By Molly McLaughlin on April 30, 2010 in
It's been in and out of the news for years -- but is cell phone radiation really a danger or is it over-hyped? Unfortunately, despite a number of studies, we still don't know for sure. Recently, the World Health Organization completed a decade-long study that may indicate a definitive link, but those results will not be made public until it's gone through a peer review process. We'll report on that as soon as the results are released, hopefully later this year. For now, here's what we know about cell phone radiation and the radiation levels of some popular handsets.
The scientific community is divided over the effects of cell phone radiation on the brain.
Some say the radiation levels in cell phones are too low to do any damage, while others believe even a small amount of radiation can cause health problems. The mobile phone industry maintains that phones are safe. CTIA's John Walls, vice president of public affairs, told TMC.net: "The peer-reviewed scientific evidence has overwhelmingly indicated that wireless devices, within the limits established by the FCC, do not pose a public-health risk or cause any adverse health effects." An article at Discovery Health offers a great deal of helpful information, and discusses both sides of the radiation debate. Another good source of information is the National Cancer Institute. The Environmental Working Group also offers a summary of available research and specific information on specific cell phone models. Looking forward, a 30-year study of cell phone use in Europe will kick off this year; researchers from London's Imperial College will report on their findings as the Cohort Study on Mobile Communications (COSMOS) progresses.
Here's what we do know about cell phone radiation.
Cell phones give off a small amount of radiation in the form of RF energy, measured by Specific Absorption Rate or SAR. The higher the SAR, the more at risk you are (theoretically). Every cell phone has a small range of SAR levels - when you have poor reception, SAR is at its highest, since your phone uses more power to get a signal. So when you have 4 bars and clear reception, SAR is at its lowest. If your phone consistently has poor reception, see if you can exchange it for a new one (it could be a manufacturer defect). If you live in an area with poor coverage overall, you may want to invest in a cell phone signal booster. You can find out what the SAR range for your phone is at the Environmental Working Group's website, which has the most up-to-date database. For now, the best you can do to protect yourself is to avoid using your cell phone when you have poor reception or use a wired or Bluetooth headset or the speakerphone when you can.
Children may be more susceptible to radiation.
According to Renee Sharp, director of the California office of the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C-based environmental advocacy organization, "Children's brains actually absorb twice as much radiation as adults' brains." Sharp thinks the standard that the government (FCC) uses to rate radiation levels is outdated and doesn't consider children.
The FCC sets limits on radiation emissions from cell phones.
The FCC limit for exposure from cell phones is a SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg) based on recommendations from the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP). The FCC has a database of cell phones and their SAR levels, but it is not as up to date as the EWG's database. As you can see below, the Motorola Droid is at the high end of the spectrum, while the Samsung Rugby and BlackBerry Storm have much lower levels.
How much radiation does your cell phone give off?
| Model | Carrier | Maximum SAR |
| Samsung Rugby SGH-a837 | AT&T | 0.57 W/kg |
| Blackberry Storm 9530 | Verizon | 0.57 W/kg |
| LG Shine II | AT&T | 0.76 W/kg |
| Palm Pre Plus | Verizon | 0.94 W/kg |
| Apple iPhone 3GS | AT&T | 1.19 W/kg |
| BlackBerry Tour 9630 | Sprint, Verizon | 1.43 W/kg |
| Palm Pixi | Sprint | 1.56 W/kg |
| T-Mobile myTouch 3G | T-Mobile | 1.55 W/kg |
| Blackberry Bold 9700 | AT&T, T-Mobile | 1.55 W/kg |
| Motorola Droid | Verizon | 1.50 W/kg |
To find out the SAR for your cell phone, see the EWG website. Check out our cell phone website for reviews of the best smartphones and cell phones.