Looking at the hazardous effects of radiation
The Office of Radiation Safety in the Ministry of Health is the lead agency for all radiation issues.
Toi Te Ora Public Health also carries out some additional activities, including:
- responding to inquiries and complaints
- reviewing resource consent applications relating to ionising and non-ionising radiation and staff may also respond to radiation emergencies.
Ionising radiation is radiation which has sufficient energy to knock electrons out of (i.e. ionise) atoms. X-rays and gamma rays are types of ionising radiation, as are the particulate radiations of alpha and beta particles that are found in some types of nuclear decay. Ionising radiation is what the general public regards as ‘radioactive'.
Non-ionising radiation includes electromagnetic fields in the form of extremely low frequency fields, visible light (including lasers), microwave (including microwave ovens and cell-phone transmissions), radiofrequency fields, ultra violet and infrared.
Resources
- Electric and magnetic fields and your health - Ministry of Health
- Interagency Committee on the Health Effects of Non-ionising Fields: Report to Ministers 2018
- National guidelines for managing the effects of radiofrequency transmitters - Ministry for the Environment
- Radio frequency fields - Ministry of Health
Updated 28 Nov, 2023