Electromagnetic radiation is a kind of composite electromagnetic wave and human body contains a series of bioelectrical activities which are sensitive to the environmental electromagnetic wave. Therefore, the electromagnetic radiation may do harm to our human body. Although there are numbers of studies on biological effects induced by electromagnetic radiation, the mechanisms are still unclear. Recently, some researchers have revealed that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase(NADPH oxidase, also known as the respiratory burst oxidase homologue) played an important role in biological effects induced by electromagnetic radiation. Electromagnetic radiation can activate NADPH oxidase complex in direct or indirect ways, then NADPH oxidase can transfer electrons of NADPH and the reactive oxygen species are formed or through some inflammatory factors, correlated matrix metalloproteinase in cells which may lead to inflammation, cell defense, tissue repair and the other processes of life. So, we review recent observations correlated with the mechanisms of it here.