Non-ionizing radiation is characterized by:

Non-ionizing radiation is characterized by not having enough energy to change the structure of atoms. This means that, unlike ionizing radiation, which has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms and create ions, non-ionizing radiation operates at a lower energy level that does not disrupt atomic integrity.

Examples of non-ionizing radiation include visible light, radio waves, and microwaves. These forms of radiation can cause various types of interactions with matter, such as heating, without the radical changes that ionizing radiation can cause. In the context of safety and biological effects, while non-ionizing radiation is generally considered to pose less risk than ionizing types, it can still have effects, particularly at high exposure levels, such as thermal effects in tissues. However, the key distinguishing feature is the energy level, which does not suffice to ionize atoms.