Is infrared heater dangerous for humans?
Infrared rays do not emit ultraviolet, kill harmful microorganisms, do not contribute to oxygen burnout, as they heat the surfaces of physical objects, which subsequently give off heat. A properly chosen infrared heater is quite useful for the human body, but if used incorrectly, it can be very dangerous.
Information about the infrared heater
Despite the serious benefits for human immunity, an infrared heater can cause serious problems, and the reason is the wrong choice of wavelength for a heater for home use.
There are the following categories of infrared radiation:
- long-wave (maximum safe for humans; wavelength 50-200 microns);
- medium wave (capable of harming the body; length 2.5-50 microns);
- shortwave (very dangerous radiation at home; length 0.76-2.5 microns).
The influence of different wavelengths from IR radiation can be described as follows, in descending order:
- IR-C - rays affect only the surface of the skin;
- IR-B - radiation penetrates the upper layers of the skin, causing changes;
- IR-A - harmful radiation passes through the layers of the epidermis up to 4 cm deep, causing dangerous consequences.
Often, manufacturers of infrared heaters are silent about the fact that the higher the strength of the heating element, the more short waves it produces. It is this length of radiation that is dangerous and causes great harm to the body.
Harm of infrared heater
Infrared heater causes the following changes in the human body:
- Overdrying of the skin. IR radiation acts on surfaces almost instantly, causing moisture to evaporate. The human skin does not have time to produce enough moisture, which is why the skin dries out.
- Burns. Prolonged presence next to the infrared heater can cause real burns on the skin. This applies to radiation with an average wavelength and, especially, with a short one.
- More serious consequences. When near an infrared heater that emits short waves, if a person is not completely protected by clothing, more dangerous consequences occur:
- the protein in the body begins to melt, after which it becomes extremely difficult to restore its normal function;
- cell membranes lose their ability to pass metabolites through themselves (lose their permeability property);
- serious changes in blood cells;
- when exposed to the eyes, infrared radiation negatively affects the retina and lens of the eye (causes not only vision problems, but also can develop cataracts in the shortest possible time).
- With constant exposure to the skin, burns are the most minimally terrible event. The next stage is the appearance of redness and blisters.
Read about which heater is better to choose and what criteria you should pay attention to:.
The harm from an infrared heater is not unconditional. With proper operation and avoiding constant exposure to rays on the body, such a heater is very useful. It is necessary to take seriously all the characteristics of the purchased equipment and be sure to avoid exposure to the most dangerous radiation - shortwave.
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