caranay, Jazpher
5. Delos Santos, Ma. Kristina
6. Gabuya, Lhexie
7. Gamilong, Bea Andrea
8. Gaylawan, Iris
9. Gomez, Keisha Izabelle
10. Leyva, Kim Chezika
11. Lorenzo, Liyarah Faith
12. Mirador, Sheena Alaine
13. Nepomuceno, Judjell Rose
14. Oxales, Angelo
15. Panado, Emmanuel
16. Paningbatan, Denver
17. Peña, Angel
18. Roque, Ilona Marie
19. Salenga, Hanz Matthew
20. Sindab, Samzenar
21. Tangan, Lourdeliza
