Which Cell Phones and Wireless Devices Emit the Most and Least Radiation? : A new report in place to help protect us and our children

Which Cell Phones and Wireless Devices Emit the Most and Least Radiation? : A new report in place to help protect us and our children

By Dr. Steve Rondeau

With links between tumors including rare childhood brain cancers and cell phones are commonplace in the news these days, many questions arise regarding their safety and the safety of our children. While doing some weekly research, a recent article caught my attention.

The EWG, in collaboration with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) helped collect data to evaluate the overall radiation exposure with various cell phone manufactures.  Currently the government collects data about radiation but it doesn’t require the manufactures to report the figures to us.

According to the FCC the cellular telephone specific absorption rate (SAR) is a value that corresponds to the relative amount of RF energy absorbed in the head of a user of a wireless handset. The FCC limit for public exposure from cellular telephones is an SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg).  Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for wireless phones and devices are available at various web sites, or following instructions below, you can find your specific SAR value just for your phone.

The FCC states the easiest way to ascertain SAR for many cellular phones is via the FCC’s links to individual manufacturers’ Web sites: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/sar/

You can also obtain SAR information on many cellular phones from the FCC’s database if you have the FCC ID number of the phone or device and if it was produced and marketed within the last 1-2 years. The FCC ID number is usually shown somewhere on the case of the phone or device. In many cases, you will have to remove the battery pack to find the number. Once you have the number, proceed as follows.

1. Go to the following Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/
2. Click on the link for “FCC ID Search” on the far left side menu.
3. Once you are there you will see instructions for inserting the FCC ID number. Enter the FCC ID number (in two parts as indicated:  “Grantee Code” is comprised of the first three characters, the “Equipment Product Code” is the remainder of the FCC ID).
4. Then click on “Start Search.” The grant of equipment authorization for this particular ID number should appear with a check mark.
5. Click on the check and look through the grant for the section on SAR compliance (easiest way is to press ctrl+ f and type SAR once the page has opened), certification of compliance with FCC rules for RF exposure or similar language. This section should contain the value(s) for typical or maximum SAR for your phone.

How did your phone score? My LG phone was 1.3W/kg, but I’m getting a new phone this week with a hands-free headset!

10 Cell Phones and Wireless Devices That Emit the Least Radiation

1. Samsung Impression (SGH-a877) [AT&T]
2. Motorola RAZR V8 [CellularONE]
3. Samsung SGH-t229 [T-Mobile]
4. Samsung Rugby (SGH-a837) [AT&T]
5. Samsung Propel Pro (SGH-i627) [AT&T]
6. Samsung Gravity (SGH-t459) [CellularONE, T-Mobile]
7. T-Mobile Sidekick [T-Mobile]
8. LG Xenon (GR500) [AT&T]
9. Motorola Karma QA1 [AT&T]
10. Sanyo Katana II [Kajeet]

10 Cell Phones and Wireless Devices That Emit the Most Radiation

1. Motorola MOTO VU204 [Verizon Wireless]
2. T-Mobile myTouch 3G [T-Mobile]
3. Kyocera Jax S1300 [Virgin Mobile]
4. Blackberry Curve 8330 [Sprint, U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS]
5. Motorola W385 [U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless]
6. T-Mobile Shadow [T-Mobile]
7. Motorola C290 [Sprint, Kajeet]
8. Motorola i335 [Sprint]
9. Motorola MOTO VE240 [Cricket, MetroPCS]
10. Blackberry Bold 9000 [AT&T]

As with most things involving environmental exposures, our children are the most vulnerable. Consider this information particularly if you are purchasing a new cell phone for your young ones. We may not have all the answers just yet surrounding radiation from our phones, but there is enough information to make an educated and informed decision. Some tips to reduce exposure:

• Use a land line whenever possible.
• Use a hands-free headset whenever using a cell phone (Bluetooth devices can also emit radiation, but at much lower levels.)
• Keep your phone switched off whenever possible, particularly in areas with low reception (radiation increases as the device attempts to make a weak connection).
• Text, rather than talk, to reduce radiation near the brain (texting lowers radiation to the head, relative to a cell phone conversation) of course not while driving!

References:
http://www.ewg.org/cell_phone_radiation
http://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/sar/