Emissions From Cell Phones – Is There Any Risk?

Do emissions from cell phones pose a risk to human health? A comprehensive scientific study of just how safe emissions from cell phones are is underway.

The question is not whether cell phones emit a type of radiation, but rather, how much is emitted. In order to transmit a signal, a cell phone emits low levels of electromagnetic energy. The amount of emissions can vary from phone to phone and even changes depending on how the cell phone is used. When the phone antenna is down, for example, the cell phone emissions are slightly increased.

Without waiting for conclusive scientific evidence, Government agencies have gone ahead to set standards limiting emissions from cellular phones. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) tests the emission level of every cell phone model sold in the US to see if it falls below a body tissue absorption rate of 1.6 watts per kilogram. Go to the FCC web site at www.fcc.com to check the emission rate of your cell phone model.

In 2001, the European Commission set standards limiting emissions from all cell phones sold within the European Union. The standard limit of emissions of thermal radiation is 2 watts per kilogram of human tissue. All cell phones sold in Europe were well within the limit at the time the emission standards were enacted.

Researchers at the University of Sweden found brain damage in rats exposed to microwave radiation emitted from GSM cellular phones, during a study which was released in 2004. Even with these study results, there is no conclusive evidence linking cell phone emissions to health problems in humans.

As one scientist noted, it’s impossible to prove that something is 100 percent safe. It’s only possible to prove that it’s not.

Also see; cell phones and your health.

Author Notes:

Jack Adams contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.cell-phones-n-plans.com. A cellular phone industry resource that features service plan comparisons, cellular phone reviews and articles.