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The composition of this radiation can vary depending on what may be ionized. Visible light, near ultraviolet, infrared, and radio waves are all examples of non-ionising radiation, though visible and near ultraviolet can also ionize some molecules. The light from the sun that reaches the earth is largely composed of non-ionising radiation, with the notable exception of some ultraviolet rays. However, most ionizing radiation is filtered out by the atmosphere.
Because it is lower energy radiation, the use of this type of radiation in medical fields and everyday life poses fewer health risks than ionizing radiation in forms such as x-rays. However, some studies have shown that long-term exposure to low-frequency electromagnetic fieldThe electromagnetic field EMF is composed of two related vectorial fields, the electric field and the magnetic field. This means that the vectors E and B that characterize the field each have a value defined at each point of space and time. If only E thes (such as those produced by some power lines) can pose a health risk, though the radiation itself is non-ionising.
RadioactivityRadioactive decay Radioactivity is the process by which unstable atomic nuclei decay. This process normally produces ionizing radiation with a relatively large amount of energy. This energy can be harnessed in the form of nuclear power, or it can be very