Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) for mobile phones:
Specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure for the energy absorbed by the body. Its measure is Watt per kilogram (W/kg).
Mobile communication uses high frequency electromagnetic fields during information transmission. When talking to someone on a mobile phone, the energy of these fields is partly absorbed in the head. If a headset is used and the mobile phone is, for example, put in one’s pocket, the energy is absorbed by the body part close to the mobile phone.
SAR must not exceed 2 Watts per kilogram:
In order to avoid adverse health effects, the specific absorption rate of a mobile phone must not exceed 2 Watts per kilogram.
Since 1998 this value is recommended as a limit by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) and the European Commission agreed in 1998 and 1999. European standardisation bodies developed standards to control compliance with these limits.
According to manufacturers’ specifications, none of the mobile phones currently available exceed the maximal SAR value of 2 Watts per kilogram recommended by ICNIRP.
Taking note of low SAR values when purchasing can reduce individual radiation exposure. The BfS gathers information on the SAR values of all mobile communication devices that are available on the market (mobile phones, Smartphones and tablets). A device is considered to be low-radiation up to a SAR value of 0.6 watts per kilogram. 58 per cent of currently available smartphones can be classified as "low-radiation". SAR values of mobile communications devices currently on the market are published at www.bfs.de/sar-werte-handy.
The table also shows the SAR values for operation of the device on the body (body worn). The SAR value, as given by the manufacturer, is supplemented by the relevant measurement distance. The highest SAR value of 2 watts per kilogram must also be maintained during operation of the device on the body. The measurement norm thus enables a measurement distance of up to 2.5 cm. When tablets have mobile communications inbuilt, they must likewise comply with the SAR limit value.
Just like classic mobile phones, smartphones use the same high frequency electromagnetic fields to transmit speech and data. Besides mobile communication connections, Smartphones can usually also make use of Wireless Lan (wi-fi).
This is similarly the case for tablets: They use high frequency fields for wi-fi connections and often also have mobile communications inbuilt.
According to current knowledge, the internationally recommended limit values are sufficient to protect the user from proven health risks.
There are uncertainties in the risk assessment that the German mobile communications research programme has not been able to remove completely. These include in particular:
According to the current status of science and technology, there are no health risks posed by mobile communications. However, the technology is still too new for a conclusive judgement of long-term effects. All questions relating to the effects on children have likewise not yet been conclusively answered.
Therefore the Federal Office for Radiation Protection supports further research in these areas and advises users not to disregard precautionary measures.
How to Lower individual radiation exposure:
Through our own behaviour, we can reduce our exposure to radiation in daily life. Besides the Recommendation for making telephone calls on mobile phones, there are special tips for the new applications that are offered by smartphones and tablets:
Smartphones, mobile phones and tablets using the UMTS or LTE standard emit less radiation
Modern mobile communications devices have an advantage over older models: They often transmit using UMTS standard, or more recently also using LTE standard. Compared to the GSM standard, these standards generate lower levels of radiation when forming connections.
GSM standard uses maximum power when setting up the call. Thereafter, the device regulates itself to the necessary transmission power. When using UMTS or LTE standard, the mobile communications device operates in precisely the opposite way. It begins making the connection using the lowest transmission power and then increases it to the necessary power.
Electronic implants
Electronic devices can react more sensitively than the human body to high frequency radiation. Keep distance between sensitive electronic devices and mobile phones (including pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and certain hearing aids)
Hearing aids
Noise interference can occur when hearing aids are used close to mobile communications devices. The recommendation here is to keep your distance or switch off the hearing aid when making a call yourself!
In hospital
Problems can also occur through mobile phone use in hospitals; occasionally, sensitive medical equipment can suffer interference even at a distance of 1 to 2 metres. Take care to ensure sufficient distance from sensitive medical electronic equipment - in particular in intensive care wards and operating theatres. Mobile communications bans in hospitals are therefore to be strictly adhered to.
