We examine the radiation levels of a cross-section of popular smartphones against the United States and European limits of what is safe for humans. We discuss the findings and tell you how to check the radiation level of your own phone.
Without a doubt, mobile/cellular phones are indispensable in today’s world. We tend to have our device on our person or within arm’s reach most of the time and spend hours interacting with it.
As we have highlighted in articles as far back as 2011, there have been concerns about the health risks associated with prolonged mobile/cellular radiation. However, when we recently revisited the issue, we noted that the findings of increased risk of malignant and benign tumours have not been discredited, but the debate continues with respect to the long-term impact of prolonged exposure. To that end, much of the information targeted to the public tends to state that mobile/cellular devices are safe to use, or do not pose a health risk. However, all mobile/cellular devices are not created equally.
Measuring the radiation emitted from a phone
When choosing a new mobile/cellular phone, we tend to pay attention to several specifications, such as the size, display type, memory, camera, and battery life, to name a few. However, one of the specifications that is frequently overlooked is the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), “SAR is a measure of the rate of RF (radiofrequency) energy absorption by the body from the source being measured – in this case, a cell phone”. The SAR value is stated as watts per kilogram, where the kilograms are body tissue or other materials that can absorb radiation.
Mobile/cellular phone manufacturers are required to test their devices to determine the SAR. For a device to be sold in the United States, it must pass FCC certification and its maximum SAR level must be less than 1.6 Watts per kilogram. In Europe, the SAR must be less than 2.0 watts per kilogram.
How do popular phones compare?
We have collated the SAR values for 46 smartphones, which comprise some of the popular models worldwide, and a sample of those are sold by Digicel and Flow, the regional mobile/cellular service providers. These devices would also be representative of a broad range of price points, and so should provide a comprehensive view of the SAR of smartphones currently on the market.
Generally, SAR values are calculated at the ear, which usually occurs when speaking on the phone, and at the body, when the device is kept in a pocket. However, noting that the greater source of concern is the impact of radiation on the head, for the purposes of this article, we highlight the SAR at the ear. Exhibits 1 and 2 present the SAR for a cross-section of smartphones.
All the smartphones examined would be beneath the Council of the European Union’s SAR threshold and (in principle) could be sold in Europe. However, in the United States, the Motorola Edge exceeds the FCC’s limit.
Interpreting the results
The SAR of a mobile/cellular phone gives you some insight into the rate of absorption of radiation by the body, and though a lower SAR is generally considered better than a higher one, several other factors may need to be considered.
For example, the SAR that regulators tend to check is for the worst-case situation, and more so the highest power measurements recorded. However, in real-world everyday use, a particular device may consistently operate with a much lower SAR than other devices and would thus be safer, which may not be reflected in its listed SAR.
Second, some devices with a higher SAR may communicate more effectively, and with lower power than those with a lower SAR under similar conditions. The result may be that a user may experience more radio frequency exposure from seemingly lower SAR devices than from higher SAR devices.
Additionally, usage is another factor. If an individual has a device that has a relatively high SAR, but uses it occasionally or for very short periods, the exposure may be less than for someone who has a device with a lower SAR, but they are using it frequently and for long periods of time. Essentially, the lower but prolonged exposure may be more harmful than intermittent but higher exposure.
How to check the SAR for your smartphone
Although the effort was made to represent popular smartphone makes and models, new devices are continually being released and even within a particular line, there can be multiple models, all of which would have their own unique SARs. To find your phone’s SAR, follow these steps:
- On your dial pad, type in *#07# and click call.
- You should be redirected to the settings on your phone.
- Click on RF Exposure.
- Scroll down to the link to a webpage with information for your device.
The steps might vary slightly depending on the device, but the code *#07# is an industry norm to find the SAR.
Final thoughts
In the absence of an authoritative position on the long-term impact of prolonged mobile/cellular phone use, the onus is on us, users, to become as informed as we can, and to be proactive in selecting the smartphone and other devices we buy and use. Although the FCC and the Council of the European Union have established SAR thresholds, which are beneath at which health risks could occur, it is important to consider your own use and needs, along with practices that you could adopt to limit the direct exposure of your body to the radiation emitted by the phone.
Image credit: vecstock (Freepik)
