Analysis of research progress in the field of electromagnetic radiation
Research progress
If electromagnetic fields can pose a health threat, then all industrialized countries will be spared. The public increasingly urgently needs a specific answer to the question of whether electromagnetic fields in daily life can cause harmful effects on health. The media often seems to have given definite answers. However, it is important to approach these news reports with caution, as the primary interest of the media is not in educating the public. A journalist is influenced by many non-technical factors when selecting and reporting news, such as competition in time and space between journalists, and competition in circulation between different newspapers and magazines. Having close connections with as many people as possible and novel and sensational news headlines can achieve these goals - bad news can become bigger news, and it is also the only news we often hear. A large number of research results reflecting the harmlessness of electromagnetic fields are rarely reported. Although science cannot provide absolute security guarantees, more research progress can make us overall more confident.
Different types of research are needed
Cross disciplinary research in different fields is essential for evaluating the potential harmful effects of electromagnetic fields on the human body. Different types of research have explored different aspects of this problem. The laboratory research of biological cells is mainly aimed at elucidating the basic mechanism of the relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields and biological effects. They attempted to identify the mechanisms based on molecular and cellular changes brought about by electromagnetic fields, which could provide clues for understanding how physical effects are converted into biological effects in the human body. In these studies, individual cells and tissues may be removed from normal living environments, and certain compensation mechanisms may fail.
Another type of research is animal research, which is closer to the real human condition. These studies provide more direct and relevant evidence for establishing safety standards for human exposure, and several different intensities of electromagnetic fields are often used in studies to explore the dose-response relationship.
Epidemiological surveys or research on human health are another direct source of information on the effects of long-term exposure. These studies explore the causes and distribution of diseases in real-life situations, including residential communities and occupational groups. Researchers are trying to find a data link between exposure to electromagnetic fields and the onset or harmful health effects of a certain disease. However, epidemiological investigations require a significant amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources. More importantly, they need to measure in very complex populations, making it difficult to control various conditions to detect very small effects. Due to these reasons, scientists consider all relevant evidence when making judgments about potential health threats, including epidemiological studies, animal experiments, and cell experiments.
