Vecchia P
Physics Laboratory, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy.
J Biol Phys. 2003 Jun;29(2-3):269-74. doi: 10.1023/A:1024413430325.
Technologies based on extremely highfrequency electromagnetic fields, inparticular in the terahertz region, arequite recent and new to the public. While anumber of advantages have been shown,especially in the biomedical area,biological effects and possible healthimplications have not been fullyinvestigated. The experience gained withelectromagnetic fields of lowerfrequencies, from ELF to microwaves,suggests that innovating technologies maycreate concern, or even fear, among thepublic for hypothetical health risks.Social research has shown that worries arerelated to the perception of risks by thepublic more than to their actual existence.Risk perception depends on several factors,many of which are relevant forelectromagnetic fields. They include lackof familiarity with the agent, difficultyin understanding interaction mechanisms,and uncertainty in scientific knowledge.Lessons learnt from the past lead torecommend that specific research onbiological effects of terahertz radiationbe started from the very beginning of thedevelopment of technological applicationsand that a continuous and effectivedialogue be established between thescientific community and the public.
基于极高频电磁场的技术，特别是太赫兹频段的技术，对公众而言相当新颖。尽管已展现出诸多优势，尤其是在生物医学领域，但生物效应及可能的健康影响尚未得到充分研究。从极低频到微波的较低频率电磁场所积累的经验表明，创新技术可能会在公众中引发对假设健康风险的担忧甚至恐惧。社会研究表明，担忧更多地与公众对风险的认知有关，而非风险的实际存在。风险认知取决于若干因素，其中许多因素与电磁场相关。这些因素包括对相关因素缺乏了解、难以理解相互作用机制以及科学知识的不确定性。从过去吸取的教训表明，建议在技术应用开发之初就开展关于太赫兹辐射生物效应的具体研究，并在科学界与公众之间建立持续有效的对话。
