Electromagnetic pollution and our health/Elektromanyetik kirlilik ve sagligimiz

Electromagnetic (EM) fields are generated by several natural and man-made sources. Part of the electromagnetic spectrum called Radiofrequency (RF; 10 kHz-300 GHz) is used in communications, mobile phones, radio and television broadcasts, etc. Extremely Low Frequency (ELF; 0-300 Hz) region of the spectrum is radiated by transformers, high power lines, household or working area appliances, and by the electrical goods. The use of electromagnetic waves increases due to the technological improvements, therefore, people are exposed to high levels of electromagnetic fields in their daily lives. The health priority of public concerns occurred about the mobile phones, base stations and wireless technologies. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the public is increasing on their adverse effects on the human health. The biological and health effects of EM radiation have been investigated for more than 25 years in Biophysics Department at Gazi University. In this study, the sources and the effects of EM fields along with the studies performed in Gazi Biophysics are summarized, and Gazi Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Center (GNRK), the first scientific center founded to measure EM fields, is introduced. Key words: Electromagnetic pollution, biological effects of ELF and RF Elektromanyetik (EM) alanlar bircok dogal ya da insan yapimi kaynak tarafindan yayilmaktadir. Radyo Frekans (RF; 10 kHz-300 GHz) bolgesinde yer alan elektromanyetik dalgalar iletisimde, cep telefonlarinda, baz istasyonlarinda, radyo ve televizyon yayinlarinda v.s. kullanilmaktadir. Oldukca Dusuk Frekans (ELF; 0-300 Hz) bolgesi ise trafo, yuksek gerilim hatlari, ev ve is yerlerinde kullanilan ve elektrikle beslenen sistemler tarafindan uretilmektedir. Teknolojideki gelismelerin sonucu olarak elektromanyetik dalgalarin kullanimi her gecen gun artmakta ve gunluk yasamda dogada bulunanin cok ustundeki seviyelerde elektromanyetik dalgalara maruz kalinmaktadir. Son yillarda yaygin olarak kullanilmaya baslanan cep telefonlari, baz istasyonlari ve kablosuz iletisim kaynakli elektromanyetik alanlarin insan sagligina etkileri konusunda kamuoyunun duyarliligi artmaktadir. Gazi Universitesi Biyofizik Anabilim Dali 25 yili askin suredir (EM) alanlarin saglik ve biyolojik etkilerini arastirmaktadir. Bu calismada, dogal ve yapay EM alan kaynaklari ve bu alanlarin etkileri ile Gazi Biyofizik'in bu alandaki calismalari ozetlenerek; Turkiye'de bu alanlarin olcumu amaciyla kurulmus ilk merkez olan Gazi Non-Iyonizan Radya