cell phones and radiation

Article from: http://reviews.cnet.com/cell-phone-radiation-levels/

Updated January 28, 2010 6:01 AM PST

Cell phone radiation levels

What it all means

According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, specific absorption rate, or SAR, is "a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body." For a phone to pass FCC certification and be sold in the United States, its maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 watts per kilogram. In Europe, the level is capped at 2 watts per kilogram while Canada allows a maximum of 1.6 watts per kilogram. The SAR level listed in our charts represents the highest SAR level measured with the phone next to the ear as tested by the FCC. Keep in mind that it is possible for the SAR level to vary between different transmission bands (the same phone can use multiple bands during a call), and that different testing bodies can obtain different results. Also, it's possible for results to vary between different models of the same phone--such as a handset that's offered by multiple carriers. CNET lists the exposure for voice calls only; the SAR for data use can differ.

It's important to note that in publishing this list, we are in no way implying that cell phone use is harmful to your health. Research abounds, but much of the literature is contradictory. While some researchers have said there is cause to be "concerned," others disagree and say it is still too early too early to be alarmed. Similarly, though some tests have suggested a link between long-term (10 years or longer) cell phone use and cancer, there still is not conclusive or demonstrated evidence that cell phones cause or don't cause adverse health effects in humans. In short, the jury is still out. Research into the matter will continue, and we will continue to monitor its results.

If you're concerned about limiting your SAR exposure, you can take a few easy steps beyond purchasing a handset with a low SAR. You can text instead placing a voice call, use a wired headset or speakerphone whenever possible, and carry your phone at least one inch from your body. Some researchers also caution against using your phone in areas with poor coverage since phones emit more radiation when searching for a signal. Children, which have smaller and thinner skulls, should limit cell phone use, and all users, children and adults, should not sleep with an active phone next to their bedside or under their pillow. 

20 highest-radiation cell phones (United States)
Editors' note: When a phone is discontinued by a manufacturer or a carrier, it will be removed from this chart.

	Manufacturer and model	SAR level(digital)
1	Motorola V195s	1.6
2	Motorola Zine ZN5	1.59
2a	Motorola Rival	1.59
4	Kyocera Jax S1300	1.55
4a	Motorola VU204	1.55
6	RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Sprint)	1.54
6a	RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (U.S. Cellular)	1.54
6b	RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 (Verizon Wireless)	1.54
9	Nokia E71x	1.53
10	Pantech Matrix	1.52
11	LG Rumor 2	1.51
11a	RIM BlackBerry Bold	1.51
13	HTC SMT5800	1.49
14	Sony Ericsson W350a	1.48
15	T-Mobile Dash 3G	1.47
16	Samsung Instinct	1.46
16a	Samsung Spex SCH-R210	1.46
18	Kyocera X-tc	1.45
18a	Motorola i576	1.45
18b	Motorola Adventure V750	1.45

20 lowest-radiation cell phones (United States)
Editors' note: When a phone is discontinued by a manufacturer or a carrier, it will be removed from this chart.

	Manufacturer and model	SAR level(digital)
1	Beyond E-Tech Duet D8	0.109
2	Samsung Eternity SGH-A867	0.194
3	Samsung Blue Earth	0.196
4	Samsung SGH-G800	0.23
5	Samsung Soul	0.24
6	Samsung Impression SGH-A877	0.27
7	Samsung Innov8	0.287
8	Beyond E-Tech Duet D888	0.32
9	Samsung SGH-T229	0.383
10	Samsung SGH-A167	0.452
11	Samsung SGH-i450	0.457
12	Samsung Rugby SGH-A837 (AT&T)	0.46
13	Samsung Propel Pro	0.473
14	Samsung Gravity	0.487
15	HTC Imagio (Verizon Wireless)	0.498
16	Samsung Alias 2 SCH-U750	0.541
17	Samsung Gravity 2	0.547
18	Motorola Karma QA1	0.55
19	AT&T Quickfire	0.563
20	Sonim XP1	0.6

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article from: http://environment.about.com/od/mobilephones/a/phone_safety.htm

Cell phones are almost as common as pocket change these days. It seems nearly everyone, including an increasing number of children, carries a cell phone wherever they go. Cell phones are now so popular and convenient that they are surpassing landlines as the primary form of telecommunication for many people.
 
Is Growing Cell-Phone Use Increasing Health Risks?
In 2008, for the first time, Americans are expected to spend more on cell phones than on landlines, according to the U.S. Labor Department. And we not only love our cell phones, we use them: Americans racked up more than a trillion cell-phone minutes in the first half of 2007 alone.
Yet, as cell-phone use continues to grow, so does concern about the possible health risks of prolonged exposure to cell-phone radiation.
 
Do Cell Phones Cause Cancer?
Wireless cell phones transmit signals via radio frequency (RF), the same kind of low-frequency radiation used in microwave ovens and AM/FM radios. Scientists have known for years that large doses of high-frequency radiation—the kind used in X-rays—causes cancer, but less is understood about the risks of low-frequency radiation.
Studies on the health risks of cell-phone use have produced mixed results, but scientists and medical experts warn that people should not assume no risk exists. Cell phones have been widely available for only the past 10 years or so, but tumors may take twice that long to develop.
Because cell phones haven’t been around very long, scientists haven’t been able to assess the effects of long-term cell-phone use, or to study the effects of low-frequency radiation on growing children. Most studies have focused on people who have been using cell phones for three to five years, but some studies have indicated that using a cell phone an hour a day for 10 years or more can significantly increase the risk of developing a rare brain tumor.
 
What Makes Cell Phones Potentially Dangerous?
Most RF from cell phones comes from the antenna, which sends signals to the nearest base station. The farther the cell phone is from the nearest base station, the more radiation it requires to send the signal and make the connection. As a result, scientists theorize that the health risks from cell-phone radiation would be greater for people who live and work where base stations are farther away or fewer in number—and research is beginning to support that theory.
In December 2007, Israeli researchers reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology that long-term cell-phone users who live in rural areas face a "consistently elevated risk" of developing tumors in the parotid gland compared with users who live in urban or suburban locations. The parotid gland is a salivary gland located just below a person’s ear.
And in January 2008, the French Health Ministry issued a warning against excessive cell phone use, especially by children, despite the lack of conclusive scientific evidence linking cell-phone use with cancer or other serious health effects. In a public statement, the ministry said: "As the hypothesis of a risk cannot be entirely excluded, precaution is justified."
 
How to Protect Yourself from Cell-Phone Radiation
“Precaution” seems to be the approach recommended by an increasing number of scientists, medical experts and public health agencies, from the French Health Ministry to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). General recommendations to minimize the potential health risks include talking on cell phones only when necessary, and using a hands-free device to keep the cell phone away from your head.