Non-ionising radiation

ELF (extra-low frequency) fields are found wherever electricity is used. They are a by-product of the use of electricity and occur around electric wires, including powerlines, substations and electrical appliances within the household. In Western Australia electricity is supplied as an alternating current at 50 Hz (50 cycles per second).

For health effects associated with 50 Hz electricity (which includes all powerlines and substation transformers), Western Australia is guided by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) publication (RHS 30) Interim guidelines on limits of exposure to 50/60 Hz electric and magnetic fields (1989) (external site).

These guidelines recommend limits of exposure for the general public and are expressed as a measurement of field strength, as opposed to describing safe distances from power sources in metres.

Emissions from the various sources of electric power typically do not extend over large distances. This means that the majority of electric and magnetic fields around the home would largely be influenced by household wiring and the different types of electrical appliances as opposed to the fields originating from nearby power lines or substation transformers.

For summary information about a consideration of risk associated with the electric fields from powerlines and substations the following fact sheet may be of assistance Powerlines, Electromagnetic Fields and Health (PDF 186KB).

Some further information on electromagnetic fields and their associated health effects visit Australian Radiation Protection & Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) (external site) or the World Health Organization (WHO) (external site).

Radiofrequency radiation is used in the transmission of communication signals for many modern applications throughout the world. Some of these applications include:

• mobile phone communications
• television transmissions
• radio broadcasting
• emergency communications systems.

For health effects associated with the use of radiofrequency radiation Western Australia is guided by the Radiation Protection Standard, Maximum Exposure Levels to Radiofrequency Fields – 3 kHz to 300 GHz published as RPS 3 by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (external site).

This standard recommends maximum exposure levels for the general public as a measurement of field strength as opposed to recommending safe distances in metres.

Mobile phone towers

Mobile telephone towers radiate small amounts of power during communications over wide areas resulting in low intensities at ground level.

Current scientific opinion suggests that harmful effects have not been observed from these relatively small amounts of radiation, and the weight of current research has supported this viewpoint.

The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency published a nationwide study in 2000 which found that; “the typical exposure level from mobile phone base stations is hundreds and sometimes thousands of times below the regulated limit

Many studies have used sensitive equipment for laboratory testing of radiofrequency radiation in order to explore interaction mechanisms at the cellular level and determine whether detrimental effects are evident in tissue.

While concern from the community has looked upon radiofrequency radiation as potentially harmful to humans, current laboratory testing has not been able to provide replicated results related to health concerns.

This lack of replication in international research does not exclude the possibility for health detriment; however it does suggest to the research community that no strong health detriment is apparent within our populations. It is hoped that future laboratory studies may help to provide better clarity with regard to long term health concerns to our population from radiofrequency radiation.

Satellite dishes

Satellite dishes of the type used as television receiving devices in many residential areas are typically receiving-only devices and should not contribute additional radiofrequency radiation to the environment.

The function of these dishes is to act as large collecting devices for gathering weak signals that already exist in the environment.

For further information on radiofrequency radiation visit ARPANSA (external site) or the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) (external site).

Ultraviolet radiation occurs as either an integral component of sunlight or from some artificial sources of lighting.

For all regulatory information associated with the use of ultraviolet radiation (including transilluminator devices) please contact the Radiological Council (external site).

For occupational health effects associated with ultraviolet radiation (UV) in Western Australia we are guided by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) publication (RHS 29) Occupational standard for exposure to ultraviolet radiation (1989) (external site).

The guidelines recommend limits of exposure with spectral weighting functions across the wavelengths of UV including the near-ultraviolet UV-A spectral region (315-400nm) and the actinic spectral region (UV-C and UV-B from 180-315nm).

Research into ultraviolet radiation is on-going; however, there is considerable data available to establish various health effects from the results of ultraviolet radiation exposure to humans. These include both non-stochastic health effects such as erythema (skin-burn) and cataracts (eye); and also include stochastic effects such as the possibility of skin cancer.

For general information about the radiation risks associated with ultraviolet radiation from quartz halogen light sources the following document may be of assistance; ultraviolet radiation from quartz halogen light sources (PDF 191KB).

Solar ultraviolet radiation

For more information on current research on solar ultraviolet radiation in Australia and around the world you can visit Australian Radiation Protection & Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) (external site) or alternatively the World Health Organization (WHO) (external site) also has some relevant information.

Ultraviolet tanning appliances

For information on health issues surrounding ultraviolet tanning appliances used for cosmetic purposes (solaria), view the World Health Organization document on Artificial Tanning Sunbeds: Risk and Guidance (PDF 594KB) (External site).

View the International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) document Health Issues of Ultraviolet Tanning Appliances Used for Cosmetic Purposes (PDF 137KB) (external site) on this topic.