In aircraft
To avoid interference to onboard electronics, the use of mobile phones during flights must be restricted (Article 27, Para. 3 of the Air Traffic Act). In Germany it is usual to prohibit their use during take off and landing. During the flight however, the airline can enable the use of mobile phones.
In the car
The prohibition of the use of mobile phones without hands-free equipment when driving is justified by the associated distraction of the driver. As a distraction occurs even when hands-free equipment is used, making calls while driving should be avoided as far as possible.
Smartphones and tablets for children
It is particularly important to minimise children's exposure to radiation. They are still developing and could therefore react more sensitively in terms of health.
Recommendations especially for children and young people
Deactivate "data transfer via mobile communications". This leaves your child able to receive calls and play games offline while on the move. If playing games online on the smartphone or tablet is absolutely desirable, this should be done at home via a wi-fi connection. The duration of play should be kept within limits not only for reasons of radiation protection.
These recommendations simply and efficiently minimise personal radiation exposure without forgoing the advantages of mobile phones. Of particular importance is the minimisation of children’s radiation exposure as they are still developing and could therefore react more sensitively in terms of health. The BfS therefore recommends restricting children's use of mobile phones as far as possible.
Specific absorption rate (SAR) is a measure for the energy absorbed by the body. Its measure is Watt per kilogram (W/kg).
Mobile communication uses high frequency electromagnetic fields during information transmission. When talking to someone on a mobile phone, the energy of these fields is partly absorbed in the head. If a headset is used and the mobile phone is, for example, put in one’s pocket, the energy is absorbed by the body part close to the mobile phone.
SAR must not exceed 2 Watts per kilogram:
In order to avoid adverse health effects, the specific absorption rate of a mobile phone must not exceed 2 Watts per kilogram.
Since 1998 this value is recommended as a limit by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) and the European Commission agreed in 1998 and 1999. European standardisation bodies developed standards to control compliance with these limits.
According to manufacturers’ specifications, none of the mobile phones currently available exceed the maximal SAR value of 2 Watts per kilogram recommended by ICNIRP.
Taking note of low SAR values when purchasing can reduce individual radiation exposure. The BfS gathers information on the SAR values of all mobile communication devices that are available on the market (mobile phones, Smartphones and tablets). A device is considered to be low-radiation up to a SAR value of 0.6 watts per kilogram. 58 per cent of currently available smartphones can be classified as "low-radiation". SAR values of mobile communications devices currently on the market are published at www.bfs.de/sar-werte-handy.
The table also shows the SAR values for operation of the device on the body (body worn). The SAR value, as given by the manufacturer, is supplemented by the relevant measurement distance. The highest SAR value of 2 watts per kilogram must also be maintained during operation of the device on the body. The measurement norm thus enables a measurement distance of up to 2.5 cm. When tablets have mobile communications inbuilt, they must likewise comply with the SAR limit value.
Just like classic mobile phones, smartphones use the same high frequency electromagnetic fields to transmit speech and data. Besides mobile communication connections, Smartphones can usually also make use of Wireless Lan (wi-fi).
This is similarly the case for tablets: They use high frequency fields for wi-fi connections and often also have mobile communications inbuilt.
According to current knowledge, the internationally recommended limit values are sufficient to protect the user from proven health risks.
There are uncertainties in the risk assessment that the German mobile communications research programme has not been able to remove completely. These include in particular:
- Possible health risks of the long-term exposure of adults to high frequency electromagnetic fields when making mobile telephone calls (intensive mobile use over more than 10 years).
- The question of whether the use of mobile phones by children could have an effect on health.
- cancer
- other health effects
- electromagnetic interference
- traffic accidents.
According to the current status of science and technology, there are no health risks posed by mobile communications. However, the technology is still too new for a conclusive judgement of long-term effects. All questions relating to the effects on children have likewise not yet been conclusively answered.
Therefore the Federal Office for Radiation Protection supports further research in these areas and advises users not to disregard precautionary measures.
