PhoneArena is looking for new authors! To view all available positions, click here.

Phone Links

more » more »
  • Home
  • ›
  • News
  • ›
  • FCC to reevaluate cell phone radiation guidelines

FCC to reevaluate cell phone radiation guidelines

Posted: , by Alan F.

Share:

Discuss 11
FCC to reevaluate cell phone radiation guidelines
Considering that the radiation emission standards for cell phones haven't been updated in years, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski thought that it would be a good time for the commission to take another look at the current regulations. Handset manufacturers needn't worry as the FCC says that the investigation will not result in a new set of rules at this time. If a change is eventually made, all cell phone manufacturers will be affected.

It was 1996 when the FCC last changed its cell phone radiation guidelines. Obviously, the industry has gone through quite a few changes since then and what was once technology used exclusively by wealthy executives and drug dealers has become a device to be found in just about everyone's pocket. Today, the U.S. has more active cell phones than there are people living in the country. As a result, just about everyone in the country is exposed to whatever emissions cone from a mobile handset which makes the new investigation much more important.
"Our action today is a routine review of our standards. We are confident that, as set, the emissions guidelines for devices pose no risks to consumers."-Tammy Sun, FCC spokeswoman
The National Cancer Institute, part of the U.S. government’s National Institutes of Health, worries that the radiation from cell phones that are held close to the head, could affect the brain although on its website, the cancer institute says that tests conducted with animals and humans have not shown any proof that radiofrequency energy can cause cancer. The FCC website says the same thing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also mentions on its website that there is no evidence linking cell phone usage to brain tumors.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

The FDA examined a 2010 study conducted by the World Health Organization and the NHI. The latter agency found that there is no increased risk of brain cancer the longer a person uses a mobile handset. In the last 16 years, the technology used to produce cell phones, the number of calls made each day and the length of these calls has increased. You might remember that in that same year, the city of San Francisco started a requirement that stores selling handsets post the level of radio waves that each handset releases. The CTIA challenged the requirement saying that would confuse consumers about a safe product and the ordinance was put on hold.

The FCC says that wireless devices emit energy and the closer that one holds the device to their body, the more energy is absorbed. The FCC says that cell phone users can lessen whatever risk there is of absorbing radiation by using an earphone or speakerphone to increase the distance between the device and the user's body. Apple recommends that users of the Apple iPhone keep the handset at least 5/8 inch (1.5 cm) away from their body to keep exposure below maximum levels. The manual for the Apple iPhone 4S says that the phone meets FCC and European Union exposure guidelines.

source: Bloomberg

Share:

Discuss11

11 Comments

  • Options
    Close




Want to comment? Please login or register.

1. Droid_X_Doug posted on 17 Jun 2012, 15:11 3 6

"Apple recommends that users of the Apple iPhone keep the handset at least 5/8 inch (1.5 cm) away from their body to keep exposure below maximum levels."

WTF?! - another antenna-gate problem? And Apple knew about this all along?

Reply

3. biophone posted on 17 Jun 2012, 15:13 3

I guess your trying to be funny but i bet some people are going to take you seriously.

Reply

4. Droid_X_Doug posted on 17 Jun 2012, 16:42 1 2

2 have so far.... ;-)

Reply

2. biophone posted on 17 Jun 2012, 15:12 4 1

Moto phones do seems to be the worst since they use such strong radios.

Reply

5. Droid_X_Doug posted on 17 Jun 2012, 16:53 1 1

From VZW's website:
Motorola Droid RAZR SAR: Head 1.45 Watt/Kg, Body Worn 0.71 Watt/Kg
Apple iPhone 4S SAR: No data provided. Note that no data provided does not mean no EMR....

Maybe there is something to Apple's recommendation to hold the iPhone 5/8 inch away from the body when using it? Air does block Alpha radiation with enough distance....

Reply

6. Droid_X_Doug posted on 17 Jun 2012, 16:58

Perusing the VZW website further:
Samsung GSIII SAR: Head 0.41 Watt/Kg, Body Worn 1.29 Watt/Kg (!?) Maybe it is a typo? (Dunno, but would seem to be)

Reply

7. biophone posted on 17 Jun 2012, 20:50

I saw the iphone sar ratings are average.

Reply

8. Droid_X_Doug posted on 17 Jun 2012, 21:58

Where did you see the iPhone SAR ratings?

Reply

9. biophone posted on 17 Jun 2012, 22:21

http://reviews.cnet.com/2719-6602_7-291-4.html?tag=page;page
hope that link works

Reply

10. biophone posted on 17 Jun 2012, 22:29

for reference those are head numbers which are usually higher

Reply

11. Droid_X_Doug posted on 17 Jun 2012, 23:30

Thanks for the link. It would appear the iPhone 4S SAR at the head is in 1.11 Watt/Kg territory, which is encouraging, since lower is better.

Reply

Want to comment? Please login or register.

Hot Phones

  • Samsung Galaxy S4Samsung Galaxy S4
  • Apple iPhone 5Apple iPhone 5
  • Samsung GALAXY Note IISamsung GALAXY Note II
  • HTC OneHTC One
  • Sony Xperia ZSony Xperia Z
  • Google Nexus 4Google Nexus 4
  • LG Optimus GLG Optimus G
  • Nokia Lumia 920Nokia Lumia 920