Non-ionizing radiation ( or , esp . in British English , non-ionising radiation ) means any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules - that is , to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule . Non-ionizing radiation or non-ionising radiation refers to any type of electromagnetic radiation that does not carry enough energy per quantum to ionize atoms or molecules -- that is , to completely remove an electron from an atom or molecule .