Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US has set an SAR level of 1.6 W/Kg for phones and the same measurement is followed in India. This means phone below 1.6W/kg are considered good.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Sep 19, 2017 17:49 IST
By Priya Pathak: Do phones, and particularly smartphones cause cancer? So, the indications are that they don't. Most of the research that has been carried out so far hints that phones do emit radiation because of the radio waves but it is not strong enough to damage DNA. But with that said, the current wisdom regarding smartphones and cancer is based on the fact that so far no direct link has been found yet between cancer smartphones. Yet. This is the key word. It is known that phones are carcinogenic. It's just that radiation from them is not strong enough to fry DNA.
The key question, however, now becomes just how strong is the radiation coming from your phone. Every electronic device emits a small amount of non-ionizing radiation measuring around few REMS and the amount absorbed by body between a specific time period is known as SAR value i.e Specific absorption rate (SAR). In simple words if you want to know how much radiation your phone is putting out, you need to figure out its SAR value.
What is SAR?
When electromagnetic waves are received and transmitted there is a loss of some per cent and this lost percentage of electromagnetic waves is absorbed by the tissues around it. SAR value is the rate at which the body absorbs this lost electromagnetic waves. Phones contain radio transmitters and receiver in order to operate on the wireless network. So they emit radio waves, which are carcinogenic. Although as noted earlier, the intensity of these radio waves deems them harmless.
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Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US has set an SAR level of 1.6 W/Kg for phones and the same measurement is followed in India. This means phone below 1.6W/kg are considered good.
How to check your phone's SAR value?
In order to measure the SAR value, one should look behind the packaging of their cell phone. It is mentioned there. It is also, in many cases, mentioned on website of your phone maker. Nowadays users can check the SAR value of their phone on their mobile phone's manufacturer's website as it is mandatory to mention the SAR value of mobile phones.
But this can be cumbersome. So there is another way, a much easier way. Although this seemingly works only on Android phones.
-- On your phone open the dialer or phone app.
-- Now dial *#07# in your phone. This will show the you the SAR measurement of your device as specified by the manufacturer.
So how much SAR is better?
Lower is better, although as noted earlier FCC in the US considers SAR level of 1.6W/kg good enough. So don't worry if your phone has a SAR value of 1.2 or something like that even though most phones are nowadays in the range of 0.5 to 0.6.
At the same time, you can limit the exposure phone radiation by using earphones with mobile when you are talking and limiting the usage of mobile devices. Also, usually bigger brands tend to have phones with lower SAR value.
Published On:
Sep 19, 2017
FAQs
Cell phones emit low levels of non-ionizing radiation when in use. The type of radiation emitted by cell phones is also referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy. As stated by the National Cancer Institute, "there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk in humans.
Will my phone give me radiation? ›
Do cell phones give off (emit) radiation? Yes – cell phones and cordless phones use radiofrequency radiation (RF) to send signals. RF is different from other types of radiation (like x-rays) that we know can be harmful. We don't know for sure if RF radiation from cell phones can cause health problems years later.
How do I check my SAR level on my phone? ›
Consumer Publications. FCC SAR Database - You can usually find the SAR value of a cellular phone through the FCC database if you can get the FCC ID number from the instrument. The FCC ID number is usually shown somewhere on the case of the phone or device.
Which phone has the highest SAR value? ›
| Manufacturer and Model | SAR value at ear | SAR value on body |
|---|
| OnePlus – OnePlus 7T | 1.04 | 1.4 |
| Google – Pixel 3 | 1.33 | 1.49 |
| Google – Pixel 4 (G020M) | 1.19 | n/a |
| Google – Pixel 4XL (G020P) | 1.17 | n/a |
34 more rowsApr 4, 2022
Your phone should be at least three feet away from your bed to limit exposure to radiofrequency energy. If you need to use your phone as an alarm, turn on airplane mode to prevent it from sending or receiving calls and text messages. During the day, carry your phone in a purse or bag, rather than in your pocket.
Why you should never keep your cell phone in your pocket? ›
Avoid carrying your phone in your pocket, on your belt, or anywhere close to your body since cell phones emit radiation even when they are not in use. Limit your cell phone use in rural areas or in any place where reception is poor. More radiation is emitted when you are farther from a cell phone tower.
How much radiation does a cell phone give off? ›
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) — which regulates cell phones, among other things, in the United States — has set radiation standards for cell phones at 1.6 watts per kilogram averaged over 1 gram of tissue.
Are iPhones safe from radiation? ›
Can iPhone Radiation Hurt You? Probably not. The radiation given off by iPhones isn't ionizing and is on the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum, far from being dangerous like a UV light. Your iPhone will definitely not make you sick after using it for a few days.
How much radiation does my iPhone emit? ›
Radiation Removal
The lab found the smartphone exposes users to a Specific Absorption Rate—how much the body absorbs radiofrequency energy—of 3.8 watts per kilogram. Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set the maximum exposure rate at 1.6 watts per kilogram.
What is normal SAR value? ›
SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) for Mobile Phones
The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has prescribed Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for mobile Phones.DoT has approved the permissible SAR value limits for Mobile Phones to 1.6 W/Kg measured over 1 gm tissue.
Use speaker mode, head phones, or ear buds to place more distance between your head and the cell phone. Avoid making calls when the signal is weak as this causes cell phones to boost RF transmission power. Consider texting rather than talking - but don't text while you are driving.
Which phone has the lowest SAR value? ›
The current lowest radiation smartphone (by SAR rating) is the Verykool Vortex RS90 with a SAR rating of . 18 w/kg.
How can I avoid phone radiation? ›
Use speaker mode, head phones, or ear buds to place more distance between your head and the cell phone. Avoid making calls when the signal is weak as this causes cell phones to boost RF transmission power. Consider texting rather than talking - but don't text while you are driving.
Does cell phone radiation affect the brain? ›
Cell phone use, even for more than 13 years, was not linked with an increased risk of brain tumors, salivary gland tumors, or cancer overall, nor was there a link with any brain tumor subtypes or with tumors in any location within the brain.