How to Lower individual radiation exposure:
Through our own behaviour, we can reduce our exposure to radiation in daily life. Besides the Recommendation for making telephone calls on mobile phones, there are special tips for the new applications that are offered by smartphones and tablets:
- Make calls using a headset. This applies to smartphones as well as to classic mobile phones.
- Use headsets. The intensity of the fields drops rapidly with increasing distance from the antenna. Using a headset greatly increases the distance between head and antenna. The head is therefore subject to lesser fields during telephone calls.
- Surfing on the internet and accessing e-mails should if possible be done only when there is good reception or using wi-fi. Wi-fi networks usually have a lower transmission power than the mobile communication standards UMTS, GSM or LTE.
- Access e-mails manually only when necessary.
- Avoid receiving e-mails during a telephone call. If you wish to keep your personal radiation exposure particularly low, switch off background data traffic.
- If you carry your smartphone on your body, take care to observe the minimum isolation distance given by the manufacturer. Use the carrying accessories supplied with it.
- When surfing the internet with your tablet or smartphone, take care to maintain sufficient distance from your body. Exposure to high frequency fields is reduced significantly with increasing distance.
- During purchasing of smartphone look out for the lowest possible SAR value.
- Use a landline if you have a choice between landline and mobile telephone.
- Keep mobile telephone calls as short as possible.
- If possible, do not make calls when you have poor reception. The poorer the connection to the nearest base station, the greater the signal that the mobile phone must emit – and therefore the strength (intensity) of the high frequency field.
- Make use of text messages, as then the mobile telephone is not held to the head.
Smartphones, mobile phones and tablets using the UMTS or LTE standard emit less radiation
Modern mobile communications devices have an advantage over older models: They often transmit using UMTS standard, or more recently also using LTE standard. Compared to the GSM standard, these standards generate lower levels of radiation when forming connections.
GSM standard uses maximum power when setting up the call. Thereafter, the device regulates itself to the necessary transmission power. When using UMTS or LTE standard, the mobile communications device operates in precisely the opposite way. It begins making the connection using the lowest transmission power and then increases it to the necessary power.
Electronic implants
Electronic devices can react more sensitively than the human body to high frequency radiation. Keep distance between sensitive electronic devices and mobile phones (including pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and certain hearing aids)
Hearing aids
Noise interference can occur when hearing aids are used close to mobile communications devices. The recommendation here is to keep your distance or switch off the hearing aid when making a call yourself!
In hospital
Problems can also occur through mobile phone use in hospitals; occasionally, sensitive medical equipment can suffer interference even at a distance of 1 to 2 metres. Take care to ensure sufficient distance from sensitive medical electronic equipment - in particular in intensive care wards and operating theatres. Mobile communications bans in hospitals are therefore to be strictly adhered to.
In aircraft
To avoid interference to onboard electronics, the use of mobile phones during flights must be restricted (Article 27, Para. 3 of the Air Traffic Act). In Germany it is usual to prohibit their use during take off and landing. During the flight however, the airline can enable the use of mobile phones.
In the car
The prohibition of the use of mobile phones without hands-free equipment when driving is justified by the associated distraction of the driver. As a distraction occurs even when hands-free equipment is used, making calls while driving should be avoided as far as possible.
Smartphones and tablets for children
It is particularly important to minimise children's exposure to radiation. They are still developing and could therefore react more sensitively in terms of health.
Recommendations especially for children and young people
Deactivate "data transfer via mobile communications". This leaves your child able to receive calls and play games offline while on the move. If playing games online on the smartphone or tablet is absolutely desirable, this should be done at home via a wi-fi connection. The duration of play should be kept within limits not only for reasons of radiation protection.
These recommendations simply and efficiently minimise personal radiation exposure without forgoing the advantages of mobile phones. Of particular importance is the minimisation of children’s radiation exposure as they are still developing and could therefore react more sensitively in terms of health. The BfS therefore recommends restricting children's use of mobile phones as far as possible.
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