FOURTH YEAR SECOND TERM

2011

Biological Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation

Prepared by Dr ESSAM A. HASHISH

Dept. of Electronics and Communications Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University

References
Lecture Notes Bioeffects And Therapeutic Applications Of Electromagnetic Energy Riadh W. Y. Habash CRC Press , 2008. RF/Microwave Interaction with Biological Tissues Andr Vander Vorst, Arye Rosen, Youji Kotsuka Wiley-IEEE Press, 2006.

CONTENTS

-Introduction Fundamentals of Electromagnetics RF/Microwave Interaction Mechanisms in Biological Materials - Biological Effects Thermal Therapy - EM Wave Absorbers Protecting Biological and Medical Environment - RF/Microwave Delivery Systems for Therapeutic Applications - Selected Topics

Electromagnetic Waves and Fields

These waves are form of energy consisting of both electric and magnetic fields Most of these waves have their electric and magnetic fields normal to each other and to the direction of propagation
H

Direction of propagation

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE

Propagation of Electromagnetic Waves

Radio Waves : in the open space

Guided Waves : inside transmission lines, waveguides and optical fibers

Satellite Link

Transmission Line

Analog

Digital

Types of Data Carried by EM Waves

Audio

Video

Text

Graph

Picture

Measurements of Electromagnetic fields

Electric Field Magnetic Fields

(E) : volts/m (H) : amp/m (B) : Tesla (B) : Gauss Power Density (P) : watts/m2 Specific Absorption Rate SAR : watts/kg
1.26 Tesla 12.5 milli Gauss

Note 1 amp/m

OBJECTIVE

HAZARDS

SAFETY

REMARKS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS

Rapid Growth of mobile communications High increase of electromagnetic power exposure Introduced hazards of these exposures

EVOLUTION OF GSM

1940 : First wireless telephone 1978 : First analog cellular network 1979 : Frequency allocation system 1993 : Global System for Mobiles, GSM 1996 : Digital communication system, DCS 2005 : Expected 1.6 billion users

Cellular Phone Development

From the GSM standard to the 3G UMTS standard

The spectrum of the Electromagnetic Waves

FREQUENCY SPECTRUM
Electromagnetic wave g rays X rays Ultraviolet radiations Visible spectrum Frequency >3000 THz >3000 THz 3000 THz 385 THz - 750 THz Wavelength <100 nm <100 nm 400 nm -100 nm 780 - 400 nm 1 mm - 780 nm 1 m - 1 mm 1 Km - 1 mm >1 km Applications Medical imaging Radiography Sun-tanning devices Lighting

Infrared radiations
Hyperfrequencies or microwaves (MW) Radiofrequencies (RF) Extremely low frequencies (ELF)

0,3 THz - 385 THz

0,3 GHz - 300 GHz 0,3 MHz -300 GHz < 300 kHz

Heating
GSM, microwaves oven, radars Radio, television Electricity distribution network

Spectrum and Effects of EM waves

Biological effects of electromagnetic waves are critical for:

Understanding potential health and safety risks in order to set safe standards for: Cellular phones Radio waves Wireless networking TV / Radio broadcasting 60 Hz power lines X-ray imaging Developing and utilizing medical applications and therapies: Ultrasound Terahertz imaging Tissue heating Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Ionophoresis Bone healing

Sources of Exposure of Electromagnetic Radiation

SOURES OF EXPOSURE

NATURAL

MAN MADE

Sources of Fields and Radiation Low-Frequency Fields: Magnetosphere. Magnetic Resonance Imaging. DC Power Supply System. AC Sources including power lines, substations, and appliances. Radio Frequency Sources: Generators. Transmission Paths including transmission lines, cables and waveguides. Antennas.

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Mechanisms for Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMF)

There are several proposed mechanisms for the interaction of EMF fields with living systems. They can be grouped into induced fields and currents (a process called coupling), which varies greatly with frequency Induced Fields and Currents Thermal Noise

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Electromagnetic Interactions with Biosystems

Extremely low frequency (ELF) fields can cause the generation of electric currents in the human body, Radio frequency radiation (RFR) can lead to heating up of the body. The higher the frequency, the less deep the penetration of energy into the body, and the more superficial the heating effect is.

Electric Field Effects

Polarization of Bound Charges Orientation of Permanent Electric Dipoles Drift of Conduction Charges

Magnetic Field Effects

Induced Currents Magnetic Biosubstances

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Man Made Sources

Exponential growth in background non-ionizing radiation

Sources of Exposure in Mobile Systems

Mobile Phones Antenna Base Stations

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE HAZARDS

IONIZING

NON IONIZING

NON THERMAL

THERMAL

BIOPHYSICAL EVENTS AROUND CELL MEMBRANE RECEPTORS

BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS IN AND BETWEEN CELLS

BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES INSIDE CELLS

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS IN ORGANS AND BODY

FACTORS AFFECTING BODY ABSORPTION

LEVEL AND TIME OF EXPOSURE ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE OPERATING FREQUENCY PERIOD OF EXPOSURE AND NON EXPOSURE VELOCITY OF AIR MOVEMENT RELATIVE POSITION OF THE BODY IN THE FIELD TISSUE CONTENT OF BLOOD SUPPLY