Análise da Radiação não Ionizante em áreas do Nordeste Brasileiro

Abstract

The Non-Ionizing Radiation (NIR) is each day more present on a daily basis. This type of radiation can be found from common emission sources such as cellphones, electric transmission lines, microwaves, among others. With the technological advance and the increased use of instruments that generate electromagnetic radiation for various purposes, studies have been developed in order to analyze the relation between prolonged exposure to extremely low frequency NIR and the increased epidemiological problems in humans. Several studies suggest an increase of diseases associated with the exposure to NIR, as for instance, the appearance of childhood leukemia when this exposure is held for long periods with intensities greater than 0.3 or 0.4 μT. In this regard, this paper seeks to analyze the levels of NIR present in three cities of the Brazilian northeast, them being: Recife (PE), Maceió (AL) and Arcoverde (PE). The levels of NIR analyzed in this paper were measured using the equipment “Spectran NF-5035” at a frequency of 60 Hz. Thus, it was concluded that despite the different oscillations obtained and the characteristics of the locations, all measurements were above 0.4 μT in the 60 Hz range, a value considered to be a risk, especially with problems related to childhood leukemia. Thereby, it is believed that the buildings around the two capitals (Recife and Maceió) generate the “Urban Canyons”, a formation that results in an accumulation of radiation, situation that does not occur in the retreat house in Arcoverde, since cities like the two capitals have heat islands and high building verticalization, which could contribute to the increase in the radiation concentration. Thereby, urban density does not act as a considerable source, but rather as an enhancer of received radiation.