There was a heated discussion on the Internet before, driving a tram for a year, the leg hair is lost, the hair is thin, and people are aging fast, will radiation cause cancer...... Can driving a new energy vehicle cause cancer?
Let's start with the conclusion: there is no scientific basis for this claim. New energy vehicles do have radiation, but the amount of radiation is within a safe range.
The state has strict limit requirements for electromagnetic radiation, and any vehicle must be "EMC tested" before it is marketed, that is, a comprehensive evaluation of the interference size and anti-interference ability of electronic products in terms of electromagnetic fields. At present, the national standard magnetic field radiation safety standard limit is set at 100μT, and the electric field radiation safety standard is 5000V/m, while the magnetic field radiation in the front row of new energy vehicles is generally 0.8-1.0μT, and the rear row is 0.3-0.5μT, and the electric field radiation of each part of the car is less than 5V/m. The formal test in line with the national standard can fully ensure that the electromagnetic radiation level of the electronic products on the car is within the national standard.
As new energy vehicles (NEVs) gradually become the mainstream trend of future travel, their safety, especially health-related issues, have attracted widespread attention. One of the most frequently cited concerns is: Does driving a new energy vehicle increase the risk of cancer?
To answer this question, we need to first clarify the concepts of electromagnetic radiation and ionizing radiation, understand their differences, and what kind of radiation is associated with carcinogenesis.
Electromagnetic radiation vs ionizing radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a mode of energy propagation that covers a wide range of frequencies, from low-frequency radio waves to high-frequency X-rays and γ-rays. The electromagnetic radiation involved in the electric motor and battery system in new energy vehicles is mainly concentrated in the lower frequency range, such as the electromagnetic fields used to charge or drive vehicles. These electromagnetic waves propagate in the form of waves and do not depend on a medium, such as air or water.
Source: Wikipedia
Ionizing radiation, on the other hand, is a type of radiation that has high enough energy to strip electrons from atoms or molecules to form ions. It originates from the decay process of certain radioactive elements, such as cobalt-60 and cesium-137, and is commonly found in nuclear reactors, nuclear tests, or specific medical devices.
Difference between the two:
The core difference between electromagnetic radiation and ionizing radiation is the energy level and the way it interacts with biological tissues. Due to its high-energy properties, ionizing radiation can interact directly with biomolecules, causing cell damage, which in turn may induce cancer.
Conversely, the energy levels of electromagnetic radiation are often well below the threshold required to trigger such cellular damage.
After understanding the electromagnetic radiation of new energy vehicles and its relationship with potential health risks, we will next take a closer look at the sources of their electromagnetic radiation and compare it with the radiation levels of other common household appliances in daily life.
Sources of electromagnetic radiation
The electromagnetic radiation of new energy vehicles mainly comes from the following three aspects:
1. Battery system: During charging and discharging, batteries generate electromagnetic radiation, which is due to internal chemical reactions rather than external electromagnetic fields. Therefore, the battery system is one of the main sources of electromagnetic radiation for new energy vehicles.
2. Electric motors: The electric motors of electric vehicles also produce a certain amount of electromagnetic radiation, mainly due to the magnetic field generated by the internal current flow, and the frequency is generally low.
3. Electronic control system: The electronic components and circuits in the electronic control system will also produce electromagnetic radiation when they work, which is derived from the electromagnetic field generated when the electronic components are working.
Comparison with other household appliances
In order to more intuitively understand the level of electromagnetic radiation in new energy vehicles, we compare them with some common household appliances:
Televisions, computers, printers, hair dryers and other household appliances with a working frequency of 50Hz: the electromagnetic environment radiation limit of these electrical appliances is usually about 4000V/m, which is much higher than the electric field radiation level of new energy vehicles.
Mobile phones and microwave ovens: working in the frequency band of about 2.4GHz, the electromagnetic environment radiation limit is about 12V/m, which is also higher than the electric field radiation level of new energy vehicles.
Desk lamp: The electric field radiation level of the table lamp is about 580V/m, which decays with distance and is still higher than the electric field radiation level of new energy vehicles.
Through the above comparison, it can be seen that the electromagnetic radiation level of new energy vehicles is significantly lower than that of many household appliances, and fully meets the safety standards stipulated by the state.
In summary, driving a new energy vehicle does not increase the risk of cancer. The intensity of electromagnetic radiation emitted by electric vehicles is within a safe range and poses no significant threat to the health of the driver. We should regulate and manage radiation issues in a scientific manner to ensure the safety and health of the public.
Conclusions and Recommendations
In order to eliminate the public's excessive concern about the electromagnetic radiation of new energy vehicles, we put forward the following suggestions:
1. Strengthen science popularization and education: Enhance the public's scientific understanding of electromagnetic radiation and reduce unnecessary panic and misunderstanding.
2. Strengthen supervision and testing: The government and relevant institutions should strengthen the supervision and testing of electromagnetic radiation of new energy vehicles to ensure that they comply with national standards and regulations.
3. Consumer purchase guide: When purchasing new energy vehicles, consumers should choose brands and models that have been certified by authoritative organizations to ensure their health and safety.
Through the implementation of the above measures, we can better understand and manage the electromagnetic radiation problem of new energy vehicles, and promote the healthy and sustainable development of new energy vehicles. (Source: Jiangsu CDC WeChat public account)