EME is all around us and is part of our natural environment. It is emitted by sources like the sun, the earth, the earth’s atmosphere and even the human body.
EME is also produced artificially by telecommunications sources such as radio, television or mobile phones as well as household items such as heaters, light bulbs, electric ovens and refrigerators.
Exposure to artificial EME is not new. People have been living with artificial sources of EME since the telegraph was developed in the 1830–40s. We can control and regulate the levels of EME from artificial sources, including our wireless devices.
Artificial EME is not necessarily better or worse than natural EME. And while EME is a type of radiation, which is simply the transfer of energy, not all EME is the same and not all radiation is bad. For example, while x-rays and sunlight are types of ionising radiation which can lead to cancer with excessive exposure, EME from telecommunications is a type of non-ionising radiation with no known link to cancer.
The EME in telecommunications uses energy levels that are too weak to cause harm. In fact, in the case of 5G, the EME from 5G devices cannot even penetrate skin. Examples of non-ionising radiation sources include visible light, common electrical appliances, radio, television and mobile phone communications.
Australia’s strict standards regulate and monitor EME emissions from telecommunications to ensure they stay within these low levels. These standards are based on decades of Australian and international scientific research.
Find out more:
- EME research and standards – Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA)
- EME regulation – Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)