Do cell phones cause brain cancer, dementia or have other side effects? Though there have been numerous studies on this, the verdict remains unclear. For, some studies reveal long-term side effects of cell phone usage others term them as mere hype. However, it is largely certain that cell phones do emit radiation. In fact, some analysts are now of the view that all cell phones should compulsorily display their radiation levels. Recently one of the US-based environmental group EWG recently published a list of phones with high levels of RF radiation. The list includes some of the most popular smartphone models from companies like Apple, LG, HTC, Motorola, Blackberry and Samsung.
The study is based on SAR or Specific Absorption Rate. SAR according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association is “a way of measuring the quantity of radio frequency (RF) energy that is absorbed by the body, (SAR is used to measure exposure to fields between 100 kHz and 10 GHz), as per standards it requires that phones sold have a SAR level at or below 1.5 watts per kilogram (W/kg) taken over a volume of 1 gram of tissue.. Here’s a quick view of that EWG list of the phones with high radiation levels and there SAR levels, in this week of my blog episode :
Motorola Droid
Maximum radiation: Wireless 1.50 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 1.49 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 1.50 W/kg
Apple iPhone 3G S
Maximum radiation: 1.19 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 0.63 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 0.52 W/kg (GSM 850 Mode)
HTC Nexus One
Maximum radiation: 1.39 W/kg All models/modes
SAR when held at the ear: 0.87 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 1.39 W/kg
Blackberry Bold 9700
Maximum radiation: 1.55 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 1.55 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 0.77 W/kg
Samsung Instinct HD
Maximum radiation: 1.16 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 1.16 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 0.71 W/kg
Motorola Cliq
Maximum radiation: 1.10 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 0.69 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 1.10 W/kg
Motorola Brute i680
Maximum radiation: 0.86 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 0.59 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 0.86 W/kg
Pantech Impact
Maximum radiation: 0.92 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 0.72 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 0.92 W/kg
LG Chocolate Touch
Maximum radiation: 1.46 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear 1.46 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body 0.79 W/kg
Samsung Mythic
Maximum radiation: 1.08 W/kg
SAR when held at the ear: 0.67 W/kg
SAR when worn on the body: 0.64 W/kg (GSM 1900 Mode)