Dangers of EM waves

• What does the danger (risk) of a type of wave depend on?

  its frequency (higher frequency = higher risk)
• Why does a higher frequency mean a higher risk when it comes to EM waves?

  Higher frequency waves transfer lots more energy, which can cause lots of damage
• What are the types of EM waves that cause the most damage?

  • Ultraviolet
  • X-rays
  • Gamma rays
• How can UV radiation be a risk?

  UV radiation damages surface cells, which can cause:

  • sunburn
  • skin to age prematurely
  • blindness
  • increased risk of skin cancer
• How can X-rays and gamma rays be a risk?


  X-rays and gamma rays are types of ionising radiation, therefore they can cause:

  • gene mutation
  • cell destruction
  • cancer
• What is meant by ionising radiation?

  Radiation that has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions.
• You can measure the risk of radiation using radiation dose, what is radiation dose?

  A measure of the risk of harm from the body being exposed to radiation (it is measured is sieverts Sv)
• What does the risk (measured by radiation dose depend on)?

  • The total radiation absorbed
  • How harmful the type of radiation is
• How many sieverts is 1000 mSv? (1000 millisieverts)

  1 Sv