elderganget

Radiation absorption from cell phones, and its possible health effects, are concerns that date back to the 1980s when “mobile” phones were the size of footballs and exposure was much greater. But today’s brand of mobile devices haven’t been around long enough for researchers to come to any kind of consensus regarding their radiation emission and its health effects. Fortunately, there are some regulations in place to somewhat limit consumer’s exposure to radiation via cell phone. For a cell phone to be legally sold in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that its specific absorption rate (SAR), or the amount of radio frequency energy the human body absorbs from that phone, be no more than 1.6 watts per kilogram. With that in mind, CNET is keeping a running list of the 20 phones with the highest levels of radiation. Some of the current models with the highest SAR rating, as determined by FCC testing, include the Sony Ericsson Satio, the Motorola i335, and the Motorola Droid and Droid 2. CNET’s list will remain updated over time as older phones are discontinued and newer phones are tested and enter the marketplace. If you own one of the phones on this list, fret not. They’re still within the FCC-regulated limits. There are also several things you can do to limit the SAR exposure, even if its effects may turn out to be minimal. Texting, using a Bluetooth headset or using the phone’s speakerphone function all prevent you from having to hold the phone directly to your ear. There are also companies like Pong Research that manufacture cases that can supposedly reduce levels of radiation emitted from popular smartphones such as the iPhone or Blackberry. If you’d like more information on SAR or for specific information regarding your particular cell-phone, you can check your user’s manual, the manufacturers website, or visit the FCC’s online database